The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-12-19
THE SENATE ON
CUBAN AFFAIRS
CamerOn's Resolution as Adopted b,
Foreign Relations Committee.
THE EFFECT IT WOULD HAVE
Cuba Could Borrow Money and Sue.
eezsfully Fit Out warships and BE
Admitted 10 Our Ports.

Special 10 the Astorian.
Washington, December 1s.--camer-
on's resolution. as modified and agreed
upon by the foreign relations commit
tee Of the senate. Is as follows:
Resolved. by the senate and house
Of representatives In congress assem-
bled that the independence OF the Re-
public Of Cuba be. and the same is here
by acknowledged by the United States
Of America.
Section THAT the United States will
use Its friendly Offices 10 close the war
between Spain andn Cuba.
The action OF the senate committee
on foreign relations in agreeing to re-
port the Cameron resolution. reoognIz-
Ing the independence OF Cuba. has nat
urally led to inquiry as TO how such
recognition. II completed. would affect
the position Of the insurgents.
Inquiry Of competent authorities goes
TO show that such recognition. from
legal point Of view. would be OF greater
value TO them. morally. than the ad-
ditIon Of any substantial actual privi-
leges TO those they now possess. This
moral force. probably. would manifest
Itself first in enabling the new repub-
lic to float loan in the markets Of
the world, and thus obtain the slnews
OF war In abundance. for with the pow
erful backing given by this implied ex-
preston OF our faith In the ability Of
the insurgents TO achieve and main
tain their independence there can be
little doubt that capitalists would take
up such an attractive loan.
Then the Cubans would be represent
ed In Washington by a fully accredited
minister and legation in place OF the
unofficial representation they are now
obliged to be content with.
II the Cubans could manage to put
forth warships, or even privateers. their
nag would be admitted to United States
ports under 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
privateers originally in our own ports
However, privateers could bring prizes
into our ports and would no longer be
kept from the seas by fear OF denuncla-
ton as pirates. Furthermore. as this
recognition OF independence would in
volve the recognition OF a state Of war.
neither the Spanish government nor the
Cubans would be permitted to equip
warships or military expeditions in the
United States. and this country would
observe a strict neutrality towards both
parties. just as it did between China
and Japan in their late war.
There would be one III effect upon the
United States itself. The proposed ac-
tion would be total loss of all claims
for indemnity for American property
destroyed during the insurrection which
now may lie against Spain, for our ac-
tion would relieve her at once Of the re-
sponsibility, The Spaniards themselves
however are prepared to prefer large
claims against the United States for
damage wrought by filibustering ex-
petitions. and this loss in a measure,
may be offset
What the insurgents undoubtedly ex-
pect and ardently hope for, in the opin.
ion of the state department people, is
the precipitation of war between the
United States and Spain.
The department of justice has not
yet received official information of the
reported enlistment of companies of
men in different parts of the country,
with a view of joining the insurgent
forces in Cuba, nor can it be authorita-
lively stated just what course would
be pursued by the government should
these enlistments be brought officially to
its notice. The position taken by the
government, however, in the Horsa
case, would seem to govern in these
cases. In the Horsa case the conten-
ton of the government was that, under
Section 5262, the enlistment of men in
this country for service in Cuba, either
in behalf of the Spaniards or the insur-
gents, was high misdemeanor, punisha-
BILE by fine. not exceeding $4,000, and i'm
prisonment not more than three years;
nor is 1t necessary for a man actually
to enlist, inasmuch as the law inhibits
the Cubans, under penalties named
abo|e, from enlisting or hiring or re-
tanning any person to enlist, or to go
beyond the limits or jurisdiction of the
United States. with the intent to enlist
as a soldier or marine, or seamen, etc,
This act was held in the Horsa case
to be sufficiently comprehensive to war
rant the arrest and punishment OF per-
sons offending, and it is believed that
should any of the reported movements
reach the point where proof Of the
facts could be obtained. The govern
ment would not hesitate to take imme-
diate action.