The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-08
SITUATION STILL SERIOUS.
ARBITRATION THE ONLY WAY OUT
OF VENEZUELAN WAR.

American Correspondent Suggests
an AngIO-American Treaty of Ar
hitratiOn.
London, Jan. 8. 4 a. m.-The Chronicles
Washington correspondent cables as fol-
lows concerning the Venezuelan question;
There is heroic way of settling the
whole difficulty fraught with honor to
both governments and with results OF
priceless worth to both peoples. The pres
ent delay consists in the fact that the
United States government considers itself
in honor bound to insist upon a certain
course, which the British government con-
siders itself in honor bound to refuse to
adopt. Every day spent here has con-
WINGED me more strongly that Is is i'm
possible to exaggerate the seriousness Of
such an international situation. If the
British public is mislead by the optimistic
sentiments of New York, it may find it
self suddenly face to face with an appali-
ing danger. If the American government
acts only in the belief that because Great
Britain is threatened with an European
crisis therefore she will knuckle down to
any American demand, it may suddenly
discover that the European crisis has
blown over and that war with England is
on its hands. 1 once more repeat my
solemn conviction that the overwhelming
majority Of the american people will sup
port their government in war in behalf
OF the principle of arbitration where
American interests are believed to be in
VOWED. At the same time / positively re-
assert that the President and the cabinet
earnestly desire an amicable settlement
and individual members Of the admins-
tration confess that they utterly fail TO
comprehend the reasons for England's at
titude for mere blunt refusal In the gov
ernment departments here the situation
IS regarded as very serious, despite every
eitort made on behalf of peace.
NOW the kernel of the dispute being
the prlnclple OF arbitration, the solution
may be found therein also. If Lord Sal
lSDury VIII say that, although he must
maintain his refusal to arbitrate on Ven
ezuela by itself, he is prepared to con-
clude a treaty with the United States
under which all questions failing of din
lomatic settlement shall be submitted TO
arbitration, and that this, of course,
would include Venezuela, as the greater
includes the less, the American govern
ment, L know viii receive his communi-
cation with warm sympathy. Herein is
a dlgnihed, and, indeed, the most simple
and friendly escape from the deadlock
Remember that a resolution to this
effect was adopted by congress on April
T. 1890 and responded to by a resolution
its decision by Mr.. Gladstone, on June 16
1888. A second joint resolution of con-
gress was introduced in the Senate by
Senator Allison on June 20, 1894, and re-
Ierred TO the committee on foreign rela-
uons, where it still remains
Two things block the way. The first is
that II an arbitration treaty was ever un-
der discussion 1t was laid aside when con-
gress by refusing those S245 600 temporari-
ly inValidated the Paris Bering Sea COM
mission award. But as / have already ca
bled treaty is partly concluded, to which
America, Canada and the British ambas-
sadOr IN Washington have all assented,
placing this matter in direct way of set
tlement. observe that the statement is
to-day cabled from London that this treaty
is blocked by CanadaS S refusal The state
ment is entirely baseless. Canada has for
mally and finally agreed. 1t only awaits
the assent of the foreign office for this
treaty to become operative. / re-assert
there IS both surprise and regret felt here
at the delay. 1t is urgently desirable that
this treaty be pressed forward. AS soon
as this is done the first difficulty will have
been removed
1.-The second difficulty is the English
feeling that any action taken now would
appear to be due to American threats In
reply to this II is quite certain that neith-
er PRESIDENT cleveland nor Mr.. Olney con-
slider themselves to be threatening Eng
land. They only desire after years of fruit
less diplomatic discussion to make the at
titude of their own country clear beyond
the chance of further misunderstanding.
If Lord Salisbury has any doubts upon this
point an inquiry through the regular dip
lomatic channels, Mr.. Bayard or Sir Ju-
liam Pauncefote, will, l am convinced, dis
pei the notion that the American govern
ment deliberately adopted a menacing t.
titude not proper in diplomatic communi-
cations. Moreover if Lord Salisbury
is aggrieVed by the expressions of the
American government, the American gov
ernment in its turn considers itself legiti-
mately aggrieVed by Lord Salisbury's
tone and his virtual pooh-pooing a doc
trine which they had formally declared
they regarded as vital to the national
welfare. Therefore, these sentiments
balanced each other, and there is every
ground for mutual agreement and assur-
ances that no offense was intended.
"These two are the only things in the
path leading to grand recognition be-
fore the whole world of the principle of
arbitration between civilized nations.
The British public are ready. / am conf
dent that the American public are equally
ready, and 1 know that the American gov
ernment is ready. This being so, what
blocks the way to an almost immediate
removal of Venezuela from the field of
international discussion and the complete
restoration of cordial relations between
two peoples, who, while only too ready to
fight for principle are even reader to
agree upon a civilized settlement hence
forth and 1OreVerf
IF Lord Salisbury is able to move dip
lomatically in The direction indicated, it |
is certain that the meeting of the Vene-
Zuelan committee would be instantly ad- |
journed until the time was ripe for COM |
mon discussion Of the question when the |
treaty should become a law. / will only |
add that it would be a lamentable mis-
take for England to believe that there is !
any division OF opinion Worth considering |
in this country. Washington, far more /
than New Y York, Is the pulse of the United /
States, and i nave been feeling that pulse |
for over a week. and l assert, despite |
criticism or contradiction, that America |
will speak with practically one voice in |
support of the cabinet in the Venezuelan |
matter. If Lord Salisbury decides that it |
is impossible to take any step, let him |
and England at least recognize what is |
the alternative.
The Times editorial cabled to the pa
pers here to-day is calculated to produce |
a great and most favorable effect A few
more such wise, conciliatory and states |
manlike utterances on both Sides and the |
nations viii be marching hand in hand |
down the Christian road to peaceful ne
gOtiatiOn.
Commenting on the foregoing dispatch.
the Chronicle viii tomorrow say: The |
vital and absorbing feature Of the con-
troversy is that America desires arbitra-
tion and we cannot refuse the request IL
is slowly, we hope surely, en-
tering the minds of ofIr statesmen that
in order to do justice to the American
case we must look at the Monroe doc
trne from the American point of view.
Herein, the hair-splitting of ingenious
lawyers and academic essayists help very
little. We have to take into account a
deep-rooted national sentiment which has |
a way of getting itself recognized in policy
and in action with the sanction of theo-
retical rules Lord Salisbury may urge