Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-09-07
I,,poRT1NT DOcIIMENT.

~.
The world recollects the mastery letter of Mr..
Everett in reply the proposal of England and France
to the United States for tripartite treaty for the
protection of Cuba. We now place before our read
ors the of the British Government to that let
ter and also brief despatch from Mr.. Champion,
relative to an interview between Mr. Secretary Marcy
and the British and French Ministers on the sub.
ject:
FoREIGN OFFICE February 16, 1853.
SIR: Lord Malmesbuy received, just before leav-
ing office the note addressed to you by Mr. Everett
and left it for the consideration of his successor
The absence from London of the Ambassador of
France has hitherto prevented that communication
between the two governments which the circumstan-
ces of the proposal made jointly required.
= have now to inform you of the view which her
majesty government take of Mr. Everetts reply to
our overture.
It is doubtless perfectly within the competence of
the American government to reject the proposal that
was made by Lord Malmesbury and NJ. Turgot in
reference to Cuba. Each government will then re-
main free was before to take that course which
its sense of duty and regard for the interests OF its
people may prescribe.
Il should have satisfied my obligations as Secretary
of State by this obvious remark had not Mr. Everett
entered at large into arguments which the simple
nature of the question before him hardly seemed to
require
& The governments of Great Britain and France, when
they made this proposal to that of the United States
were fully aware of the growth of power and extern
sion of territory which have marked the progress OF
the United States since the period of their ndepcnd
cnce. The absorption or annexation of Louisiana
in 1903 of Florida In 1872 of Texas in 1916, and of
California in 1913 had not escaped them; still less
did they require to be reminded of the events of the
seven wears war, or of the American
1t occurs to her majesty's government therefore,
to ask for what purpose are these arguments intro
duced with much preparation, and urged with so
much ability?
1t would appear that the purpose, not fully avowed
but hardly concealed is to procure the admission of
floetrne that the United States have interest in
H01x n RpSta md
tend In order to meet this pretension, it is neces-
sary forth the character of the two powers who
make the offer in question: and the nature of that
offer. Mr. Everett declares in the outset of his des
patch, that "the United States would not see with
indifference the island of Cuba fall into the possession
of any other European government than Spain, &c
The two powers most likely to possess themselves
of Cuba, and most formidable to the United States
are Great Britain and France.
Great Britain is in possession, by treaty, of the
island of Trinidad, which, in the last century,
colony of Spain; France in possession, at the
commencement of this century, of Louisiana, by vol
untary cesson from Spain. These two powers by
their naval resources are in fact the only powers
who could be rivals with the United States for the
possession of Cuba. Well, these two powers
ready voluntarily to declare severally and cOllec
lively that they viii not obtain maintain for them
selves, or for any of themselves, any exclusive
control the said island of Cuba nor assume nor
exercise any dominion over the same"
phus, the object of the United States were to bar
the acquisition of Cuba by any European State, this
convention would secure that object
But if it is intended the part of the United
States to maintain that Great Britain and France
have interest in the maintenance of the present
stdtW quo Cuba, and that the United States have
alone right to voice in that matter, her Majestys
government at once refuse to admit such a claim.
Her Majestys possessions in the Wost Indies alone,
without insisting on the Importance to Mexico and
other friendly States of the present distribution of
power, give her Majesty interest in this question
which, she cannot forego.
The possessions of France in the American
give similar interest to France, which, doubt,
will be put forward by her government Morris this
right at all nvadated by the argument of Mr.. Eve
rett that Cuba to the United States island at
themouth of the Thames or the Seine would be to
England or France.
The distance of Cuba from the nearest part of the
territory of the United States, viz from the south
ernmost part of Florida is 10 miles
IAN island at an equal distance from the mouth of
the Thames would be placed about ten miles north of
Antwerp, in Belgium while island at the same
distance from Jamaica would be placed at Manzan-
lila, a town in Cuba.
Thus there no grounds for saying that the pos
session of Cuba by Great Britain France would be
menacng to the United States; but that its posses
sion by the United States would not be to Great
Britain.
There is one argument of the United Statos Sccre
tary of State which appears to her Majesty govern
ment not only unfounded but disqueting
Lord Malmesbury and NJ. dc Turgot put forward
reason for entering into the proposed compact
g the attacks which have lately been made on the
the United States apd with the atowed design of ta
king possession of that island" To this reason Mr.
Everett replies in these terms {" The President is
convinced that the conclusion of such treaty, in
stead of putting stop to these awess proceedings,
would give new and powerful impulse to them"
The government of Great Britain acknowledges
with respect the conduct of the President in dsa
vowing and discouraging the lawleSs attempts here
referred to- The character of those attempts indeed
was such as to excite the reprobation of every civil
liked State. The spectacle of bands of collected
together In reckless disregard of treaties for the pur-
pose of making from the ports of the United States
apratcal attack the territory of power in aity
with their own State; and when there cndeavoring
by armed invasion to excite the obedient to revolt
and the tranquil to disturbance, was sight shock
ing no Doubt to the just and honest principles of the
President But the statement made by the Presi-
dent that convention duly signed and legally rati
fed engaging to respect the present state of posses
sion in all future time would but excite these bands
of pirates to more violent breaches of all the laws of
honesty and good neighborhood, is a melancholy |
avowal fer the chief of great State. Without dis
putting its truth her Majestys government may ex-
press hope that this state of things will not endure
and that the citizens of the United States while they
Justly boast OF their institutions will not be nsensi-
bic to the value of those eternal laws of right and
wrong, of peace and friendship and of duty to our
neighbors which ought to guide every Christian ma
ton saes s 80 4 - -
Nor can people so enlightened fail to perceive
theptty of those rules for the observance of inter
national relations which for centuries have been
known to EuroDe bvthe name Of the law of