The New York herald., 1869-09-17
TaE PRoPosED QUiDRuPLE ALLIANCE.
Speedy Recognition Of Cuba Predicted-Thc
Tripartite Alliance OF 1S52-Our Relations
In ,ulsf

Speedy Recognition Of Cuba Predicte cted-Thc
Tripartite Alliance OF 1S52-Our Relations
TO Cuba.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Sept. 49, 1869.
The reported Iuadruple alliance ON the part Of
England, France, Austria and Spain to guarantee
the latter in the possession OF Cuba against the
wishes OF the United States forms the most interest
ing subject OF discussion here just now. Very con-
nctlng rumors are anoat some Of them quite
startling, and II only true certain to eventuate In
collision between our own and some OF the leading
governments Of Europe To add TO the excite
ment, our own American Minister Of Foreign
Affairs is just now afhicted with q very
severe attack Of onicial rericence. He won't
say one word about the sever faithful" and, Of
course, people construe the extraordinary caution
thus practsed into confirmation Of the alarming
telegram from Madrid yesterday. Then again,
Sehores Lemus and Ruiz, the Cuban representa-
tives, are unusually secretive. They confess to a
solemn conlab with Mr.. Fish yesterday, and though
they refuse to disclose the precise nature, still de-
clare that only few days viii eapse before the
world hears some news that Will be eminenty fav0ra-
BILE 10 Cuba. Does this mean that Mr.. Fish has at last
concluded that IL will be idle to paiaver any longer
with Spain about mediariOn and purchase, and that
he is about to grant what Cuba has 80 long sighed
for-belligerent rights and recognition Of Cuban
Judging from the elation displayed by Lemus &
favorable news" that Il to astonish the world ip
few days. But your correspondent has 80 often be-
slow to believe that the moment has at last come
when our government 6 about to take stand In
sympathy with the national feeling and in conform
ever, that something 1s brewing, though precisely
what 1t Is difficult to ascertain.
Should the Madrid telegram turn ont TO be based
upon actual facts 1t would seem that the course to
be pursued by our governemnt Ia very plain and
simple, II we adhere to our repeatedly announced
n n
ton on tine American Continent The views 30
boldly put forth by MIR. Everett in 1852, and long
that 1.-The government Of the United States would
not see with Indifference the island Of Cuba fall into
pa,n% and that this government had an interest
In Cuba not to be compared with the interests
Of England France Or any other European
bindIng ourselves never to take possession of the
island would seem to have committed US irre-
consistent national policy on this subject. Circum-
stances have since then greatly changed; our inter-
est in Cuba is twenty fold greater; and should a
European alliance be cOnsulnmated with the object
of perpetuating the Spanish yoke upon the Cubans
after the undoubted evidence Of the desire Of the
Cubans for Independence and annexation OF course
much stronger language and more decided action
on the part OF our government would be justifable
than those which resulted In the rejection OF the
trpartlte alliance proposed by England and France
on April s, 1852.
the flibusterng expeditions that prevailed at that
time What the convention proposed is contained
In Its first article, which at this time worthy OF
republication. Ii is as fOllOws:-
ARTICLE The high contracting parties hereby severay
and collectively dscisim both and for hereafter, all
intention TO obtain OF the island of Cuba,
they respectively bind themselves to dscounenance all such
attempts 70 that effect the part of Power individual
whatever The high contracting parties declare severay
and collectively that they will not obtain or maintain for
themselves, for OF Themselves exclusive
troll said island exercise any DO
minion the same.
To this proposition wlion was simultaneously
made to Mr.. Webster by the English and French
Minister'S Webster replied on April 20, 1852 that
govefnment would give 1t due consideration, at the
same time reminding them OF the policy OF the
United States "to AVOID alliance or agreements with
other States, and keep itself free from national Obli
gatlons except such affected directly the interests
Of the United States themselves"
Webster soon after died, and Everett succeeded
him In the State Department
Everett, under date OF December 1852 replied to
both CHAMPION and de Sartiges, the English and
French Ministers, rejecting the proposed tripartle
alliance on the part OF the United States. In his
letter occurs the following language
The Island OF Cuba lies at DOORS II commands the
approach to the Gulf of Mexco bars the
great river which drains half the American
with its tributaries forms the largest system Of Internal
communication In the world IL keeps watch the
doorway of intercourse with California the Isthm
II island like Cuba, belonging to the Spanish
guarded the entrance the Thames Sene
the United States should propose convention like this to
England France those Powers assuredy feel
that which asked them TO assume
Il