The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-21
CLEVELAND INDORsEs OLNEY.
Holds that Executive Alone Can Rec
OgDize Cuban Independence.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20-Cuba Cuban
affairs and the Cameron resolution continue
to absorb public attention here. Secretary
Olneys statement. although given out as
his personal view, is taken as indicating the
position of the administration i'm regard to
the recognition or acknowledgment of
Cuban independence, having been person
ally indorsed by Mr. Cleveland to-day, it
is said, and therefore carries with it great
Weight There is no doubt but this state
ment has had reassuring effect on the
public mind and will go far towards
strengthening the hands of the conservative
element in Congress. The resolution will
probably be reported tomorrow, but it is
not expected that action will be taken i'm
the Senate until after the holidays. It's
passage through the Senate is threatened
with opposition at every step.
Secretary Olney's statement indicates a
conflict of authority between the legislative
and executive branches of the government.
in the event of Congress finally adopting
the Cameron resolution. The recognition of
the existence of a new government in the
family of nations has always heretofore
been regarded as primarily an executive
act. The initiative in such recognition has
always devolved heretofore on the execu-
tive branch of the government. 1t is the
President who receives ambassadors and
the executive branch which issues to con-
suls and consular agents their exequaturs
or authority to perform the duties of their
offices within the limits of the United
States. These are purely executive acts,
and can be performed only by that branch
of the government. After the executive has
accorded recognition to a new government
and not until then, has the Legislative
branch any duty to perform. OF course the
offices of ministers and consuls of the new
government are to be provided for by
legislation. but in the first instance the
steps which lead up TO recognition and
the recognition of new governments have
been performed by the executive alone. 1t
certainly would be an anomalous and per-
haps dangerous state of affairs If Con-
gress should formally recognize or acknowl-
edge the independence of the Cuban in
surgents. Such condition might very well
lead TO serious difficulty. and certainly
would be injurious 10 the reputation and
standing of this country.
Another thing connected with the Cam
eron resolution which has so far passed un-
noticed is the effect Ii would have upon our
diplomatic and consular relations i'm Cuba.
Consul General Lee and our other consular
officers in that island are accredited TO
Spain and have received their exeQuaturs
or authority to perform the duties of their
Offices on that island from Spanish officials.
In the event of the formal recognition or
acknowledgment of the independence of
Cuba these officers could. of course. no
longer act. Their exequaturs would be
withdrawn and they would be assisted on
board ships bound for the United States
The interests of this country i'm that event
would have to be intrusted to the consuls
OF some foreign government which has not
recognized the Ccbans as independent OF
Spain and who would therefore continue TO
exercise the functions OF their positions.
This state of affairs would hardly be bene-
ficial 90 the interests OF the United States