The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-11
ENGLAND rs CITING WAY.
She Takes steps Toward Negotiating With
Venezuela.

LONDON, March 9-The British For
esn Office does not expect that the Vene-
zuelan blue book. issued last week. will
ever have more than an academic in
terest. Steps toward reopening direct
negotiations with Venezuela have al
ready been taken. Dispatches were
sent from the Foreign Office on last
| Thursday which. IT is believed, will GER
tainly accomplish this end.
As soon as diplomatic intercourse Is re-
sumed Lord Salisbury will assume an
attitude Of most generous nagnanimity,
and will make offers which Venezuela
| can have no excuse for declining. He
will make a virtue OF sacrificing what
he declares may be proven TO be British
rights for the sake of peace and har-
mony and 20 put an end TO an intermina-
bic quarrel over triles.
IL is represented by those who are close
to the Prime Minister that he would
rather play a part Of unaccustomed gen.
erosity than establish a precedent OF
! unrestricted arbitration, which is the
| only other course open TO him. IL will be
difficult policy TO Justify before the
English people OF both parties. because
he Is already loudly accused OF scuttling
in all recent difficulties.
Mr.. AstOrs authorized views on the
Venezuelan controversy are made public
to-day. At least. they must be accepted
as his views, for they are contained in
the first uttcrance on the subject in the
Pall-Mall Gazette since Editor Gust was
dismissed. He comes out strong for ar
bitration. and says:
1T is enough to say that every unpre-
JUDGED reader Of the English case must
be convinced of it's strength, and that
successive Ministers have thoroughly
held their own. As regards the right,
England stands on firm ground, but
whether that right is 10 its extreme limits
worth insisting upon may be open to
doubt. Candidly. We think it IS not"
He Is willing to abandon the Schom-
burgk line. but insists on Lord Aber-
deems line OF 1914 within which England
must decline 10 arbitrate.
CIhe line proposed i'm Lord Aberdeen's
note 10 Or. Fortique would give 10 Eng
land more than half OF the Cuyun and
Mazaruni river basins and at least two
thirds Of the entire region i'm disputcD
lie IS an for harmony between the
United States and Great Britain, and has
good word for the Monroe doctrine.
saying:
There is not. and there never was. any
anim0sity between John Bull and Brother
Jonathan over this matter. The common
sense Of the American people has already
recognized that her sturdy relative could
not obey a threat. II IS practical intelli-
gence which has made America, and
which IS characteristic of its citizens.
IL is this practical intelligence which has
already had more than enough of yiO-
lent language, and has paused 10 remem-
Der the links OF blood. faith. and tradi-
ton which bind the United States TO the
mother country.
AT the same time the Monroe doctrine
must be regarded, i'm future. as a factor
in practical politics. although il may not
find place I'm any digest Of international
law. That the United States should warn
of England from that continent where
she owns great dominion is. of course
absurd. but that Brother Jonathan should
DE conscious Of being the biggest how I'm
Dame Americas school and should use
MS strength % insure that all the little
boys in the same school are fairly treat
a. cannot well Dee "a subject Of complaint
Whether We complain or not. there Is
no doubt that he will do so. and that the
vast majority Of the citizens of the
/ nited states will support him. This is
a iact which. whether we like If or rot
we must recognize. and 70 which IT IS IDLE
10 smut our eyes merely because Grofius
did not include it I'm his treatise.
IN many ways such outspOken bluff-
ness forms refreshing contrast 10 the
-ushing iriendliness and yet sudden Of
tort 20 wound the German Emperor. -
New York Sun.