The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-02-12
ENGLAND WANTS PEACE F.!
Important Statements in the British
House of Commons.
OUR COMMISSIONERS RECOGNIZED
Her Majestys Government Will Submit
Documentary Evidence to the vene-
zuelan Commission to Prove the
Justice of Her Claim.

LONDON, Feb. 12.-The Prince of Wales,
the Duke of York, the Duke of Connaught,
the Marquis of Salisbury and other dis
tinguished personages were among those
present in the house of lords during the
reading of the queens speech The Prin-
cess of Wales was in the peeresses' gallery,
and there were a large number of ladies
In the side galleries.
In the debate which followed Sir Will
lam Vernon Harcourt said he was reioiced
at the paragraph in the queens speech with
regard to Venezuela, as it held out the
hope that the question would be settled at
an early date. He added that no words
that could impede such settlement would
fall from him.
This remark was greeted with loud
cheers, as it disposes of the report that the
Liberal leaders had determined to make
an attack upon the governments policy in
regard to Venezuela.
Continuing, Sir William said that mis-
understandings both in England and the
United States existed and had caused ruff
fled feelings.on both sides. The idea that
America and Great Britain disputed the
question of Monroeism was nothing new or
extraordinary. Monroeism, he asserted, was
not principle of international law, but
leans have traditional and passionate at
tachment, and it was the same doctrine
by virtue of which Great Britain had in
terfered in various states when her inter
ests were affected. He proceeded:
II am in entire accord with Lord Sails
bury when he says the United States have
a perfect right to interpose in any contro-
versy by which their own interests are af-
fected, and they are entitled to Judge
whether their interests are affected and in
what measure they shall be sustained.
That is IA general doctrine upon which all
states act. Upon this is founded the bal
ance of power, and upon that ground Great
Britain interposed in Belgium, Greece,
Turkey any many other places. The Mon
roe doctrine is not an extension of this
principle. 1t is a limitation of what other
states claim to exercise everywhere
"lf it is proved that the rights of Vene-
zuela have not been invaded by Great
Britain the United States of America will
have no cause for complaint. If we have
occupied territory to which we have no
title we must not make any pretense to
maintain that occupation.
Turning to Armenia, Sir William said:
'The reference to the subject in the
queens speech is disappointing. These
crimes are matters for our special concern
as we are parties to the guarantee of the
powers. Under the Cyprus convention
Great Britain specially covenants to de-
fend Turkey in Asia, in return for which
Turkey covenants oprotect the Christians
in Armenia. The support we have given
Turkey was conditional upon the coYen-
ants which the sultan has foully broken"
Sir William Harcourt described Lord
Salisbury's recent speech on the subject of
Armenia as an unparalleled con nfession of
diplomatic insolvency and national impo-
tence."
In replying to Sir William, Hon. A. J.
Balfour first lord of the treasury and Con-
servative leader of the house. declared that
the government would furnish the Amer
lean Venezuelan commissioners "all the
information we are able to give at the
earliest possible moment" Mr.. Balfour
pointed out the impossIbility of individual
action on the part of Great Britain in
dealing with Turkey
Lord Rosebery criticized the govern
ment's policy, and Prime Minister Sails
bury was loudly greeted when he rose to
reply, Speaking of Venezuela he said:
II do not think that the invoking of the
Monroe doctrine was oontroyersially quite
unnecessary for the United States. Con
Eidering the position of Venezuela in the
Caribbean sea, it was no more unnatural
that the United States should take an in
terest in it than we should feel an interest
in Holland and Belgium, and from that
point of view L trust the negotiations will
continue.
81 do not like to go further into ques-
ton obviously undesirable to state in the
condition of negotiations at present, but
/ have had an increasing belief during the
past few weeks that we shall perhaps find
some satisfactory settlement, and all dan
ger of a rupture of relations between the
two nations be entirely removed. l think
we are rightly relying upon the question
of arbitration"
This mornings Times publishes the cor
respondence between Ambassador Bayard
and Lord Salisbury, in which the British
premier agrees to submit to the American
Venezuelan commission the documentary
evidence supporting England's claims