The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-28
GEN. SICKLES ON CUBA.
NE WIS MINISTER TO SPAIN
DURING THE 10 YEIRS VAR.
Tells How Near We Came to Intervention
Recognize Cuban BeiIigerency.

|
ton Of senators and representatives. The
! Cuban question claims the largest share
of the Generals interest. This comes
largely from the fact that he was the
American Minister TO Spain from 1859 to
1913, when the Cubans were wagins thu
ten years war for independence.
General Sickies Is not only a firm be-
lever in the granting of the rights OF bell
ligefents 10 the Cubans, but he also be-
heyes that the Government OF the United
States should intervene 20 pat a stop To
the war. Not only has he reason for the
| faith that is in him. but he T. able to
quote the law and the prophets" in sup
/ port Of his position. The General was
seen by sun man yesterday morning
at his home. at 3 Firth avenue. and
asked for an expression OF his views
( touching the question OF Intervention.
IN reply General Sickes said.
1T seems 70 me that there IS a good
! deal OF misapprehcnsiOn about the nature
ana effect Of diplomatic intervention.
| We have INTERVIEWED in one way and
another, In Cuban affairs for the past
! nifty or sixty years. We have from time
| 10 time given notice to European powers
that we would not permit any Intcrfer-
| cncc with Spanish possessions IN Cuba.
| We have, in effect, guaranteed 10 SPAN
| the possession of Cuba as against Eng
| land, France. and Germany, which have,
at one time or another, cast covctous eyes
toward cuba. Spain herself Aas benefited
by American Intervention in that dircc-
ton.
Cuba IS within the sphere Of our leeiti-
mate influence This is recognized 10y
an nations. IL grows out OF her geo-
graphical position. She IS on the line of
important American commerce, and.
from a military point of view, We could
not tolerate the possession Of Cuba by
any formidable foreign naval power.
These and other considerations led the
United States Government, during the
last insurfection. 10 frequent acts OF
diplomatic Intervention in Cuban affairs
These acts were never resented by Spain
as dnfriendly. on the contrary, the in
ieInal affairs of Cuba were very frequent
~ made the subject Of communication
between the Governments Of Spain and
the United States between 1859 and 1916
'for example, during my official resi-
dence in Madrid, we interviewed to urge
the emancipation OF slaves In Cuba and
Porto Rico. We interviewed 10 urge inn
pOftant reforms Tn the internal admins
tration Of Cuba. We interviewed TO urge
and insist upon a more humane conduct
10 grant substantial autonomy 10 the
Cubans, for a Government such as is en-
Joyed by the Canadians. We offered our
good offices TO arrange "A basis upon which
the independence OF Cuba might be recog-
nized, this Government guaranteeing
substantial 'lm to be paid by Cuba I'm
tho way of indemnity.
Il nave before me a dispatch TO me
from the Hon. Hamilton Fish, then Sec
~
page 80 Of the Red Book Of 1872. In this
dispatch Mr.. Fish discusses at consd-
cradle length the internal affairs Of Cuba.
ana insructs me TO communicate the
views OF this Government to that Of
Spain, and TO insist upon the acceptance
OF our suggestions. All Of which / ala.
without irritation or complaint on the
part OF Spain.
The suggestions referred to the eman-
cipation OF slaves in the Spanish and
West Indian colonies, In respect 10 which
we Insisted upon speedy and effective ac-
uon. / was directed 10 demonstrate
against the apparent failure OF Spain 10
carry into full effect the emancipation
act.
Spain had given 10 us assurances that
extensive municipal reforms would be- IN
PRODUCED on the islands Of cuba ana Porto
Rico, and that the Governments would be
hboralized ] WIS directed TO point out
To the Spanish Government that its re-
pcated assurances OF its intention to grant
liberal reforms i'm the administration OF
the Islands were equivalent to the adj
mission Of the existence of evils which
needed correction, that q nation gives
lustlcation 10 resistance while admitted
wrongs remain unredressed.
Il was directed 10 demonstrate against
the cruel treatment Of prisoners OF war,
and TO point out that Spain Itself was
often the scene of seditions and armed
instructions, but that prisoners taken
in arms on the Spanish peninsula had not
been put 10 death as they had i'm Cuba:
that concessions had often been made TO
Spanish insurgents for the sake OF peace
L was directed TO ask why should con-
cessions be considered dishOnOrable IN
Cuba that were not o considered AT home.
Further, / was directed to point out
that "a just, lenient, and humane policy
toward Cuba would modify The judgment
OF the world; that most Of the evils I'm
cuba are the necessary results OF harsh
treatment, and of the administration
OF the Colonial Government. / was di-
rccted to point out. as one of the causes
of the prOlOngatiOn Of the contest in cuba,
that the corruption which is more or less
inseparabe from such a pr0tracted con-
test was itself principal cause Tor pro-
longing hostiitics.
Il was directed TO make circumstances
against the conduct OF the Cuban authOu-
ties in permitting the sugar planters to
annul their contracts with Chinese coolies
for a limited term OF service. ana forcing
them TO accept a condition OF practical
and indefinite servitude. Our Govern
ment declared that II was impossible Tor
the Government OF any civilized country
TO be Indifferent to so atrocious proceed
ing. / was directed TO bring this sub
iect TO the notice OF the Spanish Minister
OF Foreign Affairs, and not conceal The
view which we took OF II. Mr.. Fish, IN
the course of this dispatch. says.
While we fully acknowledge our OBJ |
legation to the general rule which re-
qtires nation TO abstain from inter-
ference in the domestic concerns OF other |
nations. vet circumstances sometimes war
rant partial exceptions to this rule And |
Mr. Fish found I'm our relations to Cuba |
the grounds to Justify Intervention on our |
part.
On the dispatch Mr.. Fish also alludes |
to the extreme difficulty encountered by |
the United States Government in enforc- |
ing our neutrality laws while the sympa- |
thies of our people were on the side OF |
the Insurgents Referring TO the lack OF |
success on the part Of Spain In suppress
ing the revolution, ] was directed 10 al
nonfsh the Government OF Spain that /
unless she should soon be more successfuf, |
our Government would be forced TO con-
slider the question whether Cuty TO Itself ]
and the commercial interests Of our citi-
gems might not demand change IN tie
line OF action up TO that time pursued
Nv os1r EoxerDmgut.