Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-19
AGREES TO RECOGNIZE CUBA
Continued from Page onel

Continued from Page OneO
tor Of recognition Of independence and in
| Intervention In whatever nature by the
United States, beginning with the Greek
revolution and coming down to the present
! time. Senators who heard the report say II
Is very thorough in this respect and goes
! over the entire ground,
EFFECT OF RECOGNITION.
The action OF the senate committee on
| foreign relations today In agreeing to report
the Cameron resolution recognizing the in
dependence of the republic of Cuba has
naturally led to inquiry as to how such
recognition, II completed. would affect the
! position of the insurgents. Inquiry Of COM
| petent authorities goes to show that such
recognition from a legal point of view
would be Of greater value to them morally
! than In the addition of any substantial and
actual privileges to those they now possess.
This moral force probably would mani
! fest Itself first In enabling the new republic
| to float loan in tho markets of the world,
and thus obtain the sincws of war In
! abundance for, with the powerful backing
| given by this importance in the implied
expression of our faith in the ability of
! the insurgents to achieve and maintain
| their independence there can be no little
doubt that capital would take up such an
| attractive loan. Then, too the Cubans
| would be represented in Washington by a
! fully accredited minister and legation in
! place of the unofficial representation they
now are Obliged to be content with.
! If the Cubans can manage to put afloat
a few war ships or even privateerS, their
| flag would admit them to United States
| ports under the protection Of the neutrality
| laws, though II is true our government,
having in mind the Geneva award, could
not tolerate the fitting out of such priva-
teers in our own ports and would no longer
be kept from the seas by fear of denuncia-
tion as pir9tes Furthermore, as this
recognition of independence would involve
the recognition of state of war neither
the Spanish government nor the Cubans
would be permitted to equip war ships or
military expeditions in the United States
| and this country would observe strict neu-
tralty toward both parties, just as it did
between China and Japan in their late
war
One i'll effect upon the United States itself
of the proposed action would be the total
loss of all their claims for indemnity for
American property destroyed during the
insurrectOn which now may be made
against Spain, for our action would relieve
her at once of responsibility. AS the
Spaniards themselves, however, are pre-
pared to prefer large claims against the
United States for the damage wrought by
filibustering expeditions, this loss in a
measure may be offset. OF course, too, by
recognizing the jurisdiction Of the Cubans
over their island, we would be able to hold
them responsible for further losses of this
character.
All of these gains to the Cubans after
all are largely theoretical in value. What
the insurgents undoubtedly expect and
ardently wish for in the opinion of the
State department people is, the precipita-
ton of a war between the United States
and Spain, as the latter power more than
once has intimated that such action on our
part as the recognition of independence of
the Cubans would be an unfriendly act
that 1t would be sufficient for a causus
belli
AN INTERESTING PRECEDENT.
An interesting precedent in this line, and
by the way, one supporting the assumption
that war will result, is the history of the
action Of our government in recognizing
the independence of Texas.
In report made by a Senator Clay for
the committee on foreign relations in re-
spect to the recognition of Texas are the
following passages possibly applicable to
the present case:
The right of one Independent power to rec
oeniZe the fact of existence of "A new power
about to assume a position among the ma
tionS of the earth is inContestable. 1t Is
founded upon another right, that which ap
pertains to every sovereignty. 10 take care
of its own interests by re-establishing and
cultivating such commercial or other rela-
tiOnS with the new power as may be deemed
eNpedient. Its exercise gives no just ground
for umbrage or cause of war. The policy
of the United States in respect to new pow
crs has been to act upon the fact of the
existence without regard to their origin,
whether that has been by the subversion of
a pre-eXisting government or by the violent
or voluntary separation of one from an
other part of "A common nation. But
with respect to new powers, the recognition
of their governments comprehends. first. an
acknowledgment of their ability TO exist as
independe states, and. second the capac-
form the duties and fulfill the obligations
toward foreign mowers Incident to their
condition
Some speculation is INDUCED In at the
capitol as to the condition of affairs in
case the resolution was vetoed by the presf-
dent and became law over the presidents
veto. Unquestionably. the right of con-
gress to recognize any form of government
in Cuba would be involved and different
views are held as to whether congress or
the executive has the right of recognition.
One senator discussing this matter today
instanced a case which might arise IL
there was a conflict between the executive
and congress on this point A Cuban eX-
pedition might be fitted out and would at
tempt to sail from a port of the United
States. Under orders of the executive the
revenue cutters would seize the vessel for
violation of the neutrality laws. The case
would then be taken into the courts on
the legality of the joint resolution which
became a law without the signature of the
president and the issue would be whether
or not Cuba had been recognized by the
action of congress alone.
All these various questions have been
discussed and it is believed will be quite
thoroughly gone over when the resolution
comes up in the senate.
Members of the committee are very reticent
as to what Secretary Olney said or what ad-
vice he gave, but 1t is very certain that he
advised against any action, especially action
like that contemplated, as no doubt was ex-
pressed, that such action would involve war
with Spain.
One member OF the committee said "Of
course Spain will fight. The Spaniards do
not know any better But there is no danger
OF other countries getting in our way No
ether European nation wants to fight and
we would wind up war with Spain in short
order"
The opinion was also expressed that Presi-
dent Cleveland would veto the joint resolu |
ton when 1t came to him, which Is taken
to mean that Secretary Olney took EN-
phatic grounds against action by congress.
1t Is understood that the main point raised
by the secretary was that covered in the
presidents message, viz: That there was
no actual government in Cuba to recognize. /
Another member of the committee said
that he believed In case the president should !
veto the resolution that 1t would pass over |
the veto as he believed there were more !
than two-thirds OF both senate and house |
in favor OF II.
Some point was undoubtedly made that |
hc nrespnt a1miniStrati al did feel like |