New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-02

AN AMERICAN QUESTION.
IRON STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE
Havana. Dec. l5.-"L La Lucha.'' the most in
mental journal of the island. evidently believes
that the Cuban question is something more than
sugar question. Returning to-day to the subject Of
the English fnancial-political combination for
Iendhc $500. 600 900 to the Spanish and Cuban
treasures, with the customs revenues of the
island pledged security il analvzcs the motives
n the bankers ard diplomatists who are striving
70 establish rrotcctoratc here under the eyes of
the great Yankee Nation. II contends that
England. in anticipation of the ultimate con-
s.ruction OF an interoccanc canal either at
Panama OF in Nicaragua. desires to play in the
West Indies most important part. As such
waterway would I've n direct passage TO the far
east whore she has great possessions and enormous
commercial interests. her bankers. who are the
allied instruments Of her diplomacy. are already
hoping that history will repeat itself and that
another Egypt can be formed in the New World.
By their financial projects they aspire TO create
for England "a privileged situation in Cuba
which will enable her to occupy relatively to
Panama or Nicaragua the same position which
IN has already acquired in relation TO the Suez
Canal In Cyprus and Cairo
regret that lack the space for complete
translation of this remarkable article. II produces.
IN the negotiations for n commercial treaty between
Srain and ENGLAND evidence that now chapter
AZ financial Diplomacy has been opened II con-
cludcs that England has become deeply concerned
IN the future control of an island so advanta-
reously placed with reference to the United
S.s,cs ana tho proposed interoceanc canals.
U., Industrial classes. her merchants and her
bankers have perceived that Cuba is not an in
considerable quantity in the modern world OF
ccuuercc and International rolitcs. BY acquiring
.,.s,taral relations 10 the island through the
,nan OF $500. 100000 and the control of the
customs revenues. they oim TO convert the island
into an American Egypt, under the protector'tc
AZ Great Britain, and governed between the
yoreirn Office in London and the Stock Exchange
sTbe dream is an audacious one remarks " La
Jncba" sentcntiouslv: "but the English do not
give up easily when they are playing the game
81 their material interests, not merely because
thcv consider Themselves a0roit. but because
they know that the world belongs TO those VINO
pcrsevcre"
If an American traveller in Cuba Is surprise
10 find the press seriously discussing pro]ec's 'o'
,srn,inr ont the revenues 20 English and French
svnd'catos and for reproducing the Egyptian imam
cial control without reference TO the Monroe
Doctrine. there are astonishing things TO be seen
On .hc West Indies As az the French
ATTAINED their concessions At Panama the English
bcran IN fortifv the approaches TO the proposed
canal Tho work was laid out by Royal com
mission and II has been rapidly completed Not
only was Halifax converted into one OF 'he
strongest fortrcsSes in the world, but E1rmuda,
KINGSTON and st Lucia We're connected with 10
" cable. and provided with extensive fortiiica-
tons. dockyaros and barracks St. Lucia has
become the Gibraltar AMI chief barrack OF the
West Indies Like Bermuda and Kingston II Ii
a fortified coaling-station and has drydocks and
all The plant required for repairing the most for
midabc vessels of war. The dcfencalc American
scaboard is confronted with this connected chain
OF English fortrcsscs, barracks and doc<yards,
upon which many millions Of sterling have been
expended during the last deca L. This has been
done during a period Of profound peace, when
not one Of tie English possessions in tie New
World was menaced from ans quarter. Entirely
apart from these rumored prospects of European
financial control over Cuba, there is sufficient
evidence Of England's determination 70 control the
approaches 10 the interoccanc canals, and TO eX-
errse Jealous guardianship the United
States from all these connected strongholds.
Whatever may he the motive of this series Of
formidable imperial defcncos, and however we'll
founded may be La Lucha's" apprehension of
another Egyptian financial deal" il will be
through no fault Of ENGLAND If Americans fail
10 recognize sooner or later the importance Of
Cuba from n military point Of view. Living as
II docs a short distance from the peninsula Of
Florida and with its coasts indented wi'h Gale
ard capacious harbors il commands the ap-
proachcs not only Of the projected interoceanlc
canals but also Of the Gulf and Atlantic sea-
boards OF the United States. No scheme OF Ma
tioral defence will ever be complete without the
control Of this rook-ribbcd island. TIL" com
plo.ion Of either the Panama or the Nicaragua
Canal will magnify the military Importance OF
Cuba. With the waterway open the Pacific.
Gulf and Atlantic scshoards will be virtually
continuous and Cuba Will command them all
Americans can AFFORD TO regard with idle curl
osity and cynical Indifference the operations OF
London political banlyiu. svndicate' Ii other
quarters OF the world. but not in Cuba. The
strategic Importance of the island with reference
10 tie canals and the scabOards is one OF the
chief factors in the Cuban question.
The Southern leaders advanced this argument
forty years ago, when they advocated the pur-
chase Of the island, but il failed 10 make any
impression upon the public mind b"cause the
extension Of slavery was the dominant issue IN
volved in annexation. The requirements OF mill
tarv and naval defence were clearly discnSscn IN
n remarkable State paper written by secretary
I,vcrc,. in l3J2 which was accepted North ana
South rs patriotic disclosure Of National policy
England and France had proposed tripartIe
convention with the United States by which tho
three Powers should guarantee to Spain undIs-
turbcl possession OF Cuba, and disciaim TOT tic
future any intention Of anncXing the lsahd
Secretary Everett declined the proposition, on
the broad ground that aversion TO European all
ances was the oldest tradition OF the American
Government. But he did not fail TO point ont
the superior interests which the United St''es
had at stake in the Antilles Cuba lies at our
doors, he remarked at commands the approach
n the Gulf Of Mexico, which washes the shores
~ 1--WE Of our States. II bars the entrance 10
H.. .--.. .;..a. ...inL DINING half TIE North