New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-28
SENATE CUBAN RESOLUTIONS.
MANY IN NUMBER AND VARIOUS IN
CHARACTER
LITTLE SIGNIFICANCE ATTACHED TO THE one
MAY RE IGNORED BY THE PRESIDENT
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

n, tho resolutions which have been offered and DIS
cussed and the evident reluctance OF the He'a.r
to treat the question OF recognition in direct anu
/ candid spirit. have given to the debate fa'he'
humdrum and artificial character. and robbed II OF
the larger share OF its natural political ana r'e'
national interest The decision OF the Senate COM
mittee on Foreign Relations to present lis decafd-
ton OF beligerency In the form OF a concurrent
resolution net intended TO reach the Executive LOT
approval or dsapprovd. OF TO have any pha'"s
force on ANYBODY. has unavoiaby reduced the ac-
ton of Congress to a mere form OF WORDS ana we
prived its vote in advance OF all serious sisil-
canoe or res possibility. To pass concurrent reso
luton and then Withhold ii from the fresideh' -
.hout as effective as enacting stump speech
and the experience OF this Congress with the So
called Armenian resolutions might have been sup
posed TO De instructive enough TO demonstrate 'He
fu,ty Of such indirect and evasive action on Serl-
Gus diplomatic questions.
The course Of the Foreign Relations committee
has been defended by Mr.. Morgan and others on
the ground tina, 1t did net care to FISK the fresi-
dents disapproval OF joint resointioh as 'hous"
the veto of a Joint resolution could dife" materially
I'm effect from his pocketing concurrent resolution
like that on the Armenian atrocities. ana ciinlY
ignoring the expressed opinion Of Congress 10 pass
either a ioint or a concurrent resolution IL 10
acknowledge that the responsibility Tor Hc'o' HEX
or denying belligeren. rights Hes with the freS-
dent But to pass the latter Is TO leave the siiua
ton unchanged in any particular. while 10 pass the
former Is TO force the President TO veto II "''hir
ten davs or allow Il 70 acquire after that period
the explicit sanction Of Law.
Although II seems likely that the Foreign Rela-
tons Committees resolution Of February .. inc
one now actually before the Senate Will be passed
Tomorrow yet in the present confused state OF
on,non any one OF the additional, resolu-
tions wh!ch have been put forward may happen
10 succeed The oldest in date OF the proposl'IohS
before the Senate is that OF Senator Call. OF flor
ida introduced December q. This resolution
taf,h e n ift1
recognizes condition OF pubic war between Inc
Government OF Spain and the Government pro-
claimed and for some time maintained by iorce
OF arms by the people OF Cuba ii declares una
the United States Will maintain CONDITION Oh
strict neutrality between the contending powers
and accord TO each all the rights OF be'ngereh'S
in the ports and territory OF the United states ana
c.oses follows:
The Congress OF the United States protes; ana
demonstrate agains' ne and the Tre.
dent is hereby AUTHORIZED to axe sucn IAN an or
servance OF the avs OF war as recognized d! d''
civilized Nations
This resolution broadly Acknowledges the exist
cree OF war proclams neutrality. grants the rights
OF bell!gercnis to both sides protests agans, the
barbarous methods OF warfare and invenis pee IL
lar phrase by authorizing" the President 10 ih'e'
vene The Foreign Relations Committee took u?
the subject of recognition early in me session al
after much vacillation agreed on this ino'e'ae
Resolved by the Senate CHE House OF Repre-
sentatives concurrng). Tha; the present depIofape
MAJ ~ iba e concerns All civilized Nations the
tent that should be conducted II unhapply i,
| Of Warfare that are Acknowledged to be obligatory
upon civilized Nations when engage ID Vps' nIs
are enlisted in either army: due tespeci 10 CARTS 1,
for exchange OF prisoners ana tor C.he The nro
vision OF proper hospitals and hospital supp,es am
| services TO the sick and wounded OF either army
Resolved That this representation Of TIE views de
md - he concur. therein that ne WILL in friendly
spirit, use the good offices Of this Government TO ne
armies with which Il Is engaged in war the rights OF
| beligerents the same are recognized under '"e
| laws Of nations.
strongly d,ssented from this coloress expression Of
| opinion offered the same day this SUBSTITUTE
for the committees resolution:
Resolved That The p1ssidsn, is hereby reansTs6
Government, for the recognition Of the independence
OF Cuba
A week later Mr. Morgan and the majority OF the
con- mitee ready TO go TO the extent Of d'rec'
recognition Of bel,;gerency. and second resolution
the one now directly under discussion was re-
ported l. reads as follows:
! Resolved BY the Senate Ohe House OF Repre-
sentayes concuTrng na, IN 'nS Gpem e h
Government Of Spain and ne Govern nm I. pro,
arms BY the people OF Cuba; and that the United
States Of America should maintain a strict neutral
each ali the rights of belgerents in the ports and
| territory OF the United States.
On February % Mr.. Call submitted an amendment
| n the substitute resolution from the committee.
| adding at the end the following phrase:
That the United States recognize the independence
| Of the Republic of Cuba. proclaimed at Jimaguaya
| under the Presidency OF Clsneros and under the
prov,ncial constitution and form of government pro-
| Claimed at Jmaguaya in May. 1885.
| Lat Monday Mr.. White OF California. who is
,bo Jrnir ,f.,
on the Cuban question, presented an Amendment to
| the substitute from the committee which sets forth
| that the Senate contempiates with solicitude and
regret the suffer.ngs and destruction accompanying
| the civil conflict now in progress IN Cuba 1t con
| tinues:
| While the United States have not intcrfered and
viii NOT unless their vital interests demand. in
,artore Nth existing colonies and dependencies O.,
snv European Government tbs hemisphere, new
ertneless people have never disguised and do not
gie atr,otcay as do the Cubans in revolt 70
exercise. maintain and preserve the rights OF self,
ana close relations to Cuba by reason Of geograph
POSm ana Affecting Gqn hs o
OF that is and We trust that the Executive Depart
m msn' r re have been committed viii a.; as
early a date as the facts VIII warrant; recognize
selves In Cuba In armed opposition to Spain and
that the influences and onlces OF the United States
n1ssd 70 the end that cuba may be enabled 10 o.
,ahl,sb permanent government OF her own choice
Thi. resolution leaves recognition or n-recogni-
ton explicitly and entirely to the discretion OF the
President.
Yesterday Senator Allen. OF Nebraska introduced
a Joint resolution as follows:
That the President OF the United States be author
| ,yed and requested to issue proclama ton recog
mixing the Republic Of Cuba as IT exists under the
| constitution and form OF government proclaimed at
Jmaguaya under President cisneros In the month
| Of MAY 1896 as q free and Independent nation and
according the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
PARLIAMENTARY Of said Republic all the rights and
privileges accorded the Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentary Of the Government OF
Spain
Tomorrow votes are therefore certain to take
a wide and interesting range.