Lanterna Rally

Author: Grover Cleveland

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2015-05-02

Total Pages: 128

ISBN-13: 9781512006148

IN dealing with the boundary dispute between Great Britain and Venezuela, I have thus far reviewed certain incidents terminating in 1893 in which these two countries as the parties primarily concerned were participants. We have now, however, reached a stage in the affair which requires a recital of other facts which led up to the active and positive interference of our own government in the controversy. In discussing this branch of our topic it will be necessary not only to deal with circumstances following those already narrated, but to retrace our steps sufficiently to exhibit among other things the appeals and representations made to the government of the United States by Venezuela, while she was still attempting to arrive at an adjustment with Great Britain. I have already referred to the first communication made to us by Venezuela on the subject. This, it will be remembered, was in 1876, when she sought to resume negotiations with Great Britain, after an interruption of thirty-two years. I have also called attention to the fact that coincident with this communication Venezuela presented to Great Britain a willingness to relax her insistence upon her extreme boundary claim, based upon alleged right, and suggested that a conventional line might be fixed by mutual accord. This beginning of Venezuela's appeals to us for support and aid amounted to little more than a vague and indefinite invitation to give her our countenance and sympathy in her efforts to settle her differences with her contestant, with an expression of a desire that we would take cognizance of her new steps in that direction. I do not find that any reply was made to this communication. -The Century, Volume 62 [1901]