The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-16
NO IHFRACTIOK OF
MONROE DOCTRINE
No Country More Anxious
Than Great Britain to
Assist in Maintain
ing It.
EXPLANATION IN COMMONS
AMERICAN ATTITUDE IN THE
VENEZUELAN TROUBLE.

Insfstance That the south American
Considered In Violation of the Mon
roe PoIicy-Emphasis Placed Upon
the Fact That the Arbitration Propo-
sition is Made by Venezuela Through
the United States and Not by the
American Government.
London, Dec. 15,-The House of Com
mons was crowded this evening when
the Venezuelan matter came up for de-
bate. Henry White, the American
charge d'affaires, had a seat in the di-
plomatic gallery.
Mr.. Schwann, after having expressed
surprise that the government was
anxious for another war after South
Africa, complained of the paucity of
the information concerning the Vene-
zuelan situation which has been given
to parliament. He said he hoped ar
bitration would be accepted, because,
although President Roosevelt is anx-
ious to act correctly, the situation is
full of danger and the presidents hand
might be forced by politicians.
Lord Cranborne spoke after Mr..
Schwann. He reproached this member
with a desire to discredit the govern
ment and explained that the papers in
the Venezuelan matter were very vol
luminous, and that those issued to-day
NaTe only a summary. He said that
Great Britain had to perform police
duty among the nations and had to
prevent Venezuela from breaking the
law of nations. The United States took
the sensible view that Great Britain's
insistence that Venezuela should meet
her engagements was not an infrac-
tion of the Monroe doctrine. mo coun-
try has been more anxious than Great
Britain" said Lord Cranborne, "to as
sist the American government in main
tanning that doctrine This remark
was greeted with cheers. Continuing,
the under foreign secretary said the
British government had displayed great
forbearance and that it was only after
Venezuela had been thrice summoned
to do right that the government had
been driven to strong measures to Sc
cure the safety, liberty and property
of British subjects in Venezuela, and
that in the execution of these meas
ures the government desired to pur-
sue the same course of moderation.
Lord Cranborne said also that the
blockade would be carried out with ev-
cry regard for the interests Of neu-
trails.
The Liberal leader, Sir Henry Camp
bell-Bannerman, then voiced his strong
dissatisfaction with Lord Cranborne's
speech. He complained Of the lack of
information about the German and
British claims, which he said seemed
to be on a different footing. The
speaker said he was an advocate of the
best possible feeling between the two
countries, but that in this matter Great
Britain seemed to be bound hand and
foot to Germany. 1--WE could do moth
ing with regard to our claims" contin-
ued the Liberal leader, "unless the Ger
mans are perfectly satisfied with the
settlement of their claims. Such an
agreement is contrary to the country's
best interests. The noble lord has said
nothing about an important communi-
cation received from the United States;
there would be universal satisfaction if
the communication was of such a ma
ture as to lead to q peaceful solution
of what, after all seems to be a some
what squalid difficulty"
Premier Balfour then spoke. He ac-
cused the mover and the seconder of
the motion to adjourn of desire to
discredit the government, and said this
was not the way to approach painful
international episode. The premier de-
clared there was no justification for the
assumption that the government was
prepared to go to war for the Vene-
zuelan bondholders. The crux of the
matter was a series of outrages by
yenezuelans on British seamen and
ship owners, for which not only had
compensation been refused, but Great
Britain's remonstrances had been en-
tirely disregarded.
It was an intolerable situation and
the premier denied that the govern
nent had been unduly hasty. Sir Hen
ry Campbell appeared to
desire to cooperate with Germany on
his own peculiar terms, but few allies
would be prepared to act on such a
basis.
Continuing, Mr. Balfour said that in
sofar as the financial claims were con-
cerned the government was prepared to
agree to a tribunal to assess them
equitably. He said also that the United
States government had not suggested
arbitration. Anglo-German interests
in Venezuela had been entrusted to the
American minister at Caracas, Mr..
Bowen, who, with admirable energy
had protected the lives of British and
German subjects. The premier said that
he understood that it was from Vene-
zuela, through the United States, that
the suggestion for arbitration had come.
On that point he would only say that it
was unfortunate that Venezuela should
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