New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-07-01
IMPORTANT DIPLOMATIC INTELLIGENCE.
STATE or NEGOTIATIONS WITH CUBA.
WHAT CONSTITUTES AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP.
Case Of Menard and the French Government.

sp.oiai Dispatch TO The N. Y Thbune
WAsHISoToS Friday, June 80, 1851.
Important and highly interesting intelligence from Ma
drd and Paris has reached tho Department Of State. In
spte Of all bis efforts and al his diplomatic seduction
Mr. Sonic has succeeded either in restoring entene
eordtole with Spain doing anything toward the par
chase Of Cuba, the Queen Of the Antilles.
The obstnacy which the Spanish Government mani
tests in the settlement of the Cuban difficulty TO be at
tributed 10 two
first They are confident Of the support of France and
England in Of emergency.
Second They do not believe the United States Govern
ment is ia earnest.
No treaty hos get been conc0ded Jet'oeea Frorer En-
gland and Spain this subject; but the preliminary
steps for such a treaty made tune ago. and
only failed of consummaon because England gave
ice that she should insist upon the insertion of clause
in regard slavery in Cuba whicd OJaoGloUs 10
tbe Spanish G0yerameaf, thai tie negotiation
pended.
Since then Spain has offered France ten thousand
supply the place Of the ten thousand French soldiers in
Rome TO permit tho latter to join the army in Turkey,
condition that she will pledge her support against the
United 81 tss in case Of Louis Napoleon refused
the proposition because alone, he could into
war with the United States Besides, between these
two ancient allies would be repugnant TO the Govern
mont and people OF France as 10 boe Of the United
States The feeling Of friendship for nation strong
In France that it might become a question whether, if
Louis Napoleon disposed to push bis people into
war with u.s. il woui not cost him bis throne. For
purely national and papabe it is possible that the
French people could DO brought into state of mind hos
tile to the people tho United States but in
which they felt no direct interest and into which they
should be forced merely to accomplish bargain it may
be safely predicted they would not engage However this
may be- il is well known that the Spanish Government
counts largely the aid Of France, and her hopes lie
principally the influence which the Empress supposed
to exert on the desnies of the country.
In recent number Of TUE TRIBUNE the case of Mr..
Menerd was mentioned American citizen who had
been claimed by the French Government subjected to the
conscrpiiOn and drawn recruit into the French army
The history Of the enabled to state more
in detail than was done ia TIE RIBUNEs paragraph it
il briefly as follows The father of Mr. Menardis French
citizen who lived twenty-five years in the United States
without being naturaized While there he married an
American woman by whom he had several children,
Of whom is the young in question. Some time ago,
and after an absence Of tweDiyhy years in the United
States as lust stated Mr. Menard SEN, with his entire
family returned TO Bordeaux in France his former resi-
dence and settled HIS family it viii be observed,
entirely Of American origin entered France by means
of American passports while the father having preserved
his nationality entered by of French passport.
The French Government claims the children OF
Mr. Mcnard French citizens and has accordingly sub
upon the local law of France which makes PareR,oge tie
title of nationality. On this ground the French Cabinet
maniests determination to persi in its claims on this
man. in opposition to the reclamaons which Legation
has made in his behalf These reclamaons it appears,
have been based principally upon the following facts
l. The general law of nations in opposition to the local
law of France r, cognzes sol as The te u nationality.
2. The mother of young Menard was an American born
citizen.
g. The French Government had indirectly admitted his
American nationality by permitting him TO land upon
French territory with American passport They mad
further admitted il by the following circumstance;
cousin of young Menard, born on American SOU Ike
himself with one parent American and having entered
France in the way, wishing to get married. was com
PEELED as an American citizen, to have the cvll par oil
the ceremony performed by the American Consul at bor
deaux.
Ii is not ascertaned whether young Menard iet the
United States before attaining the age which would have
entitled him to the exercise Of his rights an American
citizen or not. But this circumstance cannot seriously
inyaidate the Justice of the claim which the Government
of the United States makes in his behalf However, Is
expected that the French Government recognizing only
A s guide the local law of France, will decide against
the application for his liberation in which case the family
being rich will buy substitute under protest The al
fair will then be referred to Washington for settlement
In the mean time Menord has been allowed hs liberty
until a decision can be had.
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