The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-30
Two Resolutions on the War I'm Cuba
Presented by the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee.
ONE ASKS THE PRESIDENT
TO URGE SPAIN TO GRANT BELLIG-
ERENT RIGHTS TO REBELS,
And the Other Directs Mr.. Cleveland
20 Take steps to Secure the COM
plete independence of the Island.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29-The presenta-
ton of committee reports on Cuba was
one OF the features of the Senate proceed
ings to-day. The majority resolution on
Cuba asks the President to urge Spain to
grant belligerent rights to the insurgents,
while the minority report directs the Pres
ident to take steps towards securing from
Spain the complete independence of Cuba.
The action which the foreign relations COM
mittee urges the President to take is said
by persons versed in diplomacy to be abso-
lutely without precedent. Never before has
nation been requested TO accord belliger-
ent rights to rebels against its government,
and never have such rights been accorded.
A recognition of belligerencey amounts to
nothing unless manifested in a proclama-
tion Of neutrality. so that the Senate COM
mittee's proposition is really equivalent to
a request on Spain to permit the United
States to issue a proclamation declaring
ourselves neutral as respects the present
conflict In Cuba. If 1t was the intention of
the Senate committee to insure humane
treatment of the Cubans; insure them
against capital punishment under the
charge OF treason. this, 1t is said, might
have been indicated by request that Spain
recognize the municipal belligerency of the
insurgents, which would in no sense be
equivalent to an admission of international
belligerency. Because the United States
government in our late war treated cap
tive Confederates as prisoners Of war; made
exchanges OF prisoners and recognized flags
of truce, the nations of Europe held that
we had recognized their belligerency and inn
mediately. by the issue OF neutrality procla-
nations, proceeded practically TO recognize
the belligerency of the South themselves
Mr.. Seward entered a most vigorous pro-
test. and in the course OF the correspond
ence he made very nice distinction, show
ing that the United States had been in
duced to treat the Confederates in this
fashion solely from impulses OF humanity
and not from any consideration of inter-
national law. His protests were unavail-
ing to affect the action of European ma
tons, but he did place the United States on
record in fashion that will make 1T ex-
tremely difficult for our administration to
reconcile Mr.. Stewards utterances with a
compliance with the request Of Congress.
presuming that the Senate committees res
oiution win be adopted.
1t is probable that the President may at
this time give some consideration himself
TO the question that has already been
preached, but not disposed OF In the debate in
the House on the Armenian resolution, and
that is. just how far he is bound to be
governed by such suggestions and requests
are contained in these concurrent reso-
buttons of Congress. 1t is becoming appar-
ent that while the President is ready and
even anxious to hear the wishes of the
legislative branch on such features of our
foreign relations he may bring to its
attention, he Is disposed to insist on re-
tanning In his own hands the control of our
foreign correspondence as whole, and is
likely. therefore. to consider well the sub
Ject matter of such concurrent resolutions
as are now pending in any stage before
acting upon them Senior Depuy De LONE,
when seen. refused to comment on the
action Of the Senate committee