Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-18
IN HOUSE or LORDS.
Venezuela Case Comes Up for Discussion in
That Branch.

London. July lin the House of Lords
To-day, Lord Salisbury said he had takcr
an unusual course in the thus early pro.
duciion OF papers In the Venezuela east
Tor th6 reason mat q recess of the United
States Congress had begun Il recess OF
the BRUSH Parliament and would soon
be commenced. IL had therefore been
| thought that IL might be convenient. for
| The House TO know what was going on.
| Negotiations between the United States
ana Great l,ritian were still incomplete.
ne sain, ana they were advancing ami
cabiy IN pursuing negotiations. The gov
| eminent had taken Two courses.
| In the frSt and smaller question with
| venezuela upon which negotiations have
| Dcen carried on with the United States
| ratHtr IMAM with Venezuela, no conclu-
sion had been arrived at. Difficulties had
| arisen IRON the fact that the claim made
by Venezuela placed a very large proper
tion-about two-thirds- Of British Guiana
including considerable territory settled a
great number Of years, under arbitration.
The government had never thought that
| the question of the ownership OF That ter
fitory ought to be arbitrated. In respect
Of the unsettled territory, the govern
inent always has been willing TO arbitrate
and II was necessary to distinguish be-
tween the two. The government view
had been that at this stage arbitration
was not a suitable remedy. The first thing
was to ascertain the real FACTS respect
ing the past Ii was impossible to pro-
coed any faster than they had done, be.
cause they had not yet obtained the run
case The labor involved had been
enormous.
Lord Salisbury announced that the gov
eminent would shortly place upon the
table of the House another blue book In
regard to Venezuela. which would enable
lLhe House to see the extent of the iiDors
of the government in the matter When
the facts swere ascertained. he said 1t
would probably be asy to settle the mat
Ter ii not. 1t would still he perfectly
easy 10 settle the particular issues at
stake.
Concurrent with these negotiations,
Lord Salisbury continued. the government
had re-opened negotiations commenced
during the time of the mtnistery OF i-orl
Roseberry upon the question OF general
Arbitration which We're terminated, prop
ably. in conquence Of the lamented death
of one of the negotiators and partly ow-
ing 10 a dificnlty that has not yet been
surmounted OF dealing with cases 80 large
and affecting an interest 50 vital 70 a
statesman twice before deciding. 1hcfe
had been much discussion with the United
States upon those points. lie thought
the tendency Of the government OF thg
United States was to be RAPID ana
summary decision. In view Of The gov
ernment as the principle OF obligatory ar
bitration was to be applied for the iirst
time il would be attended with consider
able hazard and doubt. In his opinion
circumspeetion and careful procedure
was desirable. Some machinery Tor ap-
peal ought TO he provided Tor protest W
one from or another TO prevent a mis-
carriage of luesticc TO great possible Oct
rIment of the large population of the
British colonies through any error on the
part of any arbtrato.
one difficulty was pressing upon them
He did not know how far the obligatory
arbitration system would give rise 10
speculative claims. The answer Of IN"
United States was that II such csauH.
we're not likely To arise between United
States and Great Britain There was no
doubt he said. that to certain extent
this was true. but IL must not be forgot
ten that In recent years the nited States
had shown a disposition to adopt the |
cause of the many republics OF South |
lie did not quarrel about that. rs that
was what Great Britain had done IN re- |
gard 10 the frontiers OF sweden, Poland. |
Belgium and Portugal Great Britain |
would not deny that the United States |
had the same right. That rendered II pos
sible for claims of such powers to be |
come matters for arbitration. Therefore, |
the COVE rnment had to exercise n very |
copside IA bic degree Of caution. the gov |
frnment he said hud been rcproaChcd Tor |
its deiay He had thought that in the |
matter Of such extreme importance an |
error might affect national interests Tor |
n long time. Above all. the interests OF |
the colonies required careful considera- |
ton AT every step. He would rather. he |
said incur the charge Of unnecessary de-
lay Than that Of wild precipitation which |
would involve the country IN diilcuity'