New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-12
CUBA AND THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
ANOTHER LETTER FROM THE CUBAN COMMAND
FR-IN-CHIEF,

ANOTHER LETTER FROM THE CUBAN COMMAND
ER-IN-CHIEF.
TO me Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: With thanks for your courtesy in giving room
to nv note of Saturday. and with the least possible
desire to obtrude my views upon public attention,
must nevertheless ask space for some words in the
same connection, made necessary by the tenor of
your comments upon that note in your Mondays
issue.
l. for one have not understood it to be either a
part of the Monroe doctrine" OF the duty of the
American people, to fly to the assistance of Amer-
can colOnists fighting to secure independence of
their mother country" Neither have l ever urged
or held that this people bound to give the
Cubans material help in their undaunted struggle
with Spain. have only besOught impartial neu-
tralityn such as was declared by our forefathers
and Loyalty carried out during the contests, from
the outset in 1910, up to the end In 1878,
between the South American Spanish Colonies and
Spain believe that the Neutrality Laws" as they
stand construed in the light of history and the prac
tce of American statesmen of that day. would to-day
give the Cubans all that they need of for
the success Of their struggle In seeking additional
legislation have only wished to obviate the posi-
bility of a misconstructon through which manifest
pdytality has been shown to Spain to the direct,
deadly prejudice of the Cuban patriots, to the abso
lutte degree of doing the part of the United States
what the impotent power of Spain could not do for
assert without fear of contradiction, that Spain
since the war began has not been able to obstruct the
landing of single cargo of arms and ammunition
upon the shores of Cuba.
But as matters have stood until quite recently the
Cubans have been declared by the United States
actively assisted by England from sending from thus
city some 2OOOO stand Of arms, much artillery and
proper supply of the munitions of war essential to
the very success of the Cuban cause.
What was understood to be impartial neutrality by
Mr. Monroe in a situation similar TO that in Cuba
to-day may be seen in his message addressed Dec g
1917 to the Congress of the United States. He de-
rlared Through ereyy stage of the conflict" THAT
between Spain and her South American
rolonies) the United States have main
tanned an impartial neutrality, giving aid
10 neither Of the parties in men, money, ships or
Munitions of war; "Our ports have
been opened 10 both and every article the fruit of
our soil or of the industry of our citizens, Wch either
uas permitted 10 take has been equally free TO the oer
This was absolute impartial neutrality" but who
will venture to say the ports of the United States
have been equally open to the people of American
Cuba and of European Spain, that every article OF
American industry has been equally at the disposi
tion of both parties to the war in Cubai Spain has
been able 10 arm her troops with American breech-
leaders, and the Cubans for nine months absolutely
kept from dispatching 20 use in self defense
against the same breech-loaders. Nor is this the
worst Spain has built here and dispatched
30 guDboats, with American engineers to
work them IN the waters of Cuba,
TO blockade that coast as to make il even more
difficult than England and the United States had al
ready done for the Cubans to get any. So much for
Spain. How meanwhile for Cubaf The Cubans
purchased the Hornet, sent her utterly beyond the
waters of the United States there armed her and
changed her whole list of officers and crew. hoisted
the Cuban lae aud sent her forth 10 cruise against