The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-29
Offers AN EASY way OUT
Olive Branch rendered to Salisbury
by President Cleveland.
WANTS GENERAL ARBITRATION
Gives tho Britisher . Chance 10 Settle the
Venezuelan Question in Man.
uer Not llumiliatiug to
His Pride.

teleSfapnS from washington 10 tne
Times Herald: Lord Salisbury now has
before him for his consideration an in
formal proposition from President
Cleveland of q treaty of general arbi-
tration of all matters in dispute be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain. and of all disputes between
either of these powers and any other
power in which the good offices of the
other government have been rendered.
The meaning of this 10 that the presi-
dent has offered to the British premier
4 general scheme Of arbitration de-
signed to embrace the Venezuelan
question, but without reference thereto
by name, thus affording q method by
which Lord Salisbury may easily reach
q settlement Of that vexing dispute
without too directly humbl!ng his pride.
To this proposal made some time ago,
after q series Of fruitless negotiations
along other lines, no reply has as yet
been received.
This Is the present state Of the Vene-
Zuelan question as 1t Is learned from
authoritative sources. No conclusion
has been reached, and on the other
hand nothing has appeared to cause the
slightest fear of 1ther than amicabie
adjustment in the future. Some prog
ress has been made In the spirit with
Though Lord Salisbury Is still stubborn
there are signs of the coming Of L more
rationa. view on his part, and the in
terested diplomats believe the prelimt-
nary though fruitless exchange of pro-
rcsals was indispensable to the subsa-
GIent success, which Is now hoped for.
MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED.
The fact that the president has pro-
posed general arbitration treaty
shows that the United States as well
as Great Britain are disposed to- make
concessions, and that q conciliatOfy
spirit has characterized the negotia-
tiIns which have been in progress.
No answer has yet been hade by Great
Britain to Secretary Olney's PROPOSE
tion for q general arbitration scheme.
1t may be said, however. that the au-
thocitiesarS scarcely expecting its ac-
Ceptance. 1t brings out tCo broadly the
principles Of the Monroe doctrine to
encourage the belief that Lord Sails
bury will accept 1t In the form pro
posed. The last communication of Sec
retary Olnsy embracing this PROPOSE
tion was delivered to Lord Salisbury
about q week or ten days ago Dis
patches from London indicate that
Lord Salisbury has rejected 1t, and the
authorities here are therefore expect
ing to have within q few days official
notification to the same effect. But
they do not anticipate that Lord Sails
bury's reply will put an end to further
negotiations. On the contrary, they are
looking for some counter proposition
which will be in the nature of a conces-
sion from the position previously taken
by the English premier. and that the
effect will be to bring the two countries
nearer together in their efforts to reach
the one general object which they both
appear to have in view.
COMMITTEE READY TO REPORT.
The conclusions of the Venezuelan
boundary committee will undoubtedly
have an important bearing on what
ever decision may be reached between
the two countries, whether an agree
ment is arrived at before the report is
made or not Although the members
Of the committee will not admit that
any decision has been reached by the
committee as awhole, l am in a posi-
tion to reafflrm the statements made
some time ago in these dispatches to
the effect that the president and Secre-
tary Olney are aware of the trend Of
opinion on the part Of the commission
ers and are thoroughly convinced that
their final conclusions will In the main
be adverse to Great Britain and in
favor Of Venezuela. In fact, an inti-
nation to that effect has already been
given to the British foreign office. 1t Is
hoped receipt Of this information will
induce a more conciliatory spirit on
the part of lord Salisbury. The Vene-
Zuelan commission has commanded a
great deal of respect in England, and
in other countries, and Lord Salisbury
IL probably aware that public opinion,
even in Great Britain, would not up
hold refusal to submit to arbitration
dispute In which court Of such high
character had found against the Brit
ish claims In effect. the Venezuelan
commission has already reached con-
clusion unfavorable to Great Britain,
and the British premier is now given
his choice of agreeing to general plan
of arbitration before that conclusion
shall be made public.