New-York tribune., 1901-03-28
CLEVELANDONVENEZUEL A
LECTURES TO PRINCETON STUDENTS ON
THE BOUNDARY DISPUTE.


Princeton, n. j., March q (sneciav Fly tres,
dent Grover Cleveland delivered the first of his two
lectures the question of the Venezuela BOUNDARY
dispute in Alexander Hall this evening Professor
woodrow wilson Of the Jurisprudence department.
presided and introduced Mr.. Cleveland. President
Patton being out of town. The lectures wero de-
nvered on the Stafford Little foundation established
last year by Henry S. Little. OF Trenton with the
understanding that Mr.. Cleveland should deliver
the lectures yearly as long as he is able
Alexander Hail crowded 10 its utmost CO.
paeity' the students with the exception of the
seniors occupying the galleries and the seniors
townspeople occupying the pit
In his Introduction Mr.. Cleveland mentioned the
vagueness on the subject OF boundary lines in the
es'aonshtnent OF both the Venezuelan Republic
and British Guiana. He said that from The frst
there was evident need Of extraneous assist,,,.o
before bounds so loosely named could be exactl,,
fixed.
REVIEW OF THE LONG DISPUTE
MI Cleveland then described the beginning Of the
dispute in 1871 between the Venezuelan N,iris, %
England and Lord Aberdeen, at that time ,-bief
secretary OF state for Foreign Affairs. He fully
explained the making of the Schomburgz survey.
and its relation to the dispute and continued a.
follows: "
IN lel6 thrty-two years after the dis,ontir,,,roo
,3al ~ = S on n me part OF Great Britain and Venez
sessions Venezuela was Confronted non Iei5 pos
flT, eHaI OF negotiations for that purpose with the
a line proposed by her. founded upon her con-
opponent had insisted could not in an NV ~ u.
Iauslpy supported, and which she therefore would
,indeniteness in the limits claimed by Great
tS itoSin SO great that OF two boundary lines ind-
declared 10 be merely preliminary measure ors1
~ TI -eIa5e DISCUSSION between the governments of
f1hglaho ana Venezuela" and the other was dis
tnctly claimed 10 be based upon "a desire to yoid
all cause of serious controversy between the two
countries" ~ "
A controversy growing out Of this situation i'm
possible OF friendly settlement except hy such ar
rangement and accommodation as would be salts
LaeoIy 70 S5reat Britain or by submission Of the
A constant danger Of such an extension of settle
ments IN the disputed territory as would neces-
. sarily eompncate the situation and furnish
Venient pretext for the refusal of any concession
continual profession on the part Of Great
brltain OF her readiness TO make benevolent con-
cessons and Of her willingness 10 cooperate in a
speedy adjustment. while not substantially redilc-
ing her pretensions and certainly not attempting
cluson Of negotiations.
IA. tremendous rem DISPARITY in power between Venez
case the extremity Of war or force vas reached.
ton 10 the possessions Of Great Britain.
Mr.. Cleveland then turned to the part of the
United States in the controversy. He said IT was
in 1876 that Venezuela first appealed TO the United
States. begging our government ITO give the sub
ject its kind consideration and take an interest
in having justice done to Venezuela" This said
the speaker appears be the first communication
addressed to our government the subject Of a
controversy in which afterward became very
seriously concerned
THE APPEALS FOR ARBITRATION
Next. Mr.. Cleveland, quoting constantly from
documents. showed the repeated appeals Of Venez-
nela to Great Britain in favor of settling the case
oy arnitration on the whole subject declaring that
they we're constitutionally prevented from making
grants or territories except by process resulting
IRON aEhtfauon- Mr. Cleveland said that England
IN the mean time refused constantly all arbitration
on the general subject declaring that il feared the
venezuelan constitution would still be used as a
pretexr for disobedience TO an award Great
Britain also objected 10 the arbitration requested
by Venezuela. he said. fearing that an award might
be made in favor Of the Venezuelan claim. in which
case "an important territory which has for long
period been Inhabited and occupied by her
nalestys subjects and treated as part of the coll
ony Of British Guiana would he severed from the
Queens dominions.'
Considering this attitude on the part OF England
Mr. Cleveland said England alone had treated the
doubtful territory as part OF British Guiana: her
immense power had made il possible for her 40 do
this, and her own DEGREES seemed to promise
greater advantages against her weak adversary
than arbitration could possibly assure
The British government time offered
plan OF arbitration covering only part Of the dis
puted territory. but consented 10 arbitration
such as proposed by Venezuela and which
would include all the territory in dispute.
Mr.. Cleveland brought the narrative OF the dis
pute in close and accurate detail down to septem-
Der in 1888. In conclusion he said:
Here closed period in this dispute ffty-tvo
years in duration. Yexed with agitation and per
turbed by repeated irritating failures to reach
peaceful adjustment. Instead Of progress in the
direction OF a settlement OF their boundaries the
contestants could only contemplate as results OF
their action, increased obstacles fair discussion
intensified feelings OF injury. extended assertions
OF title. ruthless appropriation of the territory in
controversy, and an unhealed breach in diplomatic
relations.
Mr.. CleyelanG's second lecture the same sub
ject TO be given tomorrow night. will treat more
fully OF the Part taken by the United States IN the
settlement OF the long controversy resulting as it
6id in arbitration and the fixing OF the boundary
sf-e