The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-29
THE HEvENEZUELACASE
sIR. CLEvELAND's SECOND LECTURE
AT PRINCETON.
THE CONTROVERSY REVIVED.
HOW GREAT BRITAIN WAS NICELY
CALLED TO TIME.

for Us 10 Take the Place OF Vene-
zuela-He Tells How This Was
Done with Satisfactory Results to
All Parties Concerned.
Princeton, N. j., March 2S.-Ex-Pres-
ident Grover Cleveland delivered the Sec
ond of his lectures on the Venezuelan
boundary dispute. before the students in
Alexander Hall tonight.
Mr. Cleveland appeared accompanied by
President Patton, and after a round OF
applause by the students, began his lee
ture
Mr Cleveland reminded his hearers that
1t was in 1876 that Venezuela made its
first appeal to the United States in re-
gard to the boundary controversy between
this South American republic and Great
Britain. Five years afterward the ven-
ezuelan minister in Washington appealed
very strongly to Mr.. Evarts, and was
met with words of encouragement. In
1881 Mr.. Blaine became Interested In the
matter. In 1884 Mr.. FrelInghuysen COM
munlcated with Mr.. Lowell on the sub
ject, and later Secretary Bayard and Min
lister Phelps took the matter up and press
ed it forward. In 1887 our minister to
Great Britain formally rendered to tho
English government "the good offices" OF
the United States to promote an AMIGA
BILE settlement of the pending controver-
sy, Offering our arbitration IL acceptable
to both parties. This tender was refused
by Lord Salisbury.
The lecturer narrated some of the inci-
dents having to do with the collection OF
damages by Great Britain from Venezuela
In connection with the seizure of two
English vessels and their crews, in the
disputed region, for alleged violation of
the laws of Venezuela within her jurisdic-
ton. In this case the English authori-
ties refused certain friendly overtures in
the interest of an amicable settlement on
the part of the American minister to ven-
ezuela.
Further details were given, showing the
relation of Secretary Blaine and Minister
Lincoln to the boundary controversy. Mr..
Cleveland described, Also his own action
as President during his second term, cul-
minating in England's absolute refusal
to permit Venezuela's claim to be test
ed by arbitration" while venezuela was
utterly powerless to forcibiy resist Eng
lands self-pronounced decree OF owner-
ship" He quoted from his own mention
OF the subject In his annual message to
Congress; spoke Of the joint resolution OF
Congress In February, 1895, In favor of
friendly arbitration, and referred to the
efforts of Mr.. Bayard who had then be-
come our ambassador 20 London.
1T now," said Mr. Cleveland, became
plainly apparent that a new stage had
been reached in the progress OF our in
tervention, and that the ominous happen
ings of a few months had hastened the
day when we were challenged to take our
exact bearings lest we should miss the
course of honor and national duty. The
more direct tore that had been given to
our dispatches concerning the dispute, our
more insistent and emphatic suggestion
of arbitration, the serious reference to
the subject I'm the Presidents message, the
significant resolution passed by Congress
earnestly recommending arbitration, all
portended a growth of conviction on the
part of our government concerning this
controversy, which grew to pronounced
disappointment and anxiety when Great
Britain, concurrently with these apprising
Incidents repeated in direct and positive
terms her refusal to submit to
arbitration, except on condition that
a portion of the disputed territory
which Venezuela had always claimed to
be hers should at the outset be irrevoca-
bly, conceded to England"
to a principle so funda Ameri-
can as the Monroe doctrine ON the part
0f those charged with the administration
Of our government was of course out of
the question. Inasmuch, therefore, as all
our efforts to avoid its assertion had mis-
carried, there was nothing left for US to
do, consistently with national honor, but
to take the place of Venezuela in the con-
troversy, so far as that was necessary
In Ntgra -
Our mild and amiable proffers OF good
offices, and the hopes we INDUCED that
at last they might be the means OF Sc
curing to a weak sister republic peace
and justice, and to ourselves immunity
from sterner interposition, were not suit
ed to the new emergency In our advanc-
cd position sympathy for Venezuela and
solicitude for her distressed condition
were no longer to be the motive power
of our conduct, but were to give way to
the duty and obligation to protect our
own national rights"
In passing, he made a cordial reference
40 the late Secretary Gresham, and came
then to Mr.. Oney's part in the negoria-
tions. In 1895. Mr. Olney, said Mr.. Cleve-
land, at the suggestion of the President,
began, with characteristic energy and
vigor, TO make preparation for the decis-
i've step which IL seemed TO our govern
HheHl cOuiu not longer De delayed Mr..
Cleveland said: Whatever our beliefs or
convictions might be- as derived from the
examination we had thus far given the
case, and however strongly we might be
persuaded that Great Britain's preten-
sions, II allowed. must result in such Eu-
ropean colonization as would violate the
Monroe doctrine, II would nevertheless
have been manifestly improper and heed
less on our part to find conclusively
against Great Britain. before soliciting
her again and In new circumstances TO
give US an opportunity to Judge OF the
merits OF her claims through her SUBJ
mission OF them to arbitration
He then recited the last decisive steps
taken by our government. including his
own message to Congress and the sup
port by Congress OF his suggestion OF a
commission on the subject
The lecture concluded with a deserip-
tion % subsequent action OF Great
Britain I'm acceding TO arbitration as
urged by the United States. and gave an
account OF the final settlement, which, ac-
cordlng 10 this account. was vastly more
favorably TO Venezuela than has been
supposed BY many. He said that his hear
ors would very likely be surprised that
THIS controversy was 40 long chronic
and yet 10 the end yielded 70 easily 20
pronounced treatment" He added; MY
own surprise and disappointment have
arisen more from the honest misunder-
standing and the dishonest and inainccre
misrepresentation on the part of many Of
fc..tt.,,,,a -, trifth pee. .