New-York tribune., 1875-12-13
WASHINGTON.
PEACE WITH SPAIN.


c,pA NOT DESIRED BY TIE PRrsIDENT-A WEST
INDIES CONFEDERATION SUGGESTED.
,rRom rHU REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRibuSr.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. l2-The last note received
from the Spanish Government by Minister Cushing
and forwarded TO Secretary Fish, reached here the
middle of last week, has already been cnhounoed'
and was read in the Cabinet meeting on Friday IL
is very long discussing the questions at issue De-
tween the two Governments IN n very frendIy Sho
conGiliatory spirit, and shows manifest desire OH
the part of the present Spanish Administration o
secode as far Us il is able TO do. to the requests
which the President through hr. Fish, had made.
IL the present Government OF Spain FELT iteeh more
firmly established, and was perfectly sure of support
at home there is no doubt that all questions now
pending between Washington and Madrid might IN
very short time he settled in a manner wholly sat
isfaetory to the United States
The last nne is understood tO rfer 10 two general
suljccts-the Interpretation of our treaties Wi'h
Spain, and possibly some modlhcaiion oI some OF
their provisions aud the present condition of ah4irs
i'm Cnba "a il affects American commercial interests
and the rights of citizens. In regard 10 the IN
alton Of existing treaties IL 70 probable that
perfect understanding may be reached even II
spaip does not agree to the notifications which Nr.
Cushing mas b'eu 80 ahNiNUc 10 pl'tui'' Inv NN'''
nuestion is much more complicated and difficult TO
deal with. On ths subject it is Understood that
Spain has submitted two propositions, either one OF
which would remove many OF the causes of dlSsats-
faction n0w existing in this country. but neither OF
which exactly 8ccords with the ideas of the
Administration. These proportions were taihcu
over in the Cabinet meeting last Friday,
bat viii be considered hy the same body III future
,t much greater length and in connection with ali
their possible bearings before any positive action IN
regard TO them is determined upon. Although TINS
latest note was unders oOd Ia Madrid 10 contain the
ulumatun Of Spain il is stl believed that further
correspondence may yet take place in regard tomnor
points of the propositions submitted. aud that on
this account considerable delay may yet occur be-
fore the subject Is again brought to the attention Of
Congress The exact terms Of the propositions sub
mtted by Spain are for obvious reasons, for the
present withheld from publication.
InE POLICY or TuE TWO GOVERNMENTS.
tls understood that the Spanish Government re-
news IFS assurances that il will remove the just
cause Of complaint by the United States growing ont
Of disregard of the rights Otperson and property OF
cur citizens. 1t is well known that there have FOR
long time been serious differences OF opinion
between the two Governments as 10 what ought 10
be done in this matter the trouble has been that
the natural tendency Of tho Spaniaris TO promise
and postpone has been greatly increased by the
weakness Of the Home Government and the Glsre-
gard Icy the authorities in Cuba Of It's DEGREES.
Touching tho question of slavery in Cuba, for
instance the United States and SPAN are in accord
80 far az che diplomatic correspondence goes. Spain
las made a decree Of emancipation what President
Grant complains of is that she does not enforce that
decree and, from present appearances it is difficult
t. believe that she will he able to enforce 1t in the
near future. Many other questions are in almost
the same cond tion. II the Spanish Government wts
abe TO onpiah what t promises. he United States
would have little ground for complaint
II has been suggested within the past few days
that the PRESIDENT, having fully considered the
question In all its relations and reached the cOnclu-
sion that the present condition of affairs in Cuha is
not such rs to justify either recognition Of the in-
surgents as independent the granting to them OF
the rights of begerent, he was looking toward
an intervention which would result either in the
qaistion Of the island by the United States and ts
annexation, or the establishment Of prOtcctOrate
by our Government There is very high au-
thoriiy to deny that the President eOntemplatss
any such policy. IL is believed indeed, that lie
has given this phase of the subject sone careful
thought and has come to the conclusion that no
solution OF the Cuban question coud possibly be
more disastrous to us than that should result in
its annexation to the United States. or its pOpnla-
ton Of a million and half very few, comparatively,
speak our language; 100000 are negroes, large
proportion OF whom are natives Of Africa. and are
mere savage pagans who do not even understand
the Spanish language The granting Of American
citizenship with all its attendant privileges and
responsibilities would be far severer strain upon
our free institutions than the emancipation and ell
frame soment Cf the slaves of the South ard would
hardly be in harmony with the Presidents views on
the subject OF educated suffrage which he put forth
A. his late message.
The annexation Of Cuba would also deprive ms Of
large revenue collected upon our imports from
iat island, while there would lie no hope of com
pcnsaling FOR it by the imposition of any large In
ternal tax. At the same time the geography Of the
island is admirably adapted for smuggling that
We should probably either be obliged 10 submit to
great loss of revenue on light foreign goods which
would be shipped To British and Spanish islands in
tho nolghborhoO1 aud then snuggled into Cuba,
whence they would he reshippcd to the United
States free OF duty or 70 surround the island with
revenue cutters, the maintenance OF which would
be immensely expensive. All Of these facts and
many more directly affecting this phase Of the sub
jcc, have been fully considered by the President aud
have caused him TO reach the conclusion already
indicated.
THE PRESIDENTS VIEWS.
How would the President like to see the Cuban
question: settled He is convinced. it is believed.
that ~ long as he attempt to govern the island
from Madrid AS province is continued peace aud
quiet eau hardly be hoped for The most feasible
plan that has been suggested is an independent gov
euiment of the island by the Cubals under Span
ish protectoIate the relations between the govern
ernnlent of Cuba and that Of Spain being similar to
those which now exist between Canada and Great
Britain. BY such an adjustment as this, the ua-
tional pride OF Spain would not be wounded as 1t