Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-12
JOHN BULL.
Will lay His Case Before the
Venezuela Commission.

Venezuela Commission.
STATEMENT BE LEADER BALr0UR.
Diplomatio Punctflo Not 10 H Permittsd
70 Stand - the Way Of . Fun Uadsr.
stsuding With eho United States On the
QuestIoa-speeches on the Disp1ss It ths
Opening a TIE lsRitish Rnrliamsat-Har-
esurt ~ Advocass Of Arbltr.siea.
LONDON, Feb. l2-There was an un-
usual amount of interest in the opening
Of parliament yesterday, owing to the
many important questions that will come
before the present session. and the At
tendance was very full The queens
speech, az road to the two houses assem-
bled in the house Of lords, was an elabora-
ton Of the forecast given in these dis
patches yesterday. Regarding Venezuela it
said: ''Ths government Of the United
States has expressed a wish to cooperate
In terminating the differences which have
existed for many years between my gov
srnment and the republic Of Venezuela
upon the boundary Of that country and
my colony of British Guiana Ihave ex-
pressed my sympathy with the desire to
come to an equitable arrangement. and
trust that further negotiations will lead
70 q satisfactory establishment" The
prince Of Wales. the duke of York, the
duke Of Connaught, the marquis Of Sails
bury and other distinguished pcrsonages
were among those present In the house OF
lords during the reading Of the queens
speech.
Venezuelan Question In the Commons.
The first question discussed in both
houses after the reading OF the speech WINS
the Venezuelan question. Goshen, In the
commons, moved the address in reply.
Goschen said he trusted that the negotia-
lions regarded the Venezuelan question
settlement, but in q complete reconcilia-
ton and firm friendship between Great
Britain and her kindred across tho At
lanfic Continuing, Goschen made .
glowing reference to the outburst Of patri-
otto feeling In Canada and in the British
colonies during the recent political crisis.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt said he
was rejoined at tho paragraph in the
queens speech with regard to Venezuela,
rs 1t held out the hope that the question
could be settled at an early date. He
added that no words that could impede
such o settlement would fall from him.
Liberals viii Not Attack.
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 Sir William Har-
court also said: II am in entire agree
ment with Lord Salisbury when he says
the United States has a perfect right to in
terpose in any controversy by which its
own interests are affected, and they arc
entitled to judge whether their interests
are affected and in what measure they shall
be maintained. That is u general doc
trine upon which all states act. Upon
this Is founded the balance of power, and
upon that ground Great Britain inter
posed in Belgium, Greece, Turkey and
many other places. The Monroe doctrine
is not an extension of this principle; it Is
Limitation of what other states claim to
exercise everywhere.
The Question That Il At Issue.
president Monroe limited it to the
American continent and the United
States, following the wise teaching of
Washington, have declared their disin-
clination and determination not to inter-
fere in the controversies Of the European
powers; but they have declared the contro.
versies Of the American continent to be of
special interest to themselves, and they will
judge when and how they are called upon
to interfere That feeling is not disputed
in the queens speech and rejoice SO sec
that it states a wish to cooperate with the
government Of the United States, and the
only practical question remaining is
whether the doctrine has been invaded In
the case Of Venezuela. The United States
have not made any pronounccment upon
this question, but have appointed q com.
mission to inform their Judgments upon
tho subject.
Coinnission L. no Offence.
sit has been stated that the appoint
mcnt OF this commission was an offens,
to the people and government Of Great
Britain. Happily the government does
not take that view. The commission is to
inform the government Of the United
States, with which our government de-
sires to cooperate. How can the United
States Of America cooperate with US un.
less they have the Information which will
enable them to cooperate In settling the
boundaryr I regret the delay in the pub
LEGATION Of the Englilh case. I should
have thought that before Secretary Olney
was answered all the materials would
have been ready to lay b,forc the United
States and the world at large. We do not
desire to claim any territory to which we
a-e not clearly entitled and the question
IL, what Is that territory.
Favors the American Demand.
"Whas the country demands without
distinction Of party is that the dispute
should be brought to IN honorable solu-
ton promptly. tCheersl Ifit Is proved
that the rights Of Venezuela have not
been invaded by Great Britain the United
States Of America will have no cause for
complaint. II We have occupied Territory
to which we have no title We must not
make any pretense to maintain that oc-
cupatiou. The question must be settled
on the evidence, and what objection can
be raised 70 arbitrament Of . third partyf
The people Of Great Britain and the Unit
ed States Of America have already settled
inrVortcnt questions by arbitration and It
cancot be admitted that this question IL
beyond the reach of arbitration" He
closed with dsnunciation Of the govern