Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-03-28
GROVER ON VENEZUELA.
Ex.President Cleveland Lectures
at Princeton University on
Famous Dispute.
Story Of the Difficulties Between
Britain and South American
Republic.
History Of Quarrel Down to Time
When the United States
Interfered.

Princeton, N. j.. March %. Elk
President Grover Cleveland delivered
the first of his two lectures on the
Venezuelan Boundary Dispute" before
the students and friends of Princeton
University last night in Alexander Hall.
Professor WOODROW Wilson introduced
the speaker. "A Mr.. Cleveland aros- to
begin his lecture he was greeted with
three long. loud cheers from the student
body. He was strongly applauded sew
lcral times while delivering the lecture.
a number of prominent people from
Trenton, New York and Philadelphia
We're in attendance.
Mr.. Cleveland at the outset spoke of
1.-THE vagueness on the subject of bound
iary lines in the establishment both of
1.-THE Venezuelan republic and of British
NGuana He said that from the first
there was evident need of extraneous
assistance" before bounds so loosely
named could b. exactly fixed
He then referred to the initiation of
1.-The dispute in ls4l between the venezu-
elan minister to Great Britain and Lord
| Aberdeen. chief secretary of state for
foreign affairs.
The making Of the schomburgh sur
lsvey and its bearing upon the dispute
We're fully explained. The lecturer
i said:
In 1875. thirty two years after the
6iscontingance of efforts on the part of
R,-it nj a ,I@tt
agreement 4 line which should divide
StEeir possessions, Venezuela was CON
/ fronted, upon the renewal of negotia-
itions for that purpose, by the following
conditions:
a line proposed by her founded up
on her conception of strict right, which
her powerful opponent had insisted
could not in any way be plausibly sup
I ported and which therefore she would
/ il no event accept.
An Indebtedness in the limits
lclaimed by Great Britain so great that
scf two boundary lines Indicated or sug-
iigested by her, ore had been plainly de-
/ ciared to be merely a preliminary
measure open TO future discussion be-
tween the governments of Great Brit
lain and Venezuela. and the other was
/ distinctly claimed to be based upon
/ generous concessions and a desire to
/ avoid all cause Of serious controversies
between the two countries.
A controversy growing out OF this
4 situation impossible os friendly settle
lInant except by such arrangement and
accommodation as would be satisfactory
! 10 Great Britain, or by submission of
lethe dispute to arbitration.
4 A constant danger of such angoxten-
i sion of settlements In the disputed ter
ritory as would necessarily complicates
1.-THE situation and furnish convenient
sl'rretext for the refusal of any conces-
4 sion respecting the lands containing
such settlements.
"A continued profession on the part
lcf Great Britain other present read-
ness to make benevolent concessions.
land of her Willingness to CO. operate in.
Il a speedy adjustment. while not sub
kstantially reducing her pretensions, and
certainly not attempting in conspic-
& uous manner TO hasten negotiations to
i a conclusion.
"A tremendous disparity in power and
strength between Venezuela and her adj
lyersary, which gave her no hope. In case
the extremity OF force or war was
Il reached. of defending her territory or
i preventing its annexation to the pos
Il sessions of Great Britain"
1t was in 1876 that Venezuela appealed
q 10 the United States begging our gov
! eminent ITO give the subject its kind
i consideration, and take an interest in
S having due justice done to Venezuela"
s This" said the lecturer, appears to be
/ the first communication addressed to
Icur government on the subject of a
controversy in which we afterward be-
came very seriously concerned.
Fl The lecturer, quoting constantly from
3 documents, showed the repeated appeals
> of Venezuela to Great Britain in favor
1 of settling the question by arbitration
5 ION the whole subject. declaring that
3 their constitution prevented them from
Z making grants of territories except by
p process the result OF arbitration
Meantime England constantly refused
arbitration on the general subject, de-
claring that 1t feared the Venezuelan
constitution would still be used as a
: pretext for disobedience to an award
Great Britain also objected to the ar
q bitraton requested by Venezuela, Fear
q ing that an award might be made in
;, favor OF the Venezuelan claim. in which
j case "an important territory inhabited
k and occupied by her majesty's subjects
e and treated as part OF, the colony OF
= British Guiana, would be severed from
n the queens dominions.
i on this Mr.. Cleveland said: EN-
gland alone had treated it as part Of
d British Guiana her immense power
S lad enabled her to do this, and her owr
e DEGREES seemed to promise greater ad
e vantages than arbitration could posi-
i, bly, assure.
II The British government at one tim,
v offered plan OF arbitration which die
not cover the entire disputed territory
hut never consented to arbitration sucl
). as proposed by Venezuela, and which
8 would include the entire territory ii
N dispute.
The lecture last night brought dow
st with much detail the narrative to Sep
l. TENDER, 1893 AT the end of the lecture
l. Mr.. Cleveland said:
lie Here closed a period In this dispute
fifty-two years in duration, vexed witt
0. agitation and perturbed by Irritating
" and repeated failures to reach peace
De full adjustment Instead of progress Il
the direction of settlement Of thei
he boundaries, the contestants could onl
to- contemplate, as results OF their actor
IN increased obstacles to a fair discussion
intensified feelings OF injury. extende
nc :, .,orxfoy1 ~ ftf1a r,sftyaac IL.