Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-11-27

for the alleged purpose Of protecting it against foreign
vason or internal revolutionary movements similar
design was imputed to the Government Of Great Britain
and il was stated that in both continuance of the
occupation of the island to constitute in the hands
of either Of those Powers guarantee for the payment Of
heavy indenntes claimed by France on the Que hand,
10 the expenses her armies of occupations and by
Great Britain the other To- compensate her subjects
for spoatons alleged to he been committed upon their
Commerce. The arrangements entered into by Spain
with those two Powers by means of treaties of recent
date and providing for the payment of those ndemnies
although removing the pretext upon which the occupa
ton of Cuba would have been justified not believed
entirely obVate the possibility of its eventually being
effected The Government Of the United States considers
much stronger pledge OF its continuance under the
dominion of Spain the considerable military and nayalar
mamens which have recently been added to the ordinary
Of defence in that island and which supposed
fully adequate for its protection against any attemp
the part foreign Powers and for the suppression any
insurrectionary movement TINT Of its inhabitants
Notwithstanding these apparent securities for the main
tenance of the Spanish authority in the island of Cuba
it is not impossible that SPAIN in her present emlar
raised and dependant situation, might be induced to yield
her assent TO temporary occupation of it, pledge
for the fufment of her engagements to part with her
right of property in it for other considerations aordng
immediate relief in the hour OF her distress it is the wish
of the President that the wachfuncss which had
engaged the attention Of your predecessors in relation to
this subject should be continued during your adminra
ton of the affairs of the legation Of the United States at
this Department informed of every whose ten
dency direct Indirect might, in your Judgment bring
about change in the present condition Of the sand
Of Cuba. H2
to that effect have availed themselves Of every fit opr
tunity to make the wishes and policy of the United Sites
with regard to the Spanish islands fully known tothe
Government of his Catholic Majesty, whom You wllfnd
already possessed of every information which you will
have it in your power to communicate upon this had
but it is not improbable that the inquisityness
which has hitherto been manifested the part that
Government in relation it may again be evnced by the
Spanish Minister'S who, affecting construe the ayowed
anxiousness of the United States into determination not
suffer the possession of Cuba to pass into the hands of
other Powers, have inquired how far this Government
would go in sustaining that determination Should SINH
lar inquiries be made of you by the Ministers OF his Catho
lie Majesty you authorized to say that the longes
tablished and weknown policy of the United States
which forbds their entangng themselves in the concerns
OF other nations and which permits their physical force
to be used only for the defence of their political rights
and the protection of the persons and property OF their
citizens equally forbds their public agents to enter into
positive engagements the performance OF which would
require the employment OF which the people have
retained in their hands but that this Government
has every to believe that the influence which
ayerted the blow ready to fall upon the Spanish
islands would again be found eectua the recurrence
of similar events; and that the high preponderancc in
American affairs of the United States great naval
Power, the influence which they must at all times COM
mand great commercial nation, in all questions in
hemisphere would render their consent essential pre-
mnary to the execution of any project calculated so vi
tally to affect the general Of all the nations in
any degree engaged in the commerce of America The
knowledge you possess of the public sentiment of this
country in regard Cuba viii enable you speak with
confidence and effect of the probable that
might be expected from the communication of that sent-
Congress- the any contemplated change
in the present political condition of that island.
Mr.. Fan Buren, to lr. Yam Ness Extract
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, October IL, 1880.
This Government has also been given to understand
that if Spain should perseyere in the assertion OF hope
less claim dominion her former colonies they will
feel it to be their duty well their interest to attack
her colonial possessions in vicinity, Cuba and Porto
Rico Your general instructions are full upon the sub
ject Of the interest which the United States take in the
fate Of those islands, and particularly of the former they
inform you that content that Cuba should remain
is but could not consent to its transfer to any
European Power Motives of reasonable State policy
render desirable that it should remain sub
ect Spain rather than to either of the South American
States Those motives will readily present themselves to
your mind they are principally founded upon an appre
henson that If possessed by the latter, it wond in the
of things be in greater danger Of becoming
subject European Power than in its present
dton Although such are our own wishes and true in
teress the President does not what ground he
would be justified in interfering with any attempts which
the South American States might think it for their nte
rest in the prosecution Of defensive to make upon
the Islands IN question:
made disturb them by putting arms in the hands Of
portion of their population TO destroy another and
which in its influence would endanger the peace of por
ton of the United States the case might be different
Against such an attempt the United States beng in
formed that 1t in contempation) have already pro
tested and warmly demonstrated in their communications
last summer with the Government Of Mexico but the in
formation lately communicated to in this regard
accompanied by solemn assurance that such mea-
will in any event. be resorted to and that the
test If forced upon them, will be carried on, their
part with strict reference to the established rules of civil
lied warfare.
Mr.. Van Ness to the Secretaryof Sote.-[ Extract.
mo. 124 LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
Madrid, august TO- 1886.
Sir: A person who has good means Of in
formation has this moment informed that the agents
from the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico, in Madrid
well other persons from there have secretly aided
in promoting the late disorders and changes here for the
purpose Of facilitating the declaration and establishment
Of the independence Of those islands 1t is said to be be-
leyed by them that such state of anarchy and confu
sion will exist here that the accomplishment OF their
pose will be easy task and understand 1T to be their
object to have the attempt made very cannot
swer for the truth Of this but the Importance of the sub
jec ii regards the United States has induced not
to lose moment in giving you the information
Hon. JOHN Forsyth, Secretary of State.
Mr. Van Ness 10 the Secretary Of State Extract.
MADRID, DECEMBER TO- 1885,
SIR: About twenty days ago observed piece in
Of the principal newspapers Of this city, relating to the
island Of Cuba, in which stated fasehood will
gard to the President Of the United States which thought
called for prompt and official denial and contradiction