New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-16
FRANCE AND SPAIN IN 1870.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR A WAR ALLIANCE.

SPAIN TO SEND FRANCE TROOPS AND TIE
FRENCH NAVY TO HELP sUBDuE CUBA.
TO tAe Editor of rae Tribune.
Sir: The Spanish Cabinet having considered It worth
while to deny sensational rumor relative TO pro-
iected sale Of Cuba to the United States. it may be
interesting to give brief account Of negotiation
secretly undertaken In 1870 by tho Madrid Directory
Prim Figueras and Pi Margan, to crush the Cuban
rebellion. The secret has been disclosed by one OF
the negotators Count de Keratry, former Deputy
IN the Corps Legsatf and tho Project OF Police IN
Paris after the overthrow Of the Third Empire
The Count belonging an ancient family Of Brittany
had served as volunteer in the French army ana
taken part In the Mexican expedition, after which he
fastened to resign the military grades no had courage
ou5y won in tho he subsequently learned 70 con-
denim. He next enlisted in the ranks Of the OPP
position, and, as . Deputy IN the French Chamoer
made relentless against the already lettering En-
pire Of Napoleon III He was man OF action ana tho
Government Of the National Defence appointed him
Project of Police after the Revolution Of the 4th Of
September an office which he soon gave up under the
presence Of the Faubourg Revoludonisb who did not
find him Of sufficiently deep red' color
The Count happened to be a good Spanish scholar
and personal friend of Emilio CASTELAR, and other
prominent Liberal leaders Of Spain. He was there-
fore, the very man wanted by the Paris Governments
when IL decided to entertain the proposals which had
been discreetly made to 1t by some Spanish agents
In regard to an alliance between France and the
Peninsula. Tho Madrid Directory was anxious
promptly to suppress the Cuban rebellion, ana the
French were still moro anxious to secure an ally In
their desperate fight against Germany. confidential
mission was accordingly intrustod to Count dc
Keratry who has recently published account OF It
Paris had already been invested when Jules Favre'
Minister Of Foreign Affairs in the 0cSernment Of the
National Defence requested Count Keratry TO 90 TO
Madrid to conclude there convention, or secret
arrangement according to instructions contained in the
following confidential note
Paris, October 12 1870.
To Count de Keratry, former Deputy IN the Corps
Dear Sir: You know my policy, not only by The
Intimate communications had the good fortune TO
maize to you Better than ANYBODY you arc en- va a1 t
policy, which is embodied In this programmed Deliver
France from foreign invasion, seek for her natural
which we are able to render to them. spain seems
to be placed in the first rank Of the nations which
said so. in very warm words, to Mr. olo1aga (then
spanish Minister at Paris. who readily admitted IL
constituting no moro, amounting to no more, thsn
pourparlerS but which could not properly have
np in proposal Of assistance TO France, represented
by the entering into the campaign of force OF nom
our expense but would be in line promptly ten days
after the exehan gng OF the signatures France, on
pscscaon Of cuba and the constitution Of an Iberian
state (which would have included Portugal and Spain,
Is i Uss that 1 to Slavery
Sssistanes Of France would be both diplomatic and
against foreign intervention These oyert1res
Il them precious advantage for France, which has
long known the vaOr of the Spanish II, troops vrr
In another letter the Minister Of Foreign Affairs OF
the Paris Government wrote to Count de Keratry:
authorize you IN case you should obtain the e.
sstance which spoken Of between u.s. 20 secure as
Government measure the transportation OF $4,000
men and all their equipments, either through Perpgnan
or through Bayonne The present order shall ennte
you to require the transportation OF these troops Al
the hands Of the directors OF the railroad lines Lyon
MedItenanee Southern and Orleans. Those requlsi-
tons shall be regulsriEed by the Government OF tho
National Defence soon as communications shall
be re-established.
Mr.. do Keratry placed these important confidential
notes between the soes Of his boots and jumped In
balloon, tho only conveyance then available TO get
out of Paris. He landed In the provinces after
rather long and perous voyage and first paid visit
to his friend Gambetta, the chief Of tho Government
outside Of Paris. The Count then proceeded 70
Madrid and was introduced by his friend Castelar, to
the Directory. They were VOL disposed toward the
french alliance, which would have been completed
but for three adverse circumstances. In the first
place. the German legation At Madrid heard Of the
negotiation and prevented It rom being rapidly con-
Quoted by Count de Keratry himself who had been
ordered by GambettA TO start for Algeria soon
be should have delivered Jules Favros communication
me- s rabeT bny followed Tp bS Mr.
Barthold the French Minister In Madrid Finally,
when, despite those adverse tho con-
venton was about to DO signed General Prim was
asassinated IN his carriage by murderers yet unpun-
ished. t'
NewtYork, March e5. 1883.