Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-02-19
UNABLE TO AGREE.
The English Papers Again Discuss
Arbitration.
They Show a Disposition to Hold
All That Can be Seized in Venez-
uela-Not Willing to Arbitrate
Anything That Can be Avoided.

London, February 1S.-The arbitra-
ton debate in the House of Commons
Yesterday, and the proposal Of the
Times correspondent in the United
States, George w. Smalley, that Great
Britain should appoint commission
of its own, consisting Of two members,
which should work in conjunction with
two Americans, as a new Venezuela
boundary commission, not to fix the
boundary, but to ascertain the facts
and report to their governments, are
the leading subjects for editorial COM
ment this afternoon, especially as Mr..
Smalley's proposal for joint commits
sion is supposed to have originated
with the cabinet at Washington.
The Pail Mall Gazette says: "Ather-
ley-Jones' amendment, deploring the
absence of announcement in the
Queens speech in favor of arbitrating
the Venezuelan dispute, could not do
good, and might do a great deal of
harm. Atherley-Jones is old enough
to know that the interference OF the
House Of Commons in matters under
diplomatic treatment must be intoler-
able. The amendment implying cen
sure of the government would infalli-
bly, have been negatived by a large
majority, and would thus have defeat
ed its own ends and have conveyed TO
the United States an entirely falla-
cious impression of hostility. This on
the morning of the very promising sug-
gestion of Mr.. Smalley might have been
very serious calamity. Fortunately.
no harm has been done. The House
saw it had been on the verge of an in
discretion, and wisely began to talk of
something else"
The Westminster Gazette says it
sympathizes with the object of Ather-
ley-Jones' amendment. adding, how
ever: But it was clearly desirable af-
ter Mr.. Balfour's appeal and Sir VIII
liam Harcourt's speech, that it should
not be preserved in. for its certain re-
lection would have been interpreted in
America as demonstrating that the
House Of Comons did not favor arbi-
tration. This would have been a thou
sand pities. with the delicate negotia-
tions proceeding and with every hope
that modus vivendi will be found"
The St James Gazette agrees that
Mr. Balfour's Intervention in the de-
bate yesterday. in order to end it, was
justifiable, and says: But Sir Will
liam Harcourts utterances on arbitra-
ton go a great deal further than is
justified by the feeling here. The
Chronicle and Sir William Harcourt
most mischievously declare that the
country is unanimous for arbitration.
Nothing but harm can come of this
mystifcation. Another ambiguity was
introduced by Mr. Smalley's sugges-
ton, which seems to be entirely pre-
mature until some arrangement has
been effected with Venezuela that oc-
cupation shall be the basis of settle
ment."
The Globe says it is not surprised to
learn that the scheme commends it
self to President Cleveland and his
ministers, continuing: "They have
taken up untenable ground and virtu
ally ask our assistance to enable them
to retire gracefully. 1t is often good
policy to build a golden bridge for an
| adversary; but, it must not be too cost
ly, and the cost in the present instance
is too great, and it has the fatal de-
feet that it places the interests Of
British subjects and territory claimed
by Venezuela absolutely in the hands
of an unknown foreigner. This sacri-
flee President Cleveland has no right
to call from us. America has no cor
responding interest to put at stake as
an equivalent. and we cannot consent
to leave the position and property of
| 10000 Englishmen at the mercy of a
Swiss. Belgian or Scandinavian ar
bitter"