The daily republic., 1853-08-27
) 'rrspartits tCaban) Treaty.


tsd letteF4f Mr.. Everett declining the pro-
sipartite convention with respect to Cuba;
Ier from Mr.. Champion to Lord Clarendon,
the manner in which the reply was re-
by Secretary Marcy:
ESrd John Russell to Mr., Crampton.
FoREiGs OFFICE, Feb. l6, 1853.
Lord Malmesbury received iust before
Office, the note addressed to you by Mr..
{, and left it for the consideration of hissuc-
abssuce ffom London of the Ambassador
moo hAs hitherto prevented that communities
stweet the two gotommGAs which the cir
ances bf the proposal msES jointly required.
Eve nov to inform you of the view which her
ny . government take Of Mr.. Everett Is reply
overture.
doubtless perfectly within the competence
&ne4can Government to reject the propo-
bat wai made by Lord Malmssbury and M
pt, in reference to Cuba. Each government
hen remain as free as it was boforc to take
course which it's sense of duty and regard
he interests of its people may prescribe.
|hquld have satisfied my obligations Secre-
Of State by this obvious remark, had not Mr..
ett entered at large into arguments which the
ned to Aequire.
he governments of Great Britain and France,
IN they made this proposal to that of the Uniteb
les, were fully aware of the growth of power
extension Of territory which have marked the
grem Of the United States since the period of
Ir independence The absorption or annexa-
Of Louisiana in 1903, of Florida in 1919, of
~ in l045, and of California in l848, had not
ped them; still loss did they require to be re-
ded of the events of the seven years war, or
he American war.
occurs to her Majesty's government, there
to ask for what purpose are these arguments
6duced with so much preparation, and urged
go much ability!
would appear that the purpose, not fully
wed, but hardly concealed, is to procure the
mission of,a doctrine that the United States
10 an interest in Cuba, to which Great Britain
France cannot pretend. In order to meet
prctension, it is necessary to set forth the
lracter Of the two powers who made the offer
question, and the nature of that offer. Mr..
erett declares in the outset of his despatch that
he United States would not see with indiffer-
ce the Island of Cuba fall into the possession Of
bS other European government than Spain, . &c.
The two powers most likely to possess them
lives of Cuba, and-most formidable to the United
les, are Great Britain and France.
Great Britain is in possession, by treaty, of the
lind of Trinidad, which, in the last century,
~ colony of Spain; France was in possession,
Me commencement of this century, of Louis-
na, by voluntary cession from Spain. These
wd powers, by their naval resources, are in fact
be only powers who could be rivals with the
Fnited States for the possession of Cuba. Well,
Fese two powers are ready voluntarily to stde-
lare, severally and collectively, that they will
ot obtain or maintain for themselves, or for any
ne of themselves, any exclusive control over the
aid Island (of Cuba nor assume nor exercise
ny dominion over the same"
Thus, if the object Of the United States were to
ar the acquisition Of Cuba by any European
'tate, this convention would secure that object.
But if it is intended, on the part of the United
,tates, to maintain that Great Britain and France
ave no interest in the maintenance of the present
tttus quo in Cuba, and that the United States
Ave alone right to a voice in that matter, her
hjesty's government at once refuse to admit
ych claim. Her Majesty's possessions in the
Vest Indies alone, without insisting on the i'm
,brtance to Mexico and other friendly States of
Ie present distribution of power, give her Majes-
y an interest in this question which she cannot
otego. d
The possessions Of FraKce in the American seas
[ive similar interest to France, which no doubt
vii be put forward by her government. Nor is
Ibis right at all invalidated by the argument of
NlA Everett, that Cuba is to the United States as
arjsland at the mouth of the Thames or the Seine
wtld be to England or France.
The distance of Cuba from the nearest part of
til territory of the United States-viz., from the
sqthernmost part of Florida-is ITO miles.
An island at equal distance from the mouth
Dy the Thames would be placed about ten miles
Srth of Antwerp, in Belgium; while an island at
lie same distance from Jamaica would be placed
Mansenilla, a town in Cuba.
Thus there are no grounds for saying that the
ossession of Cuba by Great Britain or France
rould be menacing to the United States, but that
Is possession by the United States would not be
0 to Great Britain.
There is one argument of the United States
secretary of State which appears to her Majesty
overnment not only unfounded, but disquieting.
Lord Malmesbury and M. de Turgot put for
yard, as a reason for entering into the proposed
ompact, s'the attacks which have lately been
nade on the Island of Cuba by lawless bands of
dventurers from the United States, and with the
vowed design of taking possession of that island. !"
70 this reason Mr.. Everett replies in these terms:
sThe President is convinced that the conclusion
# such treaty, instead of putting stop to these
awless proceedings, would give new and pow
rful impulse to them"
The government of Great Britain acknow lodges
With respect the conduct of the President in disa-
rowing and discouraging the lawless attempts
lere referred to. The character of those attempts
indeed, was such to excite the reprobation of
,very civilized State. The spectacle of bands of
nen collected together in reckless disregard of
reaties, for the purpose of making from the ports
# the United States piratcal attack on the ter
itory of power in amity with their own State
nd when there, endeavoring by armed invasion
9 excite the obedient to revolt and the tranquil to
disturbance, was sight shocking, no doubt, to
he just and honest principles Of the President.
But the statement made by the President, that
onvention duly signed and legally ratified, en-
aging to respect the present state of pcsssssion
n all future time, would but excite these bands of
rates to more violent breaches of all the laws of
honesty and good neighborhood, is melancholy
vowal for the chief of great State. Without
sputihg gits truth, her Majesty government may
xpress hope that this state of things will not
ndure; and that the citizens of the United States,
While they justly boast of their institutions, will
lot be nsensble to the value of those eternal laws
f right and wrong, of peace and friendship, and
# duty to our neighbors, which ought to guide
very Christian nation.
Nor can a people so enlightened fail to perceive