The Indianapolis journal., 1896-04-25

He Criticises Mr.. Curxon's Statement
I'm the Commons.

LONDON, April 25.-The New York corre-
epondeIt OF the Times criticises the state
ment made in Parliament by the Pariamen-
tary. Secretary OF the Foreign Office, Mr.
Curzon, that negotiations with the United
States with regard 10 Venezuela are still
proceeding mo doubt 1t is in accord with
diplomatic usage" the Times correspondent
says, Ito speak OF negotiations as proceed
ings when they have not actually been
broken of finally by one party or the other.
To say that negotiations about Venezuela are
still proceeding. Is, therefore, to use phrase
which may be described as diplomatic or, at
the option OF the reader, as Pickwickian. 1t
Is now some weeks since, in fact, there have
been any negotiations on the subject. This
government was reluctant TO accept Lord
Safisbury's rejection OF its last proposal as
final. II entered gladly upon the discussion
OF his proposal for general arbitration. i'm
practicable as the scheme he suggested was
deemed. But. having received and under.
taken to consider that scheme on iis merits
1t then put the question whether nothing
more was TO be said about VenezueIa and its
proposal, or whether no counter proposition
or suggestion was to be expected. The an
swer Was no, but that Lord Salisbury hoped
that prosress might be made with the general
arDltrati0n scheme. IL was pointed out in
reply that from this general arbitration
had no effect in promoting any further prog
fess or discussion or proposal or suggestion
or oneI OF resoiations OF any kind what
ever relating 70 Venezuela There has been
none since that date-rather more than a
month ago. The subject has not been men,
Ioned. Now If, in those circumstances, Mr.
Surzon prefers 20 say that negotiations about
Venezuela are still proceeding between Great
Brirain and the United States do not dis
pute mat ne Is justified by diplomatic prece-
snose unfamiliar with diplomacy a clearer
meaning Is conveyed and a more accurate ac-
negotiations are at a Standstill"
Oh the statements made in the United
states also claiming that negotiations are
groceedlng SATISFACTORILY, the Times corre-
Eponcent says: Some of those statements
are credited TO the State Department None
OF them do. In fact, proceed from the State
department. The views L stated on Tues
of this government. which includes the State
department.. L stated them with modera-
ton. L might have used much stronger Ian
guage without exaggerating the apprehen-
sion which exists, both with reference TO
ire Interruption of negotiations about Ven-
ezuela and TO the possible nature of the
report Dy the American commission"
The Times says in an editorial: I'VE are
confident that the foregoing explanation will
result IN the removal OF the deadlock. The
american reply TO Lord Salisbury's project
for general court OF arbitration only
reached the Foreign Office yesterday. Its
contents are undisclosed, but everybody is
regard to direct negotiations Sir Julian
Pauncefote 0he British ambassador In
Senior Andrade Cthe Venezuelan minister T i'm in
Washington, whenever the like powers are
granted 20 the latter. When so much has
been done on our part IL is not easy to see
why Mr. Curzons hopeful account of the
present state OF things between the two
countries should not be accepted. The
purely domestic concern and cannot he s,f-
fered TO influence our policy