New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-26

The latest news coming simultaneously from
Washington and London. marks "A striking
change i'm the NencZu'la controversy. The
British Government has sought the friendly
aid of the nltrd States Government in settling
at least II part of It's differences with the South
American republic. That T. all II is a simple
matter II j. i common thing In International
politics Yet i'm tins ease II amounts 10 IN al
most revolutionary change Of procedure. and
Il wholesome" vindication of the traditional
American policy Of Monroe and Marcy. of
Seward and Blaine. For hitherto the rcsoutc
contention of British Jlng',s and still more of
their suhscrvlcnt echoes here. has been that.
whoever might be- concerned in South American
affairs the 'niicd States was not. Great Brit
ain. Paul kriigor the Akhoond of Swat.
might claim interest and consideration there
with good grace: but for the United States To
intimate that il had. or might could. would or
should have. the slightest interest there. or
was in the inhncSimalcSt degree, To he con
suited concerning the disposition of South
American territory, gross and ntolerablc
impcrtinencc. Even when Great Britain con
sidcrrd the question Of understanding to arb-
tratc som" matter with II Central American
republic, This essential condition was insisted
upon in advance. that no citizen Of the United
States should he member of the tribunal.
There is reason 10 sllSpcc; that this view Of
the case was shared by the present highly con
sccratcd Administration at Washington. It ut
first acted in exact accordance Herewith
Later ii did indeed assert itself and take hand
in the controversy. But 1t did so not In the
calm and dignifcd manner of one maintaining
n natural and indisputabe right, but with the
defiant air Of n swashbucklrr who is by no
means that his cause Is righteous. and so
PUSHES into it bndly. right or wrong for what
there is in il for his gain. Now. however, both
in Downing Street and mt the White House. "A
great light is The British Government
turns to the United States for assistance in It's
Venezuelan negotiations. thus practically rccog-
nizlng the fact that this country has an interest
in that controversy. and is properly to be re-
garded factor in the settlement Of IT, II
is to be supposed that the Washington Admin
istration will now accept that view of the case
since the cue to do SO has been given to II by
England
The particular feature of the case concerning
which the good offices of the United States are
invoked is also significant 1t is not the main
issue, but minor offshoot thereof 1t is how
ever. closely akin TO, II not identical with. that
incident of few months ago which caused the
greatest tension of relations between Grent
Britain and Venezuela. including demands for
smart money and much talk Of utimatums and
of war. In this case. rs In that. II British sub
ject was arrested by the Vcnczueans for al
legged unlricndy trespass upon Venezuelan soil.
or upon soil which may be Venczuela's Exact
details are not yet supplied but II seems alto
gether probable that Mr.. Harrison was engaged
in making n road. under the British flag In the
disputed territory. That was most improper
thing to do. Every principle of justice and de-
cency requires that while title TO territory Is in
dispute and Is actually the subject of judicial
consideration. betA Raytics should refrain FROM