The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-06
MORE GOOD ADVICE
MR.. NORMAN AGAIN POINTS OUT A
PATH FOR SALISBURY.
He Says Americans Are Practically
tfOn OF the Venezuelan Dispute.

LONDON, Jan. 5.-Mr. Henry Norman.
the special commissioner of the London
Daily Chronicle in Washington, cables his
paper as follows:
1.-The London correspondents of the Amer
lean papers having revealed my identity
here, / have been overwhelmed with ex-
pressions of sympathy, and thanks to the
Chronicle for putting the American case and
opinion before the British public. All the
papers comment most kindly. As I have
tried to explain. Americans believe that
their attitude of demanding arbitration is
one with which civilized men must SYM
pathize. In support of this the whole
Union. If needful, will speak with absolutely
one voice But at the same time there is
here an infinite desire to see an immediate
amicable settlement. 1 have to-day talked
with several men who are being denounced
in New York as jIngoes and the above are
their earnest sentiments. The people SIM
ply cannot understand Lord Salisbury's at
titude A Senator said to me to-day he
thinks it the same if millionaire quar-
relied with his intimate friend because he
had lost ten cents in his house
II repeat, with every ounce of influence
possess, that everybody here worth con-
sidering desires peace. II Lord Salisbury
can find way te make the slightest ad-
vance towards recognition Of the American
attitude he will be received with wide open
arms. The responsibility of any man or
ministry holding back at such a moment,
when England needs every friend she has,
for the sake of mere dignity or obstinate
adherence to the letter of diplomacy is
appalling to contemplate.
Regarding the Aberdeen dispatches and
the Schomburg line, / must explain my at
titude. l assert nothing, my means of in
formation being obviously limited. / simply
invite refutation of the statement that the
correspondence / cabled proves that Eng
land, in 1Si1, freely admitted the Schomburg
line to be destitute OF any authority or
validity as the basis of territorial claim.
The New York Evening Post, indulging in
some clever writing at my expense. quotes
Lord Aberdeen's letter of March 30, 1874,
which states that England, by removing the
boundary posts, did not cede any rights
which she might consider herself authorized
to claim In the future. Unless a better re-
tort is possible, my position is indeed un-
assailable. 1 base my contention on the
British official statements at the actual
time the boundary posts were removed.
No ex-post facto explanations three years
later can aHect this. III England made any
condition when she ordered the practical de-
struction of the Schomburg line in 1s4 in
response to the repeated arguments, de-
mands and insistence of the Venezuelan
government then let us have the official cor
respondence containing those contentious.
If these cannot be produced. then my docu-
ments and my contentious hold the field.
But the question at stake is infinitely
bigger than such arguments any promis-
cuous discussion of the Monroe doctrine.
The American government and people
would be perfectly willing. and, indeed, glad
to see England secure any amount of Ven
ezuolan territory IL her claim is capable of
historical and diplomatic proof. They are
willing to meet England in any direction
and 10 any extent in finding a competent
tribunal to determine this. They ask only
that Lord Salisbury's blunt refusal and
President Cleveland's menaces alike be set
aside and forgotten. They regard the de-
mand for arbitration the sacred right
what il believes 10 he a matter of prin-
ciple. Now. Lord Salisbury is a great man.
He has lifetime reputation for brilliant
foreign craftsmanship. Whatever he may
do his patriotism and dignity are beyond
question. The American government and
seventy million people earnestly and SOL
emnly invite him 10 forget the past and
meet their national convictions half way.
If he will. the voice OF every reasonable
man on this continent will be raised Ia
praise him. To my absolute knowledge,
am expressing the heartfelt sentiments of
the American government"