New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-05
POLICIES IN VENEZUELA

POLICIES IN TENEZt Ella.
In considering the extent to which the policy
Of the United States has been successful III the
settlement of the Venezuela boundary dispute 1t
will be better to proceed upon the basis OF MS
torical facts. however trlte. than upon that OF
assnmption. however cocksure, or Of invention,
however ingenious.
In 1852 1883 and 1854 the Venezuelan Gov
ernmcnt proposed TO submit the matter which
had been discussed by the two parties to the
dispute in a desultory fashion since ISL to
tribunal of arbitration, and asked the Govern
ment OF the United States 10 exercise its good
Offices to that end This the latter agreed to do,
and committed itself to the policy of arbltra-
ton. The British Government, through LORD
Granville. at first replied that it did not con-
slider the matter to he suited TO arbitration, but
later consented to arbitratc t. Before the treaty
TO that effect could be signed, however, Lord
Granville was succeeded by Lord Salisbury, and
the latter refused to confirm the agreement OF
his predecessor, and the treaty failed. That was
on June y. 1883. The dispute continued fit
fully until December 1856. when there seemed
TO be danger Of rupture between the two
Powers. 10 prevent which the United States
Mr. Bayard being Secretary of State-agan ten
again affirmed TO be its policy. Various other
governments made similar offers. These offers
were all declined by the British Government,
which held to its former contention that the
matter was not properly arbtrable In Fepru-
airy, 1887, diplomatic relations between the TWO
countries were suspended at the instance Of
Venezuela. that country despairing of any good
result from further negotiations
Great Britain had meanwhile been pretty
steadily increasing its claims and pushing us
actual occupation of territory forward. pom
learning of further advances Of that character
Secretary Bayard, in February, 1883. remon-
strated nd third time offered arbitration as
the true solution Of the problem The offer was
not accepted In May. 1890. Secretary Blaine
for the fourth time suggested arbitration, and
confirmed II a. the American policy. Again the
offer was declined. In 1890 Venezuela sent an
envoy to London to resume diplomatic relations,
but the mission failed because that envoy sug-
cested arbitration and the British Government
refused even 10 discuss it, In July. 1894 Mr..
Gresham, the American Secretary of state, for
the fifth time suggested arbitration and ten
dered the good offices Of this Government. but
in vain In February 1895. Congress by joint
resolution earnestly approved the suggestion OF
arbitration and in July following Secretary Oh
nev in most elaborate manner argued in favor
of that method of settling the dispute. Five
months later the British Government replied to
Mr. Oney. categorically and emphatically re-
fusing "tO submit 10 arbitration Of another
Power or to foreign iurists' the claims Of Ncnez-
uela That was on November &c, 1880 on De
cember ! : following Mr.. Cleveland sent TO Con
gress his famous message in which, after re-
counting the facts Of the case. and after reaf-
flrming that arbitration was the policy OF the
United States he said that since Great Britain
would not agree to arbitration nothing remained
but for the United States. on its own account
and for its own satisfaction, to investigate and
ascertain what were the merits Of the case. y
few weeks later. AT the end Of February. 1896,
the suggestion Of arbitration was renewed; it
was treated with more favor than formerly by
the British Government and before the end Of
that year. on November r. 1896. the arbitration
treaty was signed. The sequel has been tho
arbitration at Paris and the final and just
award.
The policy of the United States. therefore has
from the beginning been that the dispute should
be arbitrated That policy was put forward by
Mr. Frclinghuyscn by Mr.. Lowell. by Mr.. Bay
ard by Mr. Blaine. 10y Mr. Lincoln and by Mr..
Olney. 1t was repeatedly refused by the British
Government. But in the end, after Mr. Clcvc-
lands somewhat abrupt and supposedly belli-
cose message ntimating our unreadness to see
Venezuela deprived by mere right Of the stronger
Of any territory which might be shown to be
justly hers. arbitration was gracefully accepted
by Great Britain, and has now been brought to
successful and most gratifying elimination. As
we have hitherto remarked, the American policy
was splenddy indicated 10y the tribunal at
Paris. and It was, above all, indicated against
the petty carpings Of those criticasterS who
seem to think this Nation alone Of all nations in
the world ought not to have a policy In oppu-
siton to that Of any breechcloutod tribe of
savages In the islands Of the sea.