ine, and asked Congress for an
appropriation to pay the expenses of a commission which he proposed to
appoint for the purpose of determining the true boundary, which he said
it would then be our duty to uphold. Lest there should be any
misunderstanding as to his intentions he solemnly added: "In making
these recommendations I am fully alive to the responsibility incurred
and keenly realize all the consequences that may follow." Congress
promptly voted the appropriation.

Here was a bold and unqualified defiance of England. No one before had
ever trod so roughly on the British lion's tail with impunity. The
English-speaking public on both sides of the Atlantic was stunned and
amazed. Outside of diplomatic circles few persons were aware that any
subject of controversy between the two countries existed, and no one
had any idea that it was of a serious nature. Suddenly the two nations
found themselves on the point of war. After the first outburst of
indignation the storm passed; and before the American boundary
commission completed its investigation England signed an arbitration
agreement with Venezuela. Some persons, after looking in vain for an
explanation, have concluded that Lord Salisbury's failure to deal more
seriously with Mr. Cleveland's affront to the British Government was
due to his sense of humor.

But here again the true explanation is to be found in events that were
happening in another quarter of the globe. Cleveland's Venezuelan
message was sent to Congress on December 17th. At the end of the year
came Dr. Jameson's raid into the Transvaal and on the third of January
the German Kaiser sent his famous telegram of congratulation to Paul
Kruger. The wrath of England was suddenly diverted from America to
Germany, and Lord Salisbury avoided a rupture with the United States
over a matter which after all was not of such serious moment to England
in order to be free to deal with a question involving much greater
interests in South Africa. The Monroe Doctrine was none the less
effectively vindicated.

In 1902 Germany made a carefully planned and determined effort to test
out the Monroe Doctrine and see whether we would fight for it. In that
year Germany, England, and Italy made a naval demonstration against
Venezuela for the purpose of forcing her to recognize as valid certain
claims of their subjects. How England was led into the trap is still a
mystery, but the Kaiser thought that he had her thoro