The Indianapolis journal., 1899-11-15

THE VOYAGE FROM ENGLAND WAS
NOT AN ENJOYABLE ONE.
He Says the Settlement of the Vene-
xuelan Case Was Fairly Satisfactory
-Other Topics Discussed.

General Harrison returned home yester-
day morning from New York. where he
rested for several days after a tempestuous
voyage from England. He said the weather
on the way home was altogether bad and
outdoor promenades were impossible. as the
decks were under water most of the time
with the heavy seas which broke over them
faster than the scuppers could carry the
water off.
In discussing the settlement of the vene-
zuelan boundary dispute. he said he felt
that Venezuela had won n great victory.
although not such one could have been
desired by those familiar with the merits
Of the case. By the finding Of the tribunal,
he said. England had been dispossessed of
not only the land actually il dispute. but
also of the greater part of the land which.
including the mouth of the Orinoco river.
England had maintained in the beginning
was so clearly hers that her title to ii
would not be submitted to arbitration. BY
the terms of the finding of the court Eng
land surrendered three important strategic
points, besides several prosperous towns in
which there were extensive British invest
ments. He felt that. before court of law,
venezuela's case would have been stronger,
but the court of arbitration, not being
judicial body. but essentially one having In
view a compromise between the two ma
tions, the finding was as good as might
have been expected. General Harrison. in
discussing the proceedings before the court.
said that the most embarrassing thing he
had to contend with was the fact that, dur
ing the most critical point of the argu-
ments, the Venezuelan revolution broke out
and, while this had nothing to do with the
merits OF the case. it was felt to be likely
to furnish ground for apprehension in the
minds of the judges, who were asked TO
turn over substantial British institutions
towns where conditions were then stable,
and give them to Venezuela. which at that
time had hardly any recognized authority,
or, II there was, 1t was disputed.
When asked what the feeling was In Ger
many with reference to America and Amer
leans, General Harrison said that, having
logne and a week in Berlin-he had not had
an opportunity of feeling the pulse of the
people and could not speak advisedly on
that point. He said, however, that he had
talked in formal way with the Emperor.
who manifested a strong friendship for
Americans. He said that, as he was there
purely in an unofficial capacity, Ii would
have been in bad taste for him to have dis
cussed policies or international relations,
unless the subject had been brought up by
the Emperor. He said, however, there was
no denying that the entire press of the con-
tinent had been hostile to America during
the Spanish war.
In discussing the war situation in Eng
land he said there was wonderful activity
apparent in all parts of the country. The
Liberals, who were at first bitter against
| the war, for the reason that they felt II
could have been avoided, now see the ne
| cessity of supporting the government in the
| present crisis and are standing shoulder to
| shoulder with the Conservatives In trying
| to defeat the Beers. He heard, however,
| that 1t was generally understood in Eng
| land that. as soon as the war was over. the
| Liberals proposed to make themselves
| heard in the settlement Of things Just now
they feel. however, that. 1t would not be
| consistent with the broader loyalty due to
the nation to stand in the way of the set
| tiement Of the difficulty. He said he did not
| have an opportunity to hear any great
speeches in Parliament, he only visited
| 1t once, and then heard Michael Hicks
| Beach make his financial statement rs to
ways and means for raising revenues with
| which to carry on the wa-. He says he be-
| lieves that English speakers are not, per-
| haps, ornate" as some of the Ameri-
cans, but, in the main, are very forcible.