Smyrna times., 1855-03-21
The Famous Ostend conference,

The Famous Ostend Conference.
We suppose our readers are pretty well ac-
QpaiDted with the fact that conference of our
Ministers,to Great Britain, F'rance and Spain.
was helda Ostend. ID the Netherlands. III DC.
tcber last, and that up to tIlistime, ais the Key-
done City remarks, die people Of Europe and
Ahericaahave been puzzled 10 know what il,
was an about. To the minds of the European
monarchs it was a kiad of Know Nothing
Lodge, and they surmsed that it might be to
consult on what part Uncle Sam should ia aEe In
the, present war. No such thing however,
The result of the deliberations of the trio Of
ministers appears in the shape Of printed docu!l
ments at Washington, given upon the call of
Congress- and so the secret is out. The whole
affair had exclusive reference to the purchaseor
obtanment of Cuba. The meeting was sug-
gested by President Pierce, who recommended
Pa'is as the most convenient spot for consuta-
tion. The Ministers, however, had no desire
to be intertcred with by the E" poke noses" of
Louis Napoleon's police, and they therefore
fixed upon Ostend. The President, through
Secretary Marcy, after enlarging upon the
"great object" the desired possession of Cuba.
tells Mr.. So lie that there should be fnll and
free interchange of views between him AMI the
two other Ministers, as to what may be advisa-
| bic, and to adopt measures for perfect concert
of action in aid of his (Soule's) negotiations at
Madrid, and thereupOn proposes the conference
The proposed meeting was held, and we now
have the report of the trio--the committee on
Spain and Cuba, we suppose they may be called
In the report, which would fill several COL
umns of this paper, the question is considered
| in all its bearngs-th9 price suggcsted-the
splendor of the acquisition to the United States
treated ot-the uses to be made of the money
by Spain enlarged uoon--tle early necessity
for dsposing of the Island, and the importance
Of arresting agitation referred 10; and finally,
the forclble means by which The glittcring prize
is to become ours, ifa sale be refused by Spain.
boldly avOwed. The document recommends ma
halfway measures. Peaceable purchase, on
honorable terms, at round and munifcpn,
sum, is the primary suggestion. Resistance to
the interference of all other Powers, and dc.
termined assertion of our right to the Island
from graphical position and neighborhood, al
any cost, whenever it is found necessary to the
internal peace and existence Of our cherished
Union, are next recommended. The Afr.canl
zatlon OF the Island, placing it in position witt
st. Domingo, not to be tolerated. And thcl
our difficulties with Spain OH the Black Warrior
affair; the flibustering spirit Of our people, an,
the discomfort Of the Cubans themselves will
VICE Regal Government, at once odious an,
oppressive, are pointed at as sure precursors o
the annexation OF a territory promising as bril-
liant and important results to the Union as III,
Florida treaty. The actual price is not named
as the administration communicated these docu
ments under restrictions. or with blanks in Ger
tain places But even this leaks out in H.
course Of argument. The report says:
"Whilst tDo-thirds of the price of the islam
would be ample Tor the completion Of he
(Spah's) most important public Improvement.
she might with the remaining C0rty-thousauo
b satisfy the demands now pressing so heavl
| upon her credit" &c.
J, As an offer of $4,000 would be an absur
e dty'we may conclude the forty thousand mean
millions, which would afford the true key to tn
oiler, VIZ. !: one hundred and twtmiy milIiO
: dollars. The report also says ir another para
graph: =" Under no probable circumstances ca
Cuba ever yield to Spain one per- cent on tn
large amount which the United States are will
e ing to pay for It's acquisition" After all, wha
2 has all this buster and bother amounted TO p
? We doubt Gen. Piercc's friends will be able I
s engrave upon his tombstone" Here rests tn
0 Conqueror (purchaser) of Cuba"