St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-06
UNANIMOUS FOR ARBITRATION

claring itself outside of parliament
as positively as within in behalf of
arbitration as a method of settling all
differences between that country and
the United States. At a meeting in
London this week a large number of
the most prominent men in the en-
pire either announced themselves on the
side of the arbitration movement or
sent letters pledging their ardent sup
port. It was decided to constitute a
national committee to advance the ar
bitration cause, and TO cooperate with
a similar body in this country. The ul-
innate object contemplated is "the
formation of a great Anglo-American
association to perpetuate the principle
of arbitration by means of a perma-
nent standing committee on both sides
of the Atlantic"
This fits in we'll with the news con-
cerning the latest developments in the
Venezuelan matter. 1t is declared on
all sides that the differences between
Great Britain and Venezuela are in a
fair way toward settlement without the
intervention of this country at all. Ne
gotiations relating to the Uruan af-
fair are said to have been reopened di-
rectly between the British ambassador
and the Venezuelan representative in
Washington. This is a step toward
the resumption of the interrupted dip
lomatic relations between Venezuela
and England. It is also said that prog
ress is being made toward proffer on
the part of Great Britain that Ven
ezuela can consider without reSigning
her rights or claims. In word, En-
gland has been seeking for method
to submit to arbitration the very ques-
tions which, as long as she had Ven
ezuela alone to deal with, she declared
that she could never arbitrate. That
the whole controversy will be arranged
in the end without any resort to force,
and without any further pressure than
the United States has already exer-
cised, may be taken for granted. Great
Britain is entitled to whatever credit
there may be in her final and reluctant
consent to attempt to do justice with
out resort to arms. All parties de-
clare unanimously that the movement
to refer all disputes henceforth to ar
bitration never received so great an
impulse as that which was given to
it by the rise of the present complica-
ton.
We see here once more the value
of a bold but dignified and hon.
orable stand in international af-
fairs. President Clevelends Ven
ezuela proclamation was attacked
the faint-hearts of both parties, as a
menace and an invitation to war. On
the contrary, as he very well knew, as
every man with stout heart in his
bosom knows, it was a guarantee of
peace 1t forced the issue at a time
when war could we'll be averted. 1t
did not permit the nations to wait until
one little encroachment and injustice
after another had made peace impossi-
bic with honor. 1t did not leave the
attitude of this country in doubt, and
thus entice other governments to ex-
tend to this continent the colonizing
operations in which they are engaged
in other parts of the world, only to
find us opposed to them when they
had gone so far that neither they nor
we could retreat. Mr.. Cleveland made
the issue. He made it at time most
opportune and in a manner that invited
pacific settlement He said to all the
world that the United States demands
arbitration and is ready to ignt.
That is the keynote and secret heart
of the whole Venezuelan affair 1t is
not that we interfered in behalf of that
republic so much as that we espoused
the cause Of arbitration. We have won.
For the United States and for Great
Britain there will be no policy hence
forth which does not include arbitra-
ton as first resort in all cases of in
ternational disagreement. In the long
list of the presidents proud achieve
ments there is none that will shine
with brighter luster, because there is
none that stretches so far beyond the
limits of this country, and affects the
peace and prosperity Of the people of
so great a portion Of the entire globe,
as that firm proclamation which has
established the arbitration tribunal as
the high court of justice to which
| every civilized nation must henceforth
make its appeal before it shall submit
| any issue to the dread decision of arms
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