The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-13

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The substantial portion of the proposed con-
vention is expressed in a single article in the
following terms:
"The high contracting parties hereby sever
ally and collectively disclaim, now and forever
hereafter, all intention to obtain possession of
the island of Cuba, and they respectively bind
themselves TO discountenance all attempts TO
that effect on the part of any Power or indi-
Udusls whatever. The high contracting par
ties declare, severally and collectively, that
they will not obtain or maintain, for themselves
or for any one of themselves, any exclusive con-
troll over the said island, nor assume nor exer-
else any dominion over the same"
The President has given the most serious at
tention to this proposal, to the notes of the
British and French Ministers accompanying it.
and to the instructions Of NJ de Turgot and
the Earl of Malmsbury, transmitted with the
project of the convention, and he directs me to
make known to you the view which he takes
of this important and delicate subject The
President fully concurs with his predecessors
who have on more than one occasion author
lied the declaration referred to by Lord Mains
bury and M. de Turgot, that the United States
could not see with Indifference the island of
Cuba fall into the possession of any other Eu-
because we should be dissatisfied with any nat
urdl increase Of territory and power, on the
part of England or France France has
within twenty years acquired vast domain on
the northern coast of Africa with u fair pros
pect Of indefinite extension. England within
half a century has added very extensively to
her empire. These acquisitions have created
no uneasness on the part Of the United States
In like manner the United States have, with
in the same period, greatly increased their ter
rtory. The largest addition was that of Lou
isiana which was purchased from France
These accessiOns of territory have probably
caused no uneasness to the great European
Powers, as they have been brought about by
the operation of natural causes, and without
any disturbance of the international relations
of the principal States. They have been fol.
lowed also by a great increase of mutually
beneficial commercial intercourse between the
United States and Europe.
But the case would be different in reference
to the transfer of Cuba from Spain to any other
European Power. That event could not take
place without serious arrangement of the in
ternational system now existing and it would
indicate designs in reference to this hemisphere
which could not but awaken alarm in the
United States. We should view it in somewhat
the same light in which France and England
would view the acquisition Of some important
island in the Mediterranean by the United
States with this difference, it is true, that the
attempt of the United States to establish them.
selves in Europe would be novelty, while the
appearance of a European Power IN this part
of the world is a familiar fact. But this differ
ence in the two cases is merely historical, and
would not diminish the anxiety which, on 20
litical grounds, would be caused by any great
demonstration of European power in a new di
recton in America
Lord Malmsbury states that Great Britain
could never see with indifference the possession
of Cuba by amy Power but Spain, and explicit
ly declares that she has no wish or intention o
apprOpriating the island to herself; and tn,
French Minister makes the same ayowal OF
behalf OF his Government. Lord Malmsbur,
and M. de Turgot do the Government of tn,
United States no more than justice in remark
ing that they have often pronounced themselve
substantially in the same sense. The Presiden
does not covet the acquisition of Cuba for tn,
| United States. At the same time, he consider
the condition of Cuba as mainly an American
question, and to q limited extent only, Euro
pean question. The proposed convention pro
oeeds on different principle Ii assumes tina
the United States have no other or greater in
terest in the question than England or France
whereas it is necessary only to cast ones ey,
upon the map to see how remote are the rela
tons Of Europe, and how intimate those of tn,
United States, with this island
The President doing full justice to tn,
friendly spirit in which his concurrence is in
vited by England and France, and not insensi
BILE to the advantages of good understandin,
between the three Powers in reference to Cuba
feels himself nevertheless unable to become
party TO the proposed compact for the follow
ing reasons 1t is, in the first place, in his judg
ment clear las far as the respect due from tn
Executive to a coordinate branch of the Gov
eminent will permit him to anticipate its de
cisiOn,1 that no such convention would b.
viewed with favor by the Senate. Its certain
rejection by that body would leave the question
of Cuba in still more unsettled position thar
it is now. This objection would not require
the President to withhold his concurrence from
| the convention if no other objection existed
and if strong sense Of the utility Of the meas
| ure rendered it his duty, as far as the Execu
| tive action is concerned, to give his consent t.
| the arrangement. Such, however, is not the
| case The convention would be Of no value
unless it were lasting Accordingly, its terms
! express perpetuity of purpose and obligation
| Now, it may well be doubted whether the Con.
stitution of the United States would allow the
treaty-making power to impose permanen,
disability on the American Government, for all
| coming time, and prevent it, under any future
change Of circumstances, from doing what has
been so often done in times past. In 1903 the
United States purchased Louisiana of France,
and in 1919 they purchased Florida of Spain.
Ii is not within the competence OF the treaty
making power in 1852 effectually to bind the
Government, in all its branches, and for ell
coming time, not to make similar purchase OF
Cuba A like remark, imagine, may be made
even in reference both to England and France,
where the treaty -makng power is less subject
than it is with us to the control of other branch
es Of the Government There is another strong
objection TO the proposed agreement Among
the oldest traditions Of the Federal Government
is an aversion to political alliances with Euro.
pean Powers In his memorable Farewell Ad-
dress, President Washington says: "The great
rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign ma
tons is, in extending our commercial relations,
to have with them as little political connection
as possible. SO far as we have already formed
engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect
good faith Here let us stop" President JEFF
ferson, in his inaugural address, in sol, warn
ed the country against entangling alliances"
This expression, now become proverbial was
unquestionably used by Mr. Jefferson in refer
ence to the alliance with France, Of l77S-an
alliance at the time Of ncalculable benefit to
the United States hut WHICH, IN less than
twenty years, came near involving us in the
wars Of the French Revolution, and laid the
foundation Of heavy claims upon Congress not
extinguished to the present day. 1t is ~guf-
cant coincidence, that the particular prov-
sion Of the alliance which occasioned these
evils was that under which France called upon
US to aid her in defending her West India pos
sessions against England Nothing less than
the unbounded influence Of Washington res
cued the Union from the perils Of that crisis
and preserved our neutrality But the Presi-
dant has a graver obipction To cntering into