The New York herald., 1869-04-25
Cuba, England. France and spain-Thc Di.
plomatic Flank Movement.

psOm"tsc FIauk Movement.
While the position taken by the administra-
tion OF President Grant on the Cuban question
is eminently satisfactory to the country an at
tempt is being made by the partisans Of Span
ish rule in America to get up diplomatic
flank movement, for the purpose of saving the
crumbling colonial despotism of Spain. The
opposition of the Powers of Western Europe
to the liberation of Cuba is loudly proclaimed.
A terrible war, in which all the great Powers
are to be marshalled against America, is fore
shadowed. Diplomatic notes of the gravest
character are darkly limited at, and England
and France are represented as sharpening their
swords and eager for the fray. All of this is
simply diplomatic flank movement, in which
Cuba, the pretended point of attack, is merely
a pretence to cover very different aims 1t is
true that Spain, whenever danger has threat
ened her possessions in America, has always
sought to induce the governments of Europe to
sympathize and aid her in diplomatic way.
The famous tripartite treaty. several years
since, by which it was proposed that the
United States, England and France should
guarantee Cuba to her, was case in point; !;
and we are informed that notes on Spanish
affairs have recently been exchanged with
considerable activity between the European
Cabinets, accompanied with whispers that
Cuba was the subject under consideration.
But the game is a higher and wider one.
The situation of Europe is too critical and
complicated to permit side issue like Cuba
to jostle it, though such a question may be
readily availed of to promote other schemes.
A retrospect Of the historical field will best
illustrate the tendency Of present intrigues.
The early years of present imperial power in
France were sadly embarrassed with the steady
refusal Of Russia to recognize the Napoleouic
government. On this question the Continent
was filed with intrigues, and every reader will
remember the strenuous efforts of Nicholas to
enlist England in the anti-Napoleon movement
The Baltic, the Black Sea, the effects of ''the
sick man in Europe" and every other contin-
gent prize were held up to diplomatic view.
The danger was great, and Louis Napoleon
played his game with mastery skill. La Va
lette, the French Minister at Constantinople,
brought about conflict between the Greeks
and Turks, and the question of the holy places
was agitated with unremitting energy. Russia
to help the Greeks and to claim
in the holy places. France sent
4 strong fleet into the Mediterranean; Eng
lands fears were aroused for her Indian pos
sessions and the route to them, and had to send
4 feet to the scene; the Crimean war was
with combination of all Western
Europe against Russia. Brought to conviction
oy the gathering forces against him and the
all OF Sebastopol Alexander recognized Napo-
con by private arrangement, the war sud
lenly ended, the diplomatic combination fell
% pieces, and France brought her armies
lome covered with glory, while England was
eft in the lurch and automatically snubbed
or becoming the tool to cut dynastic issue
between Louis Napoleon and Alexander.
A similar diplomatic combination was con-
trived to bring England into trouble and
enable France to carry out her aims for the
frontier of the Rhine. In this Mexico was
mixed up, and the United States was to play
the part Russia had acted in the previous
scheme. Napoleon used every possible effort
10 induce England to assist in his Mexican
plans and to recognize the Confederate govern
nent. He well knew that such a step would
,e followed by war between the United States
md England, and this would leave him to
work the policy of Continental Europe to suit
lis views. Prussia would have lost the make
weight on her side, and Sadowa would not
,ave been fought; for while England would
lave had her hands full with war with us the
weight Of France in the diplomatic scale would
lave saved Austria aid planted the French
Eagles on the Rhine. Wisely did the British
keep out of the snare spread for
hem, and Louis Napoleon was forced to re-
race his steps in his abandonment of the
'olicy of his great uncle regarding America.
This was his mistake Neither the people of
rance nor the traditional Napoleonic policy
ave any feeling Of antagonism to this country,
or does any anti-French feeling exist with us;
mt any effort to convert the United States into
makeweight in his continental schemes will
urely fail.
This, however, is the part it is sought to
,ake England play in the present state of
european politics. France and Russia alike
ave aims against Prussia; but SO long as
,ngland is free to throw her sword or purse
,to the scale the odds are far too even to
e pleasant. If the fears of England can be
oused on the Cuban question and she be
,duced to send strong feet into the Ameri-
an Mediterranean, on the plea of securing
er own possessions, the course of events
ill assume promising aspect. Louis Napo-
,on knows very well that an American and
rench feet could rub against each other for
generation and produce not only no explo-
ion, but not even spark. But let strong
american and British fleets gather in Ameri- |
an waters, and not only will sparks fly from |