The San Francisco call., 1896-02-18


In speaking to his motion Atherley-
Jones declared that Great Britain had
seven times changed the boundary be-
tween British GuiaDa and Venezuela, and
asked how it could be claimed that the
territory in dispute could be outside the
pale of arbitration. He reviewed the ques-
ton in all Its aspects since 1914.
Before the motion could be seconded the
Right Hon. A. ]. Balfour, First Lord of
the Treasury and Government leader in
the House, interposed and appealed to the
House on his responsibility as Minister of
the crown not to continue the debate. He
declared that he was of the opinion that the
continuation of the debate would not
serve the purpose Atherley-Jones had in
view as it would not make an honorable
solution of the difficulty easier. He there
fore hoped that the House, realizing how
grave the issues were that were at stake,
would not further discuss on this occasion
the policy that had been pursued or would
be pursued.
William Allen, advanced radical men,
Der for Gateshead, then seconded the
amendment. The whole matter he de-
clared, was tempest in teapot. Gold
as usual, was at the bottom of the whole
trouble. The country in dispute was a.
nest of yellow fever and was not worth
fighting for.
Henry Labouchere, the Radical leader.
said that after the statement made by Mr.
Balfour it was impossible to continue the
debate. [Cries of Hear, hear."l He hoped
he might take it that the dispute would be
speedily settled to the satisfaction of both
countries.
John Dillon anti-Parnellite member for
East Mayo, followed Mr.. Labouchere He
said he trusted that no appeal from the
Government would induce the mover of
the amendment to withdraw his motion.
The American people, be added, ought to
have some indication of the intensity of
the feeling existing in the House of Com
mons against the mere suggestion of war
with the United States.
The action of the American Government
had been most patient and forbearing, and
it ought to be made known to the Ameri-
cans that Lord Salisbury's dispatch to Sec
retary Olney did not represent the feeling
OF the people of this country. He was
glad to note the recent improved tone of
puclic opinion.
Even Lord Salisbury had turned his at
tention to insulting somewhat smaller
nation than the United States. In the
view of nine-tenths of the people of Ire
land the Shole question ought to be SUBJ
mitted to unlimited arbitration.
If the Ministry tried to plunge the coun-
try into war for an unjust cause. bysre-
fusing to grant arbitration, he had the
right to claim that there would arise from
millions of Englishmen and Irishmen the
strongest possible condemnation. [Cries
of "Hear! hearth
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, the Lib
eral leader in the House, said he was glad
that the amendment had been moved in
the interests of arbitration, but he did not
think he could insist that the amendment
was the best way to attain the end in view.
OF course, such an amendment could not
be accepted by the Government, and must,
if pressed to division, be lost by a large
majority. If that happened, it would go
forth to America that the House had pro-
nounced against arbitration, although he
was convinced that that was the end that
all wished to be attained. Cries OF Hear |
hearP'l
What the House had to do was to show
that there was no difference of opinion on
the subject. he was perfectly certain that
both inside and outside of the House the
consensus of opinion was in favor of peace
full arbitration. Their main object ought
to be to express such opinion. 1t could
not be done by joining issue on the amend
ment.
He took the opportunity to deprecate
the language sometimes used, alleging
that President Cleveland had acted from
election motives. There seemed to be
tendency in certain quarters to think that
the United States had acted in a sudden,
offensive manner. As matter of fact,
they had been pressing for settlement of
the question for the last ten years, always
in most friendly spirit. [Cries of "Hear!
hearth
Every effort ought to be made to re move
all causes of irritation. He trusted that no
further delay would occur, and that every
thing would be done to bringa bout
speedy settlement. Sir William
further said that the points of diff
ference between Great Britain and
the United States were insignificant and
could easily be settled by the Cabinets of