Show VENEZUELAN TROUBLES Latest Concerning the Prospective Spat LONDON Jan aA special commissioner commis-sioner of the London Daily Chronicle who is now in Washington sends the following dispatch I am now at length able to speak wit confidence of opinions in the highest high-est American quarters The only condition dition on which the men whom I specially ially desired to see would speak h been my personal pledge not evem by a hint to betray their names therefore I can only give you my word that I am not exaggerating my authorities President Pres-ident Clevelands message to Congress has done several things good and evil First it has destroyed every chance of saving the Armenians Second it has given an impetus toward closer ties between Great Britain and her colonies col-onies Third it has enormously emphasized empha-sized the line of cleavage always existing ex-isting but discreetly ignored between east and west in the United States The west regards the east today as practically a European annex and New York bankers as allies of the money sharks of Europe FOR A NAVY A Fourth it has been rendered certain the creation of a great American navy which the g generation will be almost irreslstably tempted to use for aggression aggres-sion sionFifth Fifth and most important it has unless foolish words or unforeseen foolS events bar its natural consequences pave the way for better future relations rela-tions because Americans having experience ex-perience of the consequences will cease their ignorant denunciations and the Englishmen will learn to show much greater respect to American national na-tional opinion knowing that force is behind it and will therefore refrain from provoking it by utterances and acts of veiled contempt Finally the message has rendered possible the avoidance of r fa vaster danger namely the question of the Nicaragua canal A man who would be near the head of the American army in case of war said to me It Is a blessing the Venezuelan affair has happened because a specific solution of this will point the way to the same thing over Nicaragua concerning which otherwise the two nations would certainly have fought I can affirm positively that the American government is above every thing anxious for arbitration Whatever What-ever may have been its actual result the intention of President Clevelands message was amicable The close i entourage of the president today I scouts the idea that it was not a message of peace But behind it h sprung up a national sentimentwhich It would be utter madness on the part of the English people to disregard or I underestimate The Monroe doctrine i l not worth discussing All the leaned lean-ed pamphlets the professor opinions the newspaper discussions of it are labor lost The fact is that if Venezuela Vene-zuela does not come within the four corners of the Monroe doctrine then the new doctrinethe Olney doctne covers i and American opinion overwhelmingly over-whelmingly favors its general principles princi-ples Moreover America demands arbitration as a sacred right and for this she will fight if needful While allowing all due weight to the eastern press you must remember the line of cleavage mentioned above Remember also to what extent the south found support in New York before the war of the rebellion ASTONISHED I am astonished at the depth and character of American feeling on this question Men experienced staid eflderly conservative many holding judicial positions of great responsibility responsi-bility frankly declare their uncompromising promising support of this American doctrine And while it is clear that President Cleveland was infinitely too clever and too devoted to his own party not to see that his message would deal a knock down blow to the two groups of his political enemies Republicans and free silverites still no greater mistake would be possible than for England to regard the message mes-sage as a mere party manouvre If this latter view gains acceptance the consequences of the mistake may be awful When I reflect on the possibility possi-bility o this and know what I know of American opinion I am profoundly depressed Arbitration is demanded by every consideration dearest to civilized mankind Now how shal arbitration be reached The best way of all would be for Lord Salisbury to come to an arrangement direct with Venezuela The cabinet here would much prefer this course The correspondent then suggests several sev-eral other methods to be adopted on certain contingencies and including the proposition to have the commission an AngloAmerican one |