The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-07-09
Mr.. Fish and his Relations to Spain.

Mr.. Fish and his Relations 10 Spain.
The facts already notorious in the relations
Of HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State, to
the Cuban revolution and the Spanish Gov.
ernmcnt show that there is ample reason for
a Congressional inquiry into his official con.
duct and that of his son-in.law, and his As
sistant Secretary We give the principal
points of this astonishing history as they ap-
pear in the official documents
On the 10th Of June, 1869, Mr. FISH sent
an elaborate despatch TO Gen. SrcKLEs at
Madrid. In this paper SIcKLEs was in.
Btructcd to offer the good Offices of the
United States TO end the civil war in Cuba,
on the basis of the independence of the
island and the payment by Cuts Of an
equivalent to Spain for the value of the pub
lie property. This was to be accompanied
by the abolition Of slavery and preceded by
an Grmistice TO be negotiated by the Govern.
mcnt Of the United States. This document
was drawn up in Washington, and, as we
happen to know, Mr.. MORALES LEMUs, the
agent of the Cuban Republic was present
and assisted in ito preparation. lie told Mr..
FISH that Srain would not accept those
terms. The Secretary replied in the follow
ing memorable language: Ii she does not,
The nrsenals of the United States will be
opened to you"
The counterproposition of Spain was
dated the 18th Of August. When it was re.
ceived here, il Yves OF once submitted to Mr..
LrMUs, who was at the time at Mr. Fisu's
house al GNrrison's, near West Point. The
reply which Mr. FISH signed was dated the
ei;h of August. and was addressed TO Gen
slcKLEs. 1t declared the proposition of the
Spanish Government TO be impracticallc
mud asserted that the representatives Of the
Cutan Government must Of necessity he a
party 10 any negotiation. Mr.. FISH also en-.
gagged with Mr.. LEMUs that if his ultimatum
should not previously be accepted by the
Spanish Government, the rights Of the Gu.
bans as bclligcrents should be recognized by
che Government Of the United States on the
30th of September, 1860, as he said had been
ddcrmiHCd in a Cdjind mcetiag. The ulti.
ma:um was sent TO Gen. SICKLEs on the LIST
Of September, to be presented TO the Spanish
Government. Subsequently ten days nddi.
tional time was allowed TO the Spanish Gov.
eminent in which 20 make a decision.
This was done by telegram sent to Gen
sICKLEs.
Shortly after the Is. Of September both
Mr. FISH and Gen. RAwLINs, then Sec
rotary Of War, assured the representatives
Of the Cuban people that proclamation of
neutrality, which of course involves n recog-
niion of bolligcront rights, had been dc.
tcmincd upon in the Cabinet. and n draft OF
4 made out. Gen. RAwLISs also told them
hat in the Cabinet Mr. FISH had preferred
recognition of Cuban independence TO
recognition of bellgercncy, because he
thought it would be less likely to complicatc
lie Alabama ella ms; but the Cabinet had
determined to recognize bellgercncy. On
he 9Th Of September JouN A. RAwIINs
lied. One Of his last utterances was You
must see that Justice is done to poor Cuba
On the 2ith or 2jth of September Mr.
LEMUs called on Mr.. FISH At this inter
view Gen. Cox, Secretary of the Interior,
and Judge RICHARDSON, Assistant Sec.
rotary of the Treasury, were both present.
On this occasion Mr. FISH first indi-
1ted a change in his policy; and now for
he first time he began to quote RIQrELNE
TO prove that the United States could not
properly d,c,ato to Srain the course to be pur.
sued toward a rcvclted colony; and on the Both
oi September, the day on which It had been
Igrc,d tlGt The lclliG,rcucy Of Cuba should
be recognized and the neutrality of the
United states proclaimed, neither Mr. FISH
nor Gen. GUh"r was In Washington
The frs, documentary evidence of the
change which had come over the pur
poses of Mr.. Fish is found IN telegram
which on the 18th of September he sent &c
Gen SiCKLLs, II reads rs follows
III negotiation were made on The basis n Oh,
SIX successive stems mentioned In your dcsU"icl
NJ. 10, emitting the p.eOiscli,, can TIE f.esident Of
fc tCunri! give assnr1uC' NAT n the United States
tics TO tho Cortcs he elected by Cuba that tho
Cortes win grant Independence Tine piebsciio is
sn5 co, ons or 10 i-nrl roeu 'sr vote can he
no indication OF the IoTuHr wil, aud this must lt
hold fer Deputies. II .oubtGl Il the insur.cui-
Ilconsent 70 las Gcwn t.t arms; ont itthcir carly
lrtGordrucc csa be s..ug. thrrebr, TIC Uni;et
~
This telegram WAS sent without consulting
or informing Tie culCre to whom Mr.. FISH
had pledged bis word that if Spain did not
a',oll tie terms VII ch he lad offered, a.,
tclircrcLt rights of Cuba would bc ac
frowi'lr"d ON the 3o,h Of Scprpmuor'
Meanwhile the tlan for tho purchase o
CUla by ring OF spectators, sapc Of whom
az I'm Havana, soro in Madrid, and s.ur Il
Washington, he'd been maturcl A. Mr.
BURLIvCME told Mr. WuEra in Paris
and There are Ilcnty Of witnesses via
can testify on tbs snbioc,-tho main fcH,ur
OF this Ian WAS first rorosed 10 BcmH
ohME by Gen PRM hims II through II
spanish Minister to China. Mr.. PAUL S
FoKnrs focu got into il, and went TO Madri
% sec PRIH Thence FORBES came to thi
country TO communicate with our Cover;
ment, and with individuals having infuenc
OVer II. Willie in New York on tina