The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-07-18
SETTLEMENT PROBABLE.
The Venezuelan Troubles In Way
70 Be Adjusted.
LORD SALISBURY ADDRESSES
HOUSE OF LORDS ON SUBJECT.

Part of Territory Great Britain Had Al
ways Been willing to Arbitrate-A
Arbitration-First Thing to Ascertain
Real Facts.
| London. July 17.--In the House Of
Lords today. Lord Salisbury laid upon
| the table of that body, the papers relat-
ing to the boundary dispute between
Great Britain and Venezuela. He said
that negotiations between Great Britain
and the United States in regard to the
Venezuelan matter were still In progress.
The government, he adds, did not believe
the claim made by Venezuela was suit
able subject for arbitration. but when
the facts in the case. as regarded the past
history of Venezuela were fully aScer-
tanned, he thought the diplomatic
questions involved could easily be ad-
justsd.
He stated THAT, concurrently with
negotiations which were in progress with
the United States in regard 20 the dis
pute between Great Britain and VeEe-
tulsa, negotiations were also going on
between the British and American
governments contemplating the establish
nent of scheme of general arbitration
OF questions which might arise between
the two nations. This however. he said,
was matter which required great care
and cumspection.
Lord Salisbury said he had taken an
unusual course ia this early production
of the paps ia in the Venezuelan case, for
the reason that the recess of the United
States Congress had begun and the re-
| cess of the British Parliament would soon
be commenced. IS had therefore been
| thought it might be convenient for the
| House TO know what was going on. Me-
EQUATIONS between the United States and
Great Britain were still incomplete he
said, but were advancing amicably.
| In pursuing negotiations the govern
ment had taken two courses. In the first
| and smaller question with Venezuela
| upon which negotiations had been car
| ried OH with the United States rather
| than with Venezuela, no conclusion had
been arrived at. Difficulties had arisen
from the fact that the claim made by Ven
ezuela placed very large proportion
about two-thirds-of British Guiana,
including considerable territory settled a
great mum ber of years, under arbitra-
tion.
The government had never thought
that the question of ownership of that
territory ought to be arbitrated. In re-
specJ of the unsettled territory, the gov
ernment had always been willing to ar
bitrate. 1t was necessary to distinguish
between the two. The governments
view has been that at this stage. arhi-
trasion was notia sunitable remedy. The
first thing was to ascertain the real facts
respecting the past. 1t was impossib blo
to proceed any faster than they had done.
because they had not yet obtained the
full facts necessary to the adjustment of
che case. The labor involved had been
enormous.
Lord Salisbury announced that the gov
ernment would shortly place upon the
table of the House the announced Blue
Book in regard to Venezuela, which would
enable the house to see tho extent Of the
laboFs Of the government in the matter.
When the facts were ascertained, he said
it would probably be easy to settle the
matter. If not, it would still be per-
fectly easy to settle the particular issue
at stake.
Concurrent with these negotiations,
Lord Salisbury construed, the govern
ment had reopened the negotiations COM
menced during the time of the ministry
of Lord Roseberry upon the question of
general arbitration, which were termin-
ated, probably, III consequence OF the
la1nented death of one OF the negotiators,
and partly owing to the difficulty, not
|
large and SO vital that statesmen thought
twice before deciding.
There had been much discussion with
the United States upon thoSe points.
He thought the tendency Of the govern
ment of the United States upon those
points was to desire a rapid and
summary decision. In the view of
the government, as the prin-
oiple of obligatory arbitration was to be
applied for the first time. it would be
attended with considerable hazard and
doubt, In his opinion circumspection and
careful procedure WAS desirable. Some
machinery for appeal ought to be pro-
yided for, a protest on one form OF anoth-
err to prevent q miscarriage OF Justice to
the great possible detrinent Of the large
population Of theBritish colonies through
any error on the part of the arbitrator.
One difficulty was pressing upon them
He did not know how far the obligatory
arbitration system would give rise to
speculative claims. The answer of the
United States was that such claim
were not likely to raise between the
United States and Great Britain. There
was no doubt, he said, that to certain
extent this was true, but it must not be
forgotten that in recent years JheUnited
States had shown disposition to adopt
the cause of many republics OF South
America. He did not quarrel about that
in regard to the frontiers Of Sweden, Po-
land, Belgium and PORTUGAL, Great
Britain would not deny that the United
States had the same right. That rem
dered il possible for claims of such pow
ers to become matters for arbitration.
Therefore the government had to exercise
a very considerable degree Of caution.
The government, he said. had been re.
preached for delay. He thought that In
matter of such extreme Importance,
an error might affect national interests
for IA long time. Above all the interests
of the colonies required careful oonsid-
Grafton at every step. He would rather
| he said. incur the charge of unnecessary
| delay than that Of wild precipitation
which would involve the country in
difficulty.
THE WASHINGTON SIDE OF 1T.
Correspondence Given Out by the State
Department.
Washington, July 1.-THE efforts of
the United States and Great Britain to
agree upon general arbitration treaty
for fha Sf all