The record-union., 1896-02-12


Secretary of State for the Colonies, en-
tered the House shortly after it had
been called to order, and was vocifer-
ously cheered.
The Right Hon. George J. Goschen,
First Lord of the Admiralty, announced
that on February 18th the Government
would introduce bill providing for the
construction of works for naval pur-
poses. The announcement was re-
eeiyed with cheers from all sections of
the house.
George Goschen, Jr., son of the Right
Hon. George Goschen, member from
Sussex, moved the address in reply to
the speech from the throne, and the mo-
ton was seconded by Sir Herbert E.
MAXWELL member for Wigtownshire.
Sir William Harcourt, Chancellor of
the Exchequer in the late Ministry and
leader of the opposition in the House
said he had never in all his experience
met such critical circumstances as those
with which they were confronted. It
was in the highest degree desirable, he
said, that the misunderstanding be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States over the Monroe doctrine should
earliest possible moment. The Govern
ment of the United States had ex-
pressed a desire to cooperate in a
friendly solution of the dispute between
Great Britain and Venezuela, and he
was rejoiced to see in the speech from
the throne that the prospect was well
coined. The only practical question re-
naming was whether, in the Vene-
zpelan difficulty, there had been any
invasion of the rights of the United
States, as, upon that point, no pro-
nouncement had been made by the
United States Government. 1t was, in
his judgment, a doubtful question
whether the United States could justly
cooperate in the settlement of the diff
ferences in default of that Government
having in its possession all of the in
formation bearing thereon, which was
at England's disposal. He demanded
that a prompt and honorable conclusion
OF the affair be arrived at.
In the House of Lords the address in
reply to the Queens speech was moved
by Lord Stan1nore and seconded by the
Earl of Rosslyn.
Lord Rosebery said he was glad to
ment of the difficulties in the Transvaal
were progressing. He expressed his ap-
proval of the conduct OF Mr.. Chamber
lain, who had exhibited statesmanlike
courage and promptitude of decision.
He greatly deplored the recent utter
ances of Lord Salisbury, which, on the
part of the Beers, had tended to a feel
ing of distrust of England's good faith,
and would lead to belief that the sym
pathy of the Government was with the
invaders of the South African Republic.
He demanded to know what form the
Governments inquiry would take in re-
gard to the relations of the chartered
British South African Company to the
transactions which had recently taken
place in the Transvaal, and also de-
sired to know why the Government had
been ignorant of what had been going
on at Mafeking, prior to DR.. Jameson's
raid. 1t was obvious, he said, that the
charter of the British South African
Company must be revised.
Turning his attention to the situation
in Armenia, Lord Rosebery said Lord
Salisbury's recent statements in regard
TO he obligations of England under the
terms of the treaty of Berlin We're abb
solutely incorrect. The whole point to
be taken into considerati was that the
Powers signatory to the treaty should
see to it that the reforms required by
that instrument were carried into eff
feet. The Cyprus convention laid spe-
cial obligations upon England, and such
an expression of impotency as that con-
veyed by the statement which had been
made by the Premier had never been
before made by a British Minister Was
this, he asked, peace with honor?
Continuing, Lord Rosebery said the
action of the Government regarding
Armenia was most mysterious. He felt
forced to believe, he said, that the Gov
ernment had decided to abandon the
cause of the Armenians, and that Lord
Salisbury was prepared to repudiate
the utterances made in his speeches at
Brighton and in the Guild Hail.
AS regards Venezuela, Lord Rose
berry maintained that the sending of
Maxim guns to British Guiana had not
a little to do with causing the alarm
felt by the United States He hoped
he said, that further explanations
would be made without delay as to what
negotiations were proceeding between
England and Venezuela.
Continuing, Lord Rosebery said he
welcomed the Intervention of the United
States in the Venezuelan matter. mas
much as it introduced into the question
the important element of a solid, sub
stantial Government Offering to guar
antee the permanence of any settlement
that might be arrived at He welcomed
with infinite joy the indications in the
speech from the throne that there had
been communications between Great
Britain and the United States in the di-
rection of an equitable arrangement
Two things might be heartily welcomed
as the outcome of the difficulty with the
United States. The first was the un-
bounded expression of loyalty by Can
ada. (cheers). and the second the serious
movement on both sides in favor of per
manent machinery by which questions
referring to arbitration could be dealt
with without loss of dignity or impair
ment of the sovereign rights Of either
(Cheers.)
Prime Minister Salisbury followed
Lord Rosebery. He said he concurred
with Lord Rosebery that the mingIing
of the United States in the Venezuelan
question might, from some points of
view cOnuuce 70 desirable results He
did not think the invoking Of the Mon
roe doctrine was controversially quite
unnecessary. Considering the position
of Venezuelan the caribbean Sea, it
was no more unnatural that the United
States should take an interest in the
matter than Great Britain should take
an interest in Holland and Belgium. and
from that point of view he trusted that
the negotiations would continue. 1t
was obviously undesirable to state at
present the conditions of the negotia-
tions. but he had had an increasing be-