The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-23
SALISBURY AND VENEZUELA.
The Government Considering the
Question of Arbitration.


London, March 22.-LOrd Salisbury has
written a letter to Sir James Stanheld.
who was the chairman Of the recent dem
onstration in Queens han, in favor of the
principle of arbitration in all disputes be-
tween Great Britain and the United States.
acknowledging the receipt of the memo
rial adopted at the meeting. In his letter.
Lord Salisbury says: Il am glad to be
able to inform you that this question is
receiving the consideration of her ma
jesty's government, and that proposals in
the direction indicated by the memorial
are now before the government of the
United States"
The memorial referred TO contained the
following: Without expressing any opin-
ion upon pending controversies, we would
earnestly press the advisability of prompt
ly concluding some treaty arrangement
by which all disputes between Great Brit
ain and the United States could be referred
for adjudication to some primary tribu-
nal representing both nations and unit
ing them in the common interest of JUS
tice and peace"
In moving the adoption of the memorial
Mr.. Shaw-Lefebvre, formerly president
of the local government board, submitted
the following resolution, which was adop-
ted; That the chairman be instructed
10 forward the memorial when signed to
the President of the United States, TO the
prime minister and to the leaders of the
Rouse OF Commons, with an expression
OF the earnest desire of this meeting that
thereupon."
He said that almost twenty-eight years
ago ne enlisted the almost unanimous
vote of the House of Commons I'm favor
oI arbitration on the Alabama claims, At
that time the first cable had just been
laid and Mr.. Cyrus Field telegraphed the
whole of his speech across the Atlantic.
The speech was apparently so heavy that
II broke the cable. Since that time about
of which the United States was con-
cerned and i'm eight Great Britain was q
party. In 1884, Great Britain negotiated
a treaty Of commerce with Venezuela in
which for the first time there was an ar
bltrauon clause; but the treaty was not
ratified, as Mr.. Gladstone's government
went out and the foreign office permanent
officials, he believed, thwarted his well
meant effort.
In its issue tomorrow the Daily News.
under the caption of "A Break i'm the
Clouds" will deal with Lord Salisbury S
reply TO Sir James Stanfield, which it
describes as the most hopeful word that
has been had for long time from the
prime minister. The paper says that it
hopes that no efforts will be spared to
press the consideration by the govern
ment of the memorial into action.
arbitration movement from the resolu-
tions adopted by the American congress
in 1890 and the House of Commons in 1898
and from President Cbeveland's message
in the latter year. 1t proceeds: when
Lord Rosebery became prime minister
! he took the matter up, with the unani-
nous approval of the cabinet. He init.
mated TO Sir Julian Pauncefote, the Brit
ish ambassador to the United States, thai
should President Cleveland act upon the
resolutions of congress, which required
him to invite negotiations with this gov
ernment with a view to establishing a
system of arbitration, the British gov
ernment would welcome such an invita-
tion. Since then nothing has been done
We hope that Lord Salisburys letter
means that substantive proposals have
been made"
The Chronicle will tomorrow congratu-
late Lord Salisbury on the action he has
taken to secure arbitration, and will say
will reciprocate Great Britains offer OF
good will.