The herald., 1896-02-19
Stirs the People of the United
Kingdom
HARCOURT GOES TOO FAR
In the Opinion Of the Leading London
Editors
Representative New Workers Take Steps To-
ward Securing a National Arbitration
Convention and Universal Pescs
Associated Press Special Wire.


bate in the house of commons yesterday
and the proposal of the Times correspond.
ent in the United States, George M. Small
ley, that Great Britain should appoint
commission of its own, consisting of two
members, which should work in conjunc-
ton with two Americans as a new Nenezu-
Ian boundary commission, not to fix the
boundary, but to ascertain the facts and
report to their governments, are the lead
ing subjects for editorial comment this
afternoon, especially as Mr.. Smalley's pro-
posal for q joint commission is supposed to
have originated with the cabinet az WASH
ing ton.
The Pail Nall Gazette says: The Ath-
erly Jones amendment (deplorng the ab-
sence of pronounoement in the queens
spec III in favor of arbitretiing the We lezu-
e,an dispute) could not do good and might
do a great deal of harm. Mr.. Atherly
Jones is old enough to know that the in
reference of the house of commons in
matters under diplomatic treatment must
be intolerable. The amendment, implying
censure of the government, would infalla-
bly, have been negatived by large major
ity, and would thus have defeated it's own
ends and conveyed to the United States
an entirely fallacions impression OF hostil-
ity. This, on the morning of the very
promising suggestion 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
indiscretion anl wisely began to talk OF
something else.
The Westminster Gazette says it entirely
sympathizes with the object of Mr.. Atherly
Jones' amendment, adding, however:
But it was clearly desirable, after Mr..
Balfour's appeal and Sir William Vernon
Harcourt's speech, that it should not be
perseyered in, for its certain rejection
would have been interpreted in America
as demonstrating that the honse of COM
mons did not favor arbitration. This
would have been thousand pities, with
the delicate negotiations proceeding and
with every hope that modus viyendi will
be found.''
The St. James Gazette agrees that Mr..
Balfour's Intervention in the debate yes
terday, in order to end it, was justfiable,
and says:
"But Sir William Harcourt's utterances
on arbitration go a great deal further than
is justified by the feeling here. The Chron-
ice and Sir William Harcourt most mis-
chieviously declare that the coantry is
unanimous for arbitration, without speci-
flying what arbitration. Nothing but harm
can come of this mystification. Another
ambiguity was introduced by Mr.. Small
ley's suggestion, which seems to be en-
tirely premature until some arrangement
has been effected with Venezuela, that oc-
cupation shall be:the basis of settlement"
The Globe says it is not surprised to
learn that the scheme commends itself to
President Cleveland and his ministers. con.
tinung: "They have taken up untenable
ground and virtually 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
costly, and the cost in the present instance
is loo great and it has the fatal defect that
1t places the interests of British subjects
and territory claimed by Venezuela abso-
luIely in the hands of an unknown for
eigner. This sacrifice President Cleveland
has no right to call for from lis. America
has no corresponding interest to put at
stake as an equivalent and we cannot con.
sent to leave the position and property of
10000 Englishmen at the mercy of a
Swiss. Belgian or Scandinavian arbiter."
A Washington dispatch to the Times
warns the English government against de.
lay in responding to the overtures indicated
i the correspondents dispatch of yester-
day, which gave an outline of plan for a
joint commission on the Venezuelan dis
pute OF British and American members
which, he said, would be acceptable to the
United states.
1.-THE danger is,'' says the Times CORE.
spondent, THAT the public will not support
this new departure SO readily as it did
President CIeveland's message. But what
ever reception it may receive the Washing
ton government will carry out its purpose
to give full effect 10 it's proposal. The more
quickly England accepts the offer the more
general is The approval of the American
people likely to be. 1t is no light thing to
let such suggestions come before the Amer
lean public without a previous assurance of
their acceptance by England"
A NATIONAL CONFERENCE
New YORK, Feb. 1S,--A meeting of
prominent citizens of this city and Brook
lyn was held tonight at the residence of
Mr.. William E. Dodge. The meeting was
called by Mayor Strong. General Bristow,
Bishop Potter, eX-Chief Justice Daily. Hon.
Seth Low and Mr.. Dodge for the purpose of
Gems of New York and Brooklyn to coop
crate with similar committees which have
been already established in Philadelphia,
Chicago, Washington and other prominent
cities IN the United States, whose object is
the calling of national conference in the
interest of International arbitration be-
tween the Cnited States and Great Britain
Ex-Mayor Hewitt, at the request of Mr..
Dodge, presided, and Rev. Josiah Strong
acted as secretary. MIR. Hewitt has been
appointed chairman of committee of the
chamber of commerce for a similar pur-
pose.
On motion OF Chauncey M. Depsw the
meeting adopted resolutions favoring ar
bitration of disputes between nations.
Or. Depew discussed the question in
brlef speech. IN conclusion MIR. Depew
said:
"In our country, I think, as this move-
ment progresses it will develop that per-
feet unanmity exists on this subject, and
before long the universal peace which the
church has been praying for Tor two thous-
and years will be realized"
On motion of General Bristow Bishop
Potter, Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, !. G.
Cadwallader, H. e. Rowland and W. Il.
Dodge were appointed as delegates TO a
meeting in favor of arbitration to take
place in Independence hall, Philadelphia.
on Washington's birthday, with power to
add to their number.
FRENCH CONCENTRATION
PARIS, Feb l9.--The Temps says it be-
lieves that the withdrawal yesterday of
Mr.. Atherly Jones' amendment prefaces
ITO an nnouncoment that an agreement has
been reached between Great Britain and
the Unit ed States OH tho Venezuela ques-
tion and it congratrlates both countries on
having arrived At a pacific solution of the
question which at one time threatened to
bring about q Iaost serious conflict between
the two English speaking nations,