The record-union., 1896-04-02
President Diaz in His Message Deals
With the Venezuela Question.
Is Firm Believer in the Doctrine Pro
mulgated by Monroe.
Gives Reasons Why He Declined to
Make Any Manifestation Through
the Press Respecting the Dispute
Between Great Britain and Vene-
zuela Over the Boundary Line.

CITY OF MEXICO, April 1.-Con-
gress was opened to o-night. President
Diaz in his message said:
among the events relative to that
great republic which, since my last mes
sage, have attracted most attention and
aroused the interest of the American
nations, there is one respecting which
national motives of decorum and pro-
priety oblige me to say some words.
Owing to an ancient dispute over the
boundary between Venezuela and the
territory called British Guiana dis
pute exasperated recently by causes
which need not be considered-the Pres
ident of the United States of America
sent message to the Congress of that
country recalling as applicable to said
contention the famous opinion of the
doctrine which in a similar document
President Monroe expounded, and which
since 1923 has had such acceptance
among the people.
Very naturally recurrence to the
doctrine which condemned every at
tempt at European usurpation and
every monarchial tendency to change
republican institutions in the New.
World created intense enthusiasm in
the free nations of this continent, caus-
ing demonstrations of sympathy from
the people and even from Governments
themselves Of the American countries.
The Mexican Government was not lack
ing in invitations of an international
character to at once give it's opinion on
sc great a measure. but the Executive
believed that it ought not to be in a
hurry to give it's opinion in matter in
which at the tine involved not only the
Monroe doctrine, but was extended to
the application of it's principles to the
case of Great Britain in her question
with Venezuela.
Not as fully understanding this
question as it was perhaps understood
in the United States, which had received
special information from Venezuela, we
were not in position to presume that
the claim of England constituted an at
tempt at usurpation. Moreover we did
not believe that the very boundary
question in its essence, and even treat
ing of controversial points, should be
case for the application of that wise
doctrine. On the other hand, the simple
fact that England should refuse to sub
NIT to arbitration her rights to one part
OF the disputed territory taking it for
granted that she admitted to arbitration
Tor the remainder, could not be, in our
judgment, sufficient reason for an unfa-
VoraDle presumption, since the Mexican
Government itself had decided more
than once that it would admit arbitra-
ton for certain territorial questions.
which, in our opinion, involved the
honor of the country.
THUS it was that I declined to make
any manifestation through the press
respecting matter which affected the
interest or the most delicate sentiments
OF three nations equally deserving our
esteem, but confided myself to the reply
that naturally / was a partisan of the
principles of the Monroe doctrine prop
erly understood, but 1 could not say
whether it was applicable to the present
case or not
Now that happily and as was to have
been expected, the crisis is past that
threatened war between the two great
nations in which the Anglo-Saxon race
is divided; now that our sister repi1blic
of Venezuela is proceeding at Washing
ton In peaceful negotiations with her
powerful adversary, it does not seem
inopportune to accede to the desires of
those who requested that the Mexican
Government should give it's opinion re-
specting the Monroe doctrine.
without entering into an examina-
tion OF the origin and history of the oc-
caslon which gave rise to it's promulga-
tion; without descending to particulars
as to the just limitations which IFS
author himself would have fixed and
which with SO much prudence President
Cleveland stated, the Government of
Mexico cannot do less than show itself
partisan of the doctrine which con-
demns as aggressive any invasion by
monarchical Europe of the Republics
OF America-independe nations to-
day, ruled by popular Government
our history is general, and signally
the struggle of our people to throw off
the yoke of an exotic Empire of Euro
pean origin, form and elements. the tor
rents OF blood shed in that severe con-
test give testimony before the world of
our worship of independence and our
abhorence of all foreign intervention.
But we do not understand it to be
sufficient for the object to which we
aspire, that only upon the United States.
in spite of their immense resources. is
the obligation incumbent to aid the
other Republics of this hemisphere
against the attacks of Europe, if even
this can be considered possible: but
that each of said Republics, by means
of declaration similar to that of Presi-
dent Monroe, should proclaim that any
attempt of a foreign power to reduce
the territory or the independence, or
to change the institutions of a single
one of the American Republics. should
be considered as personal affront if
the Republic sustaining an attack or
threat of this nature should appeal for
aid.
I'm this way the doctrine to-day called
the Monroe doctrine would be the Amer
lean doctrine in the ample sense, and
although it originated in the United
States. it should be among the interna-
tional rights of all Americans What
may be the practical, proper means of
reaching this result is a question of
which it would not be opportune to
treat in this message.
In view of the damages sustained by
the inhabitants of the border by scare
ity of water in the Rio Grande, instruc-
tions have been given to our Minister
at Washington that he arrange with the