Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-16

coHUlIlee Oh lCfelSn relations was
in session for two hours Saturday dis
cussing the Cuban, Armenian and
Venezuelan questions. With reference
to the Monroe doctrine, the committee
decided to report to congress posi-
tive affirmation. There was a full at
tendance of members and the discus
sion took a wide range on all the sub
Jects under consideration. There was
no final committee action on any of
the bills or joint resolutions bearing
upon any of the subjects in hand but
all were referred to subcommittee
for special investigation and report at
a future meeting. During Tie meeting
the committee was supplied with
copies OF dispatches bearing upon the
British cabinet meeting. They were
read with much interest and comment
ed upon at some length, especially in
view Of the fact that they throw no
new light upon questions which were
then under discussion. The commit
tee adjourned at l clock to meet sub
Ject to the call of the chairman.
The committee took positive action
upon only one of the subjects before
it. 1t decided upon positive affirma-
ton Of the Monroe doctrine by con-
greSs and Subcommittee was ap-
pointed to draft a resolution declaring
the sense OF congress on this question.
The discussion on this point was
conducted upon the basis of Senator
Lodges resolution, which seemed TO
meet the approval of majority of the
members. Senator Turpie took eXcep-
ton to some of the phraseOlogy Of this
resolution, but there is little question
that the measure as reported will ad-
here closely to the Lodge resolution.
The subcommittee is expected TO re-
port at the next meeting of the COM
mittee, Or it is possible that he COM
mittee may be polled without a formal
meeting. The committee was almost
unanimous in advocacy of a declara-
ton on the Monroe doctrine. Senator
Gray is understood to have taken &
position adverse TO such a declaration
The opinions advanced were almost
all to the effect that the Venezuelan
affair had served to emphasize the
wisdom Of this doctrine and to show
that the time was ripe for an official
declaration by the law-making power
Of the land.
The associated press dispatch indi-
eating England's purpose of dealing
/ independently with Venezuela was
commented upon, and especially in
! this connection some of the senators
expressed their apprehension that the
report might be only too well ground
ed. Comment was made upon the
portion of the presidents message
leaving the door open, as committee
men expressed it, for this line of at
tack on England's part, but it ap-
peared to be the sense of the commit
tee that if England should succeed in
patching up the matter with the South
American republic that circumstance
should not be allowed to stand in the
way of general declaration which
would serve at least in future emer-
gencies.
Senators Sherman, Lodge and Nor
gan were appointed to consider the
Cuban question and the discussion in
the committee indicated that whatever
may be done, if anything is done, will
be on the line of the recognition of
the belligerency OF the insurgents. 1t
was apparent that very friendly feel
ing towards the insurgents pervaded
the committee, but the inclination ap-
peared to be against immediate action
now.
London, Jan. 12.-The Westminster
Gazette says that the cabinet was in
formed Saturday of an effort which it
is hoped may yet be crowned with
success to the end the Venezuela dis
pute by an agreement with Ven
ezuela direct. Continuing, The Ga
! zette says: This is complicated by
| internal revolutionary difficulties, but
it is steadily prosecuted. If direct di-
plomatic relations could be re-estab-
! lished, there would be a good prospect
of an early agreement through the
/ good offices of an American state, not
! the United States"