New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-01-06

narties declare zereralT and collectively hst they viii
rot obtain or maintain for them selves for any one OF
themselves any exclusive coa;ro over thc said isAai
nor assume nor exercise any dominion over the san.
The PRECEDENT has given the most serious attention TO
this PROPOSAL to the notes Of the French aud Brush
Mn.ters accompanying il, and TO the instructions oil
81 de Turgot and the Earl Of Malnsbury transmitted
with the projec. of the Convention and be directs IN,
TO make k7own 10 you the view which be taxes OF this
important and delicate subject. The President fully
concurs with hs predecessors who have more than
one occasion authorized the declaration referred 70 By
NJ de Turgo, and Lord MAmsbury that the States
could not see with indifference the I.an Of Cuba jail
into the possession Of any other European Government
than Spain. not, however because we should be
dissatiifed with any natural increase Of territory
and power on the part Of France or lag
land France has within twenty years, ac-
oured a vast dosn on the Northern Coast OF Africa,
with fair prospee, Of indefinite extension England
within half century has added very extensively to her
empire These acquisitions have created no uneasi'
on the part of the United States In Ike manner
the United States have within the same period greatly
increased their territory The largest add ron was
that of Louisiana, which purchased from France
These accessons Of territory have probably caused no
uneesness 10 the great European powers sthey have
been brought about by the operation Of natural csus
e. and without any disturbance of the international
relations af the principal sta;es They have been fol
lowed by great increase OF mutually beneficial cop
rnercsl intercourse between the United States and Eu
rope But the case would be different in reference TO
the transfer Of Cuba from Spain any other European
power That event could take place without serious
arrangement of the international system now exciting,
and 1t would indicate designs in reference to this
hemisphere which could not but awaken alarm in
- 1w,ar
what 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 II true that the attempt of the United
Ststes to establish themselves in Europe would be
novelty while the appearance OF European power 10
this part of the world IL familiar TACT But TINS duer
in the two Is merely historical. and would
not diminish the anxiety which, political grounds,
would be caused by any great demonstration OF Europe
an power in new direction in America. NJ de Turgot
states that France could never with nderence tue
possession Of Cuba h my power but Spain, AMI ex'
pholy declares that she has wish intention OF APP
propriltng the Island 10 herself and the English Mn
lister makes the same avown behalf Of his Govern
ment NJ de Turgot and Lord Malmesbury do the Gov
errment of the United States more than justice IN
remsTking that they have often pronounced themselves
substantially in the The PRESIDENT does NOT
oovet the acquisition of Cuba for the United states, Al
the same time he considers the condition OF Cuba as
mainly an American question. The proposed Cow n
ton proceeds different principle. 1t assumes tlat
the tnted Srhtee mas Ot1er OF Erchlti
question than France England whereas IT Is neces
ssry only to east ones eye the map to see how re-
mote are the relations Of Europe and how intimate
ihose of the United states with this leland.
The President dsiug full justice to the friendly spirit
in which bis concurrence il invited by France and Eng
land and not inseDsble TO the advantages OF good IN
derstandng between the three powers in reference 10
Cuba, feels himself nevertheless unable to become
party to the proposed compact for the following rca
sons IL Is in the first place in his judgment clear. rs
fer tie respect due from the Executive to coordnse
branch OF the Government viii permit him 10 anticipate
lis decision that such convention would be viewed
with favor by the Senate Its certain rejection 10y that
body would leave the question OF Cuba in more un.
settled state than it is row This objection would NOT
REQUIRE the President to withhold his concurrence from
the Convention If no other objection existed AMI II
strong sense OF the utility Of the measure renderedn
his duty far the Executive action 10 concerned 70
give HE consent 10 the arrangement Such however, Il
not the case.
TIE Convention would be OF value unless 1t were
lasting Accordingly ts terms express perpeuity Oh
purpose snd obligation. Now il may well be doubted
whether the constitution of the United States would
allow the American Government for all coming time,
and prevent under future change OF circumstances
from doing Whist has been often done In tlss past
In leO3 the United States purchased Louisiana OF
Frsnce and in 1919 they purchased Florida OF Spain
il not within the competence ct the treaty msk'ng
power In 1881 efectualy to bind the Government In oil
IL branches and for all coming time not 70 make SIM
lar purchase Of Cuba. like remark imagine may
be made In reference both TO France aud Engan1
where the Treaty making Power IL less subject thah
il with us to the control Of other branches OF GoV
There is another strong objection to the proposed
agreement Among the oldest tradrcns OF the Fedcral
overnment il an aversion TO political alliances with
European powers In his memorable farewell address,
President Washington says THE great rule oil con
duct for US in regard foreign nations ~ IN extending
our commercial relations to have with them "a little
political connection as possible. 80 lar as we nave
alrcady formed engagements let them be tuhled with
perfect good faith here let stop President Jefer-
SON in his inaugural dress in 1901, warned the coun-
try again ~ entaDgng alliances. This expression, now
become proverbal was unquestonably u,ed by MI J9i
ferson in reference 70 the alliance VITA France IN
nm alliance at the time Of incaculabe benefit 20 the
United Satos but which in less than twenty years came
near involving in the Of the French Revolution
and laid the foundation OF heavy claims upon Coness
not extinguished the present day. sgnlncan'
coincidpce that the particular provision of the alliance
, when occasioned these evils was that under WHICH
France called upon 10 aid her In defending her est
Indian possessions against England Nothhg less tusn
/ the unbounded influence OF Washington rescued tne
Union from the perls OF that crisis and preserved our
neutrality
Bu, the Prcsiden, has grave objection to eut 'rina
into the proposed convention He has no wish to DIS
gusc the feeling thAt the compact although equal N ls
t,rms would he very unequal in substance. France
and England by entering into il would disable them
selves from obtaining possession remote from their seats
OF Government belonging TO another European power
whose national night 10 possess ii must always be az
rood as their own--a distant island IN another henI
sphere and ore which by ordinary or peaceful course
ii things could ever belong 20 either OF them II the
rresent balance Of power in Europe should be broken
up- Spain should be unable maintain the Island in
her possession and France and England should be en-
qsged in death struggle with each other Cuba might
then be the prize OF the yc;or. TIL these events all
take place the President does not how Cuba can be
/ long 10 any European power but Spain. The United
STATES the ether hand would by the proposed conven
tion disable themselves from making an acquisition
which might take place without any disturbance O ex
isting foreign relations ard in the natural order o.
. things.
Tie Island Of Cuba lies az our doors L commands
the approach 10 tie Gulf Of Mexico, which washes the
shores Of FIVE Of States it bars the entrance 70 that
rrcat river which drains half the North American Con-
tneni srd with il tributaries forms the largest 81 stem
ofinterral water communication IN the world Il keeps
watch IL the doorway Of cur Intercourse with California
bv the Iatrus route Ii an island Ike Cuba belonging
10 the Spanish Crown guarded the entrance to the
Thsmes or the Seine snd the United States shoI1 pro
pose Z Convention Ike this 10 France and England