Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-21
APPROACHING A SOLUTION
Public Sentiment Rapidly Grystalising on
Arbitration.
PRESSURE ON SALISBURY is STRONG
Englnnd's Prime Minister Face to
Face with n Popular Sentiment
which lie Gun Ignore
Only with Peril.

| OutN WIN fcrft
LONDON. Feb. eO-A Washington dis.
patch TO the Times with reference to the
editorial In that paper yesterday which was
cabled to the United States. says 1T is
agreed here that the governments would
only be bound by majority of the original
members of the joint Venezuelan commits
sion." The Times editorial referred TO ex-
pressed the conviction that a proviso to this
effect would have to go with the plan for
the appointment Of joint commission"
With reference 10 the growing agitation in
America in favor of a board OF international
arbitration. the Washington uispatch to the
Times says: THE movement here will lend
strength to the movement in England and
Lord Salisbury will find himself face to face
with an organized effort we'll led and for
mtdably supported with unusual means of
securing such attention and support as will
enable President Cleveland to renew and
press his proposal. All this might die peace
abiy away II Lord Salisbury consented to the
complete arbitration of the Venezuelan dis
pute. Otherwise he is likely to find himself
confronted with the necessity of saying yea
or nay to some such scheme as that now
pigeonhoed in Downing street. He knows
well that the American executive will well
come any good occasion to revive his plan.
He will see that that plan backed by the ex-
ecutive alone is one thing, but backed by both
houses of congress and a strong public senti-
ment is another and harder thing to put
aside. 1t rests with Lord Salisbury to
choose between a guarded. guaranteed arbi-
tration, confined to Venezuela. or an un-
limited arbitration, opening the doors to in
finite mischief in the future.
In an editorial commenting on the fore
going the Times contends that the method
of procedure now suggested does not favor
a rapid disposal of the disputed question: but
would rather deal with detailed investiga-
ton of different districts, which would be a
work of time.
"As to an acceptance of the general prin-
ciples. the editorial continues, 1.-The regular
course would probably be that the United
States should formulate them for the con-
siGeraton OF the queens government which
cannot be blamed for waiting for some more
authoritative presentation than has yet been
made. Nothing is more harmful than to
assume a more exact and defined agreement
than really exists. What is wanted now is
an exact understanding as a basis for the
conditions on which an arbitration ought to
proceed. On the other hand 1t Is not neces
sary to wait until We can formally ratify an
agreement the whole question. 1t is
highly probable that II the proposal for a
joint commission were officially submitted,
England would accept forthwith with little
or no modification. This would save time
and would draw the two governments closer
''It is quite mistake to imagine, they
seem to do in Washington, that general ar
bitration has any terrors for the British !
government. Mr.. A. ]. Balfour's recent re- !
marks in Parliament ought to dispose of that |
idea But general arbitration could never |
any more than partially induce either Eng
land or the United States to forego tine |
right of sovereign states to define by nego- |
tiations the case to be submitted to the ar |
...
The st. James Gazette says that the ru-
mors In circulation as to an actual agreement |
to submit the Venezuelan question to arbi-
traton having been arrived at between the |
governments Of the United States and Great |
Britain must be received with caution. add
ing: 1--WE can state with confidence that the |
made are absolutely unofficial and |
that no suggestion has been formally made
by either government. The Times corre
spondent the Chronicle and the Daily News,
express their opinion and do not make a
statement Of fact. At the same time there
is a disposition to believe that the United
States will assist Great Britain in fixing the
basis of the arbitration
The Westminster Gazette surmises that as
soon as the basis for negotiations is settled
the Venezuelan question will be withdrawn
from controversy and that the next step will |
be- the framing of a treaty providing for the
establishment of a permanent court of arbi-
tration between the two nations. The West
Minister Gazette adds: Liberal leaders would
welcome it with enthusiasm. We are in a
position to state that Lord ROsebery actually
invited negotiations with Washington for a
arbitration board and proposed in
he event of diplomatic bitches, that the chief
Justice of the supreme court of the United
States and the chief justice of England
should meet and decide how to deal with a
difference. They might even settle II them
selves. An eminent conservative proposes the
alternative of a lord high arbitrator, to be
appointed by each cabinet"