New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-13
BRITIsH SENSE Of VENTzrELA.


Lord Salisbury and Mr. Balfour have made
utterances on the Venezuela question even more
satisfactory than the Queens speech. because
more detailed and explicit. They make douby
SIRE the assurance already felt that an equitable
ending of the controversy is near al hand. they
rcpudlate and contcmn, moreover. the ignorant
and dishonest rubbish which has been 50 album
dainty put forth. as II in their behalf, by certain
wouldbe English papers In America. These lat
ter are indeed. now In Il most piiiah'e plGhl
Six weeks or more ago they were forced 10 Tor
sake their idol at the White House. To-day they
find themselves turned wholly out Of court by
their idols nj Westminster. SO there is nothing
left 10 worship but themselves. and how their
gorge must rise at thought Of that.
II has been said. and repeated thousand
times. with airs Of owlish sapicnce. that for The
United States to interfere in the Venezuela
matter was gross impcrtinonce, which Il self
respecting country like England must resent
and as for the Presidents Commission why, the
appointment Of il was such an insult To England
that she would be justified in declaring war
against US for it on the instant. Yet the Queens
Speech expresses sympathy with our ntcrvcn-
ton: Lord Salisbury thinks II may lead 10 de
slrablc results and Mr.. Balfour says that far
from regarding the appointment Of the Commits
sion as an insult, the British Government intends
70 aid the labors Of that body by giving 1t all the
information at its disposal. 1t also said
that we had no interests in Venezuela, that the
Monroe Doctrine did not apply to the case. and
that the Doctrine not being international law
was not to be seriously esteemed by any one
Yet Lord Salisbury admits that we have inter
i,,ut oh
has in Belgium and Holland; and Mr.. Balfour
saws the British Government has no criticism TO
make on the Monroe Doctrine And, if we may
also quote the great leader in the Commons of
the Liberal Opposition, Sir William IIarcour
saws the Monroe Doctrine. as applied to the
Venezuela boundary is comparable with the
good old British doctrine Of the Balance of Power
in Europe. Verify. the Superior Beings have
fallen upon evil days.
But the world Is moving on. Civilization is
getting forward not on powder-cart. The
Venezuela dispute is not settled. but Ii Is in Il
sure way to settlement. and to just and honorable
settlement The exact means will not matter,
nor indeed the exact terms. Lord Salisbury
hints at "A combination of direct negotiations and
arbitration That seems eminently desirable
course Let London and Caracas re-establish
diplomatic relations. rs they are reported to be
about TO do. and agree upon the scope OF arbitra-
ton and then submit the case to an impartial
tribunal But should full settlement be effected
without any arbitration at ALL or should the
whole case be ut once submitted to arbitration.
this country would be satisfied. Nor does il par
tlcuarly concern just where the boundary
line is ultimately fixed. There are two things
that do matter One is that the legitimate in
terests Of this country in the case shall be recog-
nzed. That has been done already by the Brit
sh Government In the most direct and unmis-
taxable manner. The other Is that whatever
| settlement may be made shall be made by civil
! lied and worthy methods, with the consent and