The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-05

iect on Dec. 8. 1894. thou1A there was Just AZ
much ground for our int milton at that time
as there was a year lateri "The boundary OF
British Guiana still remains In dispute between
Great britain and Venezuela. Believing that
it's early settlement on some just basis, alike
honorable to both parties Is in the line OF our
established policy to remove from this hemi-
sphere all causes OF difference with powers be-
yondthe sea, l shall renew the efforts heretofore
made 10 bring about a restoration OF diplomatic
relations between the disputants, and TO induce
q reference to arbitration; n resort which Great
Britain so consnicuously favors In principle
and respects In practice. and which is earnestly
sought by hor recent adversary" That he
was at this time extremely DESTROYS OF secur-
ing the good will OF Great Britain Is evident
from the fact that. on Jan. 9. 1895. he sent a
special message TO Congress recommending 1t
to sanction the lease to Great Britain by the
Hawaiian Government OF an island as q station
for q submarine telegraph cable to be laid from
Canada to Australia. Il hope" he said. that
the Congress will see At to grant the request OF
the Hawaiian Government, and that our.con-
sent to the proposed lease will be promptly ac-
corded" The consent recommended was not
given.
In the third annual message. dated Dec. 2.
1896. three paragraphs are devoted to the Cuban
instruction which had boon going on for about
" lhohNiHs L VIII 10 ODbtINbu luhb luIs
Cleveland practically confines himself to ex-
pressing the hope that the insurrection may be
quickly put down by Spain. In the passage
here reproduced tho italics are ours: Cuba is
again gravely disturbed. An instruction. in
some respects more active than the last pre-
cedlng revolt. which continued from 1868 to
1873, now exists In a large part OF the eastern
interior OF the island. menacing even some
populations on the coast. Besides deranginR
| the OOmmOrpial aNohannea IF tina ialQnh If
which our country takes the predominant
share, this fragrant condition OF hostilities. by
arousing sentimental sympathy and melting
adventurous support among our people. has en-
tailed earnest effort on the part OF this Govern
ment to enforce obedience to our Neutrality
laws and to prevent the territory Of the United
States from being abused as q vantage ground
from which to aid those In arms against Span
ish sovereignty. Whatever may be the tradi-
tional sympathy OF our countrymen as indi-
viduals with n people who seem to be struggling
for n large autonomy and greater freedom.
deepened. as such sympathy naturally must be.
in behalf OF our neighbors. yet the plain duty OF
their Government Is to observe in good faith
the recognized obligations Of international re-
lationship. The performance of this duty
should not be made more difficult by q disre-
gard on the part Of our citizens OF the obliga-
lions growing out OF their allegiance to their
country, which should restrain them from vio-
lating as individuals the neutrality which the
nation Of which they are members is bound to
observe In its relations to friendly sovereign
States. Though neither the warmth Of our
peoples sympathy with tho Cuban insurgents.
nor our loss and material damage consequent
upon the futile endeavors thus far made to re-
store peace and order. nor any shock our hu-
name sensibilities may have received from the
cruelties which appear to especially character
lie this sanguinary and hercely conducted war. |
have in the least shaken the determination OF
the Government to honestly fulfil every inter-
national obligation, yet 1t Is to be earnestly |
hoped on ererv ground that the devastation OF
armed conflict Hav speedily be stayed and order
and oniet restored to the distracted island. |
bringing in their train the activity and thrift Of
peaceful pursuits"
The reference In this message to the Venez-
uela boundary controversy gave no intimation
of the surprise that was in store. 1t ran quietly
as follows: 1T being apparent that the
boundary dispute between Great Britain and
the republic Of Venezuela concerning the limits
Of British Guiana was approaching an acute
stage. a definite statement of the interest and
policy OF the United States as regards the con-
troversy seemed to be required both on It's own
account and in view Of its relations with the
friendly powers directly concerned" The
reader will observe that Mr.. Cleveland makes
the United States" a singular noun. not be-
ing aware. apparently. that. wherever the term
occurs In the Constitution. 1t is plural. and can
not be made singular without a constitutional
amendment. In July last. therefore," Mr.
Cleveland continued. "a despatch was ad-
dressed to our Ambassador at London, for
communication to the British Government,
in which the attitude of the United States
was fully and distinctly set forth. The gen.
eral conclusions therein reached and formu-
lated are. in substance. that the traditional
and established policy Of this Government
is firmly opposed to q forcible increase by
any RGropean power Of its territorial pos
sessions on this continent: that this policy is
as well founded In principle as 1t is strongly
supported by numerous presidents; that. as a
consequence. the United States is bound to pro-
test against the enlargement Of the area OF
British Guiana in derogation Of the rights, and
against the will OF Venezuela: that. considering
the disparity In strength OF Great Britain and
Venezuela. the territorial dispute BETWEEN
them can be reasonably settled only by friendly
and impartial arbitration. and that the resort
to such arbitration should include the
whole controversy. and 10 not satisfied II
one OF the powers concerned is permitted
to draw an arbitrary line through the
territory IN debate and to declare that It
will submit to arbitration only the por-
ton lying on one side OF 1t. In view OF these
conclusions. the despatch In question called
upon the British Government for q definite an
swer to the question whether it would or would
not submit the territorial controversy between
itself and Venezuela in its entirety to impartial
arbitration. Tn answer Of the British Gov
ernment has not yet been received. but 1t Is er-
pected shortly. whom further communication
on the subject will probably be made to the
Congress-"
VIII.
1t was just fifteen days later and about six
months before the Democratic National Con-
vention that a special message was sent by Mr..