The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-29
Mr.. CLEYEL.,A |ND'S
LECTURE COURSE
Concludes His Discussion Of vene-
zueIan Boundary Dispute
With Great Britain.

it was in 1876 that Venezuela made It's
first appeal to the United States in re-
gard to the boundary controversy be-
tween this South American Republic and
Great Britain. Five years afterward the
Venezuelan Minister in Washington APP
pealcd very strongly to Mr.. Evarts, and
was met with words of encoura cement.
IN 1881 Mr.. Blaine became interested III
the matter In 1884 Mr.. Frclinghuysen
communicated with Mr. Lowell on the
subject, and later Secretary Bayard and
Minister Phelps took the matter up and
pressed it forward. In 1887 our minister
TO Great Britain formally rendered to the
English Government the good Offices" OF
the United States to promote an AMIGA
bic settlement of the pending controvcr-
sy. offering olr arbitration if acceptable
to both parties. This tender was refused
by Lord Salisbury
OvERTUREs REFUSED.
The letter narrated some of the Incl
dents having to do with the collection of
damages by Great Britain from Venezue-
la 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 juris-
diction In this case the English authori-
ties refused certain friendly overtures in
the interest of an amicable settlement OIL
the part of the American Minister-to Ven
eZuea.
relation of Secretary Blaine and Minister
Lincoln TO the boundary controversy. Mr.
Cleveland described, also his own action
as President during his second term. cuI-
minating in England'S absolute refusal
Ito permit Venezuelas claim to be tested
by arbitration" while "yenezuela was ut
terly powerless to fcrcibly resist Eng
lands self-pronounced decree of owner
ship" He quoted from his own mention
OF tie 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 to London.
NEW STAGE.
ut now, said AIR. Cleveland. "became
plainly apparent that new stage had
been reached in the progress OF our in
PREVENTION and that the ominous happen
ings of a Few months had fastened 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 tone that had been given to
our dispatches concerning the dispute our
more lnsistent and emphatic suggestion of
arbitration. the serious reference to the
subject in 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 Grca.
Britain, concurrently with these appris-
ing incidents, repeated in direct and posi-
tive terms her refusal to submit to arbi-
tration, except on condition that portion
OF the disputed territory which Venezuela
had always claimed TO be hers should at
the outset be irreyocably conceded to Eng
land
MONROE DOCTRINE.
MI Cleveland further said: ..Recrearcy
TO a principle so fundamentally American
as the Monroe Doctrine OH the mart Of
those charged with the administration of
our Government was OF course out OF the
question. inasmlch. therefore, as all our
efforts to avoid its assertion had miscar
cled, there was noting left for us to do.
consistently with national honor. but to
take the place of Venezuela in the con-
! troEersE, SO far as that was necessary in
Eindlcatlon OF our American doctrine.
our mia and aniabie proffers of good
oii'ces' ana the hopes We INDUCED that at
last they might be the means of securing
| tc weak sister republic peace and JUS
lics, ana TO ourselves immunity from
sterner lnterposition, We're not suited to
the new emergency. In our advanced no
slt!on sympathy for Venezuela and solicit
tuue Tor her distressed condition ware 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
10 the late Secretary Gresham. and came
then to Mr.. Olney's part in the neeotIa-
llons. In 1888 Mr.. Olney, said Mr. CIeve-
| iand, at the suggestion of the President,
began with Chara cteristc energy and
Eisof 10 make preparation for the de-
| clslVe step which it seemed to our Gov
| srnment could not longer be DELAYED"
| MI Cleveland said: whatever our be-
| iieis or convictions might be, as derived
from the examination We had thus far
given the case, and however strongly we
| 1nlSht De persuaded that Great Britains
| pretensions, if allowed must result in
such European colonization as would Iio-
| late the Monroe Doctrine. it would rev
| ertheless have been manifestIv iulprSper
| @nd needless on our part to find concll-
SiVeiy against Great Britain before So
| Letting her again and in new circun1-
! stances to give US an opportunity to
Judge OF the merits of her claims through
| her submission Of them to arbitration
DECISIVE STEP.
| lie 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 q descrip-
ton of the subsequent action of Great
Britain in acceding to arbitration as
urged by the United States, and gave an
account of the final settlement, which,
| according to this account, was vastly
more favorable to Venezuela than has
been supposed by many. He said that
his hearers would very likely be sur
prised that this Controversy was so
long chronici and yet in the end yielded
so easily to pronounced treatment" He
added: MY own surprise and disappoint-
n1ent have arisen more from the honest
misunderstanding and the dishonest and
insincere misrepresentation on the part
OF many Of our people regarding the mo-
tives and purposes Of the interference of
the Government Of the United States in
this affair." After refernce to the
complaints on the part of those en-
gagged in speculation and stock gam
bling" he concluded with these words:
GIVEN US BETTER PLACE.
Il hope there are but few of our fell
1ow-citizens who, in their retrospects,
10 not now acknowledge the good that
has come to our nation through this
episode in our history. It has established
the Monroe Doctrine on lasting founda-
tions before the eyes Of the world; it has