The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-07-18
ENGLAND'S PREMIER SPEAKS
|sdLIsBURY PRODUCES PAPERS IN
THE YENEzUELA DISPUTE.

THE VENEZUELA DISPUTE.
Recognizes the Right of United States to
Interfere Since England Has Done Like-
wise-says Great Britain Must Proceed
With Extreme Caution in the Matter
Settling All Questions by Arbitration.
London. July 1z--Referring to the
publication of the Venezuela correspon-
dence, Lord Salisbury said that he had
taken an unsual course in the thus ear
ly production Of the papers in the case.
for the reason that the recess Of the
United States congress had begun and
the recess Of the British parliament
would be commenced. 1t had there-
fore been thought that it might be COM
venient for the house to know what
was going on.
The negotiations between the United
States and Great Britain were still in
complete, he said, but they were adj
vancing amicably. In pursuing the me-
gotiations the government had taken
two courses. In the first and the small
er question with Venezuela, which ne-
gotiations had been carried on with the
United States rather than with Venez-
uela, no conclusion had as yet been arr
rived at. Difficulties had arisen from
the fact that the claim made by Ven-
ezuela placed a very large proportion
about two-t thirds-of British Guiana,
including considerable territory which
had been settled great number OF
years, under arbitration.
The government had never thought
that the question of ownership Of that
territory ought to be arbitrated. In
respect of unsettled territory, the gov
ernment had always been willing to ar
bitrate, but it was necessary to distip-
guiSh between the two. The govern
ment's view had been that at this stage
arbitration was not a suitable remedy
The first thing was to ascertain the real
facts respecting the past. 1t was inn
possible to proceed any faster than
they had done. because they had not
yet obtained the full facts necessary to
the adjustment of the case. The labor
involved had been enormous
Lord Salisbury announced that the
| ROVGTuIlGIltl WOulQ SllOIlly RldCG u ROt9
the table of the house another blue
book in regard to Venezuela, which
would enable the house to see the ex-s
tent Of the labors Of the government I'M
the matter When the facts were as
certained, he said, it would be probably
be easy to settle the matter. If not, it
would still be perfectly easy to settle
| the particular issues at stake. Concur-
rent with these negotiations, Lord Sal
| isbury continued, the government had
reopened the negotiations which were
commenced during the time Of the min
istry Of Lord Rosebery upon the ques-
tion Of general arbitration, which were
terminated, probably, In consequence Of
the lan1ented death OF one of the nego-
tiators, and partly owing to the dill
Guilty, which had not vet been sur
mounted, Of dealing with cases so large
and affecting interests SO vital that
statesmen thought twice before decid-
ing.
There has been much discussion with
the United States upon those points.
He thought the tendency Of the govern
ment Of the United States was to de-
sire a rapid and summary decisior.
In the view of the government as the
principle Of obligatory arbitration was
to be applied for the first time It would
be attended with considerable hazard
and doubt. In his opinion circumspec-
tion and careful procedure was desir-
able. Some machinery for appeal
ought also to be provided for a protest
in one form or another in order to pre-
vent a miscarriage Of justice to the
great possible detriment Of the large
population Of the British colonies
through any error on the part Of an
arbitrator.
One difficulty, however, was pressing
upon them. He did not know how far
the obligatory arbitration system
would give rise to speculative claims.
The answer of the United States was
that such claims were not likely to
arise between the United States and
Great Britain. There was no doubt, he
said, that to a certain extent this was
true, but it must not be forgotten that
in recent years the United States had
shown disposition to adopt the cause
of the many republics Of South Amer
lea.
| He did not quarrel about that, how-
ever as that was what Great Britain
had done in regard to the frontiers of
Sweden, Poland, Belgium and Portu-
gal. Great Britain would not deny
that the United States had the same
right.
That rendered it possible for the
claims of such powers to become mat
| ters for arbitration. Therefore the
government had to exercise a very
considerable degree of caution. The
| government he said, had been re-
preached for their delay, but he
| thought that in a matter of such ex-
treme Importance an error might af-
feet the national interests for a long
time. Above all, the interests of the
colonies required careful consideration
at every step. He would rather, he
said, incur the charge of unnecessary
| delay than that of wild precipitation
which would involve the country in
| difficulty.