New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-03
CUBAN BELLIGERENCY.
WHAT THE SENATE RESOLUTION ON
THE SUBJECT REALLY MEANS.
1T is PRACTICAL DENIAL OF THE DEMAND
FOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF THE
MINORITY
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIpuSE.l

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBrSEl
Warrington Feb. 1.-The public does not seem
as yet TO appreciate the vital differences between
the report OF the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations and the views OF the minority OF that
committee with respect TO Cuba. They hav" even
in quarters been treated as substantially
alike. and both have been criticised IA lacking In
vigor and independent action. This Is simply be-
cause the report Of the committee. tho views OF
the minority and the resolutions suggest that the
President should use the good Offices Of the
Government with Spain But here the resemblance
ends The expression good Offices has no slgnlh-
canoe but Is only in diplomatic parance n polite
way OF acqualnting a foreign Power with the policy
OF the United States regarding the subject Should
Spain decline to accept the invitation to act of her
own accord would leave the United States free
10 pursue such action as would be consistent with
our position in tho controversy and the necessities
OF the situation
What is the real difference between the report OF
the committee and the Views Of the minority? The
report states facts constituting the beiligcrency OF
the Cubans but the resolution stops short OF a
recommendation for recognition Of such fact by the
Executive. It only proposes that Spain be requested
accord to the Cubans the treatment usually at
tending the fact OF beilgerency. such as respect FOR
prisoners cartels flags Of truce hospital service TO
the sick and wounded. etc. The resolution Is con-
fusng. and II adopted would prove ineffective Tn
doubtedy what its trainers desired the recosn-
Spain ia only mercitul conduct Of the war and Il
voluntary concession her part to the revolution
lists Of the practices OF regular warfare
II Spain. actuated by humanity. should consent.
this would not constitute belligerency enable the
United state, to treat II IA such Under interna-
tiona law belligerency is a right which one contend
ing party establishes and asserts by force II is not
u favor 70 be conferred withheld BY the other
contcndng party as an act OF grace. neutral
nation IL it, own Judge 10 when II Will recognize
the fact right Of begerency. even when estab-
!ishcd But II such neutral government ia satisfied
that the condition exists. II Il s duty 10 declare IT
Inles, some paramount duty to IT. people
should stand In tho way. some other course OF
action should De thought more suited to the emer-
Sency The course u the committc" in seeking to
obtain from Spain n concession what the belllSer-
ont Cubans demand from the United states IA
light Is unexamplei In effect the United States
rejects their demand but recommends II 10 the fav
oribe consideration OF Spain. the country against
which they seek to establish the right.
But (, the question OF belllserency were properly
presented by tho committee In the light OF prece,
safes would require not such recognition OF the
NAr a. Viii enable IL - continue. but such meas
f1tal ruin. There Is only one way this result can
Do reached. and that IS by Intervention on the bass
rs senator Cameron N the elaborate document pre-
senting he Views OF The minority which ae has
submitte. III adopting this course the United
S;a,.. would merely take UP the cuban question
where President Grant and Secretary Fish left H.
In 1863 and again IN ,75. the United states PIE
scented to span the view that The inevitable c3urse
Of the island In the nrst instance the United
states merely offered - mediation On The basis OF
Independence. and expressed rs Nilhngness 90 suar
antec the cuban indemnity for TIE reNnquiShment
q spanish rsht- The metaiion was ds s ,b
United states Informed spain that lts intrtsen,on
lose In conseauenc. OF this declara,ion spain
made peace with the rcvouion.sts upon terms
granted to the Cuhans large share OF au,omoiny
The view. OF the minority are expressed as follows
INK as serious "a II is now President Grant after
long consideration Of the diihcultes involved N
Mgerency as an act which might be delusive to the
Insurgents and would certainly be regarded as un-
The document. above quoted show nat he PROPOSED
70 The Spanish Cioyernment sort OF inte6y' HSn
by a friendly agreement In doing so he not Only
necessarily recognized both parties to the conflict
that. II such mediation should be accepted, d.
rect Intervention would probably be deemed ne'eS
Spain preferred to promise to The insnrgfn Is
tssEms 80 rS or ho,. Since them TWENTY
years have passed. The instruction. far from
WAR slme Sas as " des,rctVe to our own citizens
to the contending parties The independence
Of the United states as the object of his IN
tcrventon. and has now become far more neVtan'
than IT was then. Evidently the Government OF me
UneI States can do no less than to take up tns
subject precisely whore President Grant eft IT, ana
to resume the friendly mediation wlrh ne .r LIZ
began with all the consequences when necessarily
would follow its rejection.
The present war cannot be properly viewer oN-
cept "A continuation OF the former one Inc
long period over which the first was extended ana
the character Of the present conh'ct justly lhe 49,
sertion OF Mr.. Fish that even II after long
struggle Spain succeeded In putting down one
revolution, she would find II succeeded by another;
Her precarious military occupation or parts OF
the island would necessarily come to an end AT
some time. II continued for any length OF tlnle
would result In the devastation OF the island by
the nationality which Spain was endeavor'ng 70
suppress II this ground that he warned
SPAN OF the intended Intervention or the United
States.
tunity to preserve its sovereignty without making
Cuba the scene OF incessant war ana |)urce or
injury TO citizens OF this country, On she has
shown herself incapable OF retaining the Island
even By enforced subsection. The views OF the
minority state that our duty 10 humanity and con-
sstency in the conduct OF foreign relations re-
oure the United States TO intervene.