The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-02-12
PARLIAMENT NOW OPENED
SIR WILLIAM H1RC0URTD TDELITERS
 TERY STRONG SPEECH.

There Were Cries of Hear, Hear, Cheers
 and Applause While He Was Delivering
 His Address-Sincere Justice Must be Done.
 London, Feb. 1.-The regular session of parliament was opened to-day. The speaker, the Right Hon. William Court Gully, presided over the house of com mons.
 Sir William Harcourt, chancellor of the eXchequer in the late ministry, and leader of the opposition in the house, said that he had never in all his ex- perience met such critical circumstances as those with which they were now con- fronted. It was in the highest degree desirable, he said, that the misunder- standing between Great Britain and the United States over the Monroe doctrine should be removed in both countries at the earliest possible moment.
 The government of the United States had expressed desire to cooperate in a friendly solution of the dispute be- tween Great Britain and Venezuela, and he was rejoiced to see in the speech from the throne that the prospect was welcomed. The only practical question remaining was whether in the Vene- zuelan difficulty there had been inva- sion of the rights of the United States, as upon that point no pronouncement had been made by the United States government.
 It was, in his judgment, a doubtful question whether the United States could not justly cooperate in the set l clement of the Venezuelan difference in default of that governments having in its possession all of the information bearing thereon which was at Eng lands disposal. He therefore regret ted that delay in the publication of the case of Great Britain and demand ed that a prompt and honorable con- clusion of the affair be arrived at
 q think the speech from the throne holds out the hope that the question is ready for immediate settlement. No criticism of such a conclusion shall fall from my lips. All the members ought to endeavor to aid in anything tending to smooth the ruffled feelings of Eng land and America. (Cheers) Among 1 the leading causes for irritation was the notion that arose in America that there, was disposition on the part of Great Britain to question the Monroe doctrine, for which Americans have an affectionate and passionate attach ment. That notion is now disclaimed and dispelled. The United States, fol- lowing the wise teachings of Washing ton, have declared that they would not interfere with European affairs, but it is their fixed policy to oppose the in- vasion of the territorial and political rights of the American states. That is the Monroe doctrine cannot under stand why EnglanGs feelings should be ruff1ed by that There has been great deal of newspaper talk that the irritat- ing intervention of the United States ought to be resented. The government does not resent or repel this interven- tion; on the contrary, they announce that they are willing to cooperate. It has been said that the United States commission is offensive to England. That is not the view of the government for MT. Goshen at Bristol declared that he did not think there was cause for complaint. That was a complete ac- ceptance of the commission. (Cries of "hear, hear'D It cannot be denied that the ownership of portion of the dis puted territory is doubtful. It is the business of diplomacy to settle the mat ter It is not creditable that the ques- tion should be allowed to fester until it shall break out a dangerous sore, breed ing bad blood between the nations. It is the duty of the government to adopt a measure without delay to heal the trouble. (Cheers)
 The country without distinction of party, demands the earliest solution of the question: Hear, hear!o
 There are two methods of settlement. One is by an amicable convention, set ting aside archive research. If that can- not be attained, what objection can there be to arbitrate? (Cheeno The United States and Great Britain, to their honor, profess to be great advo- Icates of arbitration throughout the world. There are questions beyond the reach of arbitration. This is not one of them. According to Lord Salisbury s dispatch, it is a question of the limiting of arbitration. You ought not to be too strict and arbitrary. It is not for one party to a dispute to define what is in dispute. Believing that both govern ments are sincerely anxious to cooper ate, it ought to be the object of every man on both sides of the Atlantic to do what he can to bring about a settle ment ("Hear, hear."0 Diplomatic punc- tilios over past transactions ought not to stand in the way. We must obliter- ate past controversies and apply our minds solely and singly to the question as it now stands, make known to the world that sincere justice shall be done, and adopt the best means to see it done.''
 Upon the conclusion of his speech Sir William was greeted with cheers.
 The Right Hon. Arthur J. Baifour, first lord of the treasury and govern ment leader, followed Sir William Yer non Harcourt. He said:
 'The government does not see any reasons for offering any criticism of the Monroe doctrine. So far from looking at the appointment of the commission as an insult to England, the United States, having appealed to us in ordi- nary diplomatic course to aid them with all the information at our disposal at the earliest moment, We shall give it up. Since 1S44 England has made serious and honest attempts to get the Nenez-