New-York tribune., 1874-08-19
GERMANY SPAIN, AND THE UNITED
STATES

The Ne,c- York Freeman's journal publishes
a story of the German and Spanish intrigue
which has a rather startling interest for
American readers. In April, 1874, according
to this authority, Admiral Polo received in
structions from Madrid to ascertain what
"position the American Government would take
Gin the event of the cession of the Isle OF Porto
"RicO. temporarily or deiiDitiveIy, to the govern
"ment of His Majesty the Emperor OF Ger
"many.' The story continues:
The same courier brought the Admiral note exulan-
ing that the German Government would TO 1t that
proposed loan to the Serrano Government. offered IN
London should be a success. and would itself furnish
the necessary funds the total amount having been
agreed on. Also. the German Government would es-
tabish fleet OF cruisers on the Spanish coast to sup
press conlraband Of war-ihc Spanish fleet to coop
crate @. Also, that the German Government would
recognize SerranOs Dictatorship on Its present basis ID
and use its utmost influence to have other Governments
recognize it, And "the Spanish Government agrees to
cede to the Government OF the German Empire, by a
provisional title. but one that may become perpetual.
the island OF = )rto Rico, in whole or In part
Admiral Polo lost time in responding that the com
municaton OF the Minister OF State shocked hun; that
the proposed bargain with Germany was antipitrloc,
and he offered his resignation as Spanish Minister
at Washington.
The Madrid Dictatorship forthwith replied: That the
Carlist msurrccton making every day "immen sc
progress" Any possible means must be used to crush
It. "Your Excellency has exaggerated scruples. The
Government has accepted the offers OF the German
Cabinet because these in really iniure the ma
tiopai sentiment Not German foot will tread the
sacred soil Of Spain proper 1t Is not an intervention
but only police service. done by the German marine,
in concert with tho marine OF the country O.. As TO
Porto Rico that is only pledge for the fulament Of
the agreements made by the two Governments"
The Admiral, however persisted in his pro-
test and was soon afterwards recalled.
The Freeman's Journal is not "a paper to
which the country is in the habit of looking
for accurate statements about foreign affairs !;
but it appears to have had of late some pecu-
liar sources of information in Spain, and it
vOuches in the most positive manner for the
authenticity of the documents which 1t cites
in the course of this narrative. Undoubtedly
The journal is a sincere believer in its own
sensation That it has not been imposed up
on, however, by some astute plOtter among
its friends the Carlists is point upon which
there will be difference of opinions. 1t would
be a great thing for the cause of Don Carlos
if Spain could be got to believe that SerranO
entertained a proposal for the dismember-
ment of Spanish territory; and we suppose
the adherents of the pious King are not too
holy to lie little for the good Of the church
and the crown.
Mr.. Bancroft Davis is now on the road to
Berlin, or just entering the German capital,
and he is of course in full possession Of the
views of our Government touching bargain
which, if it has any existence, is doubtless
we'll known to Our Secretary OF State. That
we should view the transfer of Porto Rico to
any European Power with great dspleasure is
beyond question; and it is equally certain
that the establishment of the German flag on
that island would give a new impetus and a
very different character to the schemes for
assisting the insurgents in Cuba which are now
little more than the devices of unscrupulOus
speculators and purblind demagOgues.