St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-19
COMING TO TERMS.
process.

The speeches made at the opening
Of the British parliament by leaders Of
both political parties, referring to the
Venezuelan dispute, were not as decis-
i've as the tone Of the expressions Of
public opinion that have since found
Times, which is never far out Of touch
with Conservative ministry, has sug-
gested, cautiously and tentatively, 1t is
true, but still we may believe not with
out inspiration, a plan Of arbitration
to which it Is thought the British gov
eminent would consent. The idea that
Great Britain would definitely refuse
to submit the matters in controversy
outside tribunal has been abandoned
altogether. The refusal to arbitrate,
which was Great Britain's repeated an
swer to VenezUela's request, and also
her reply to the tender Of the good Of
fees Of the United States, no longer
marks her attitude. Several schemes
are held out, one Of them involving the
selection Of a tribunal composed of
commission and an equal number Of
representatives of Great Britain, to
consider and report upon the facts of
the boundary dispute. Another sug-
gests the chief justice of our supreme
court and the corresponding head of the
English courts, with third party as
arbitrator, If that should be found
necessary. Whatever the machinery
that may be ultimately settled upon, 1t
is made clear that public opinion in
Great Britain demands now the sub
mission of this matter to some form
of arbitration.
Equally conclusive is the debate that
took place in the house of commons on
Monday. Those patriotic Americans
who wer, inclined to feel discouraged at
the pusillanimous utterances of a few
New York merchants, some college pro-
fessors and other peace-at-any-price
publicists in this country, can have
their modification soothed by observ-
ing that the opposition to action in
Great Britain that would lead to a
possible rupture Of friendly relations
with this country, is pronounced and
universal One of the Liberal MEM
| bers attempted to amend the queens
| address by deploring the absence from
| it of an assurance that the Venezuelan
| question would be referred to arbitra-
| ton in accordance with the sugges-
| ton of the government of the United
| States" This amendment was with
drawn at the suggestion of the Liberal
leader, Sir William Harcourt; not be-
| cause he disapproyed of its spirit, but
| because to insist upon it would be to
| put an obstacle in the way of the
adoption of that very policy by the
| government itself. Mr.. Balfour, rep
resenting the ministry, had no fault
| to find with the spirit of the amend
ment, but hoped that it would not be
pushed; because, in his opinion, ga con-
tinuance of the debate would make an
| honorable arrangement a matter of
greater difficulty" There is, therefore,
| as far as we can trust the public
statements of political leaders in Great
Britain, and the tenor of opinion that
| finds access to the columns of the Eng
| fish press, no division of opinion on the
main question that this dispute shall
be. in some form or other, submitted
to arbitration.
| We could ask no greater tribute to
the wisdom Of the administration at
Washington, and to the advantage of
taking fearlessly bold stand where
principle is involved, than this appar-
ent concession to our single reasonable