New-York tribune., 1896-12-08
FOREIGN RELATIONS.

FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The President we'll maintains his reputation
for prudence by his present treatment OF lor-
eign affairs. Only three such topics are NEIL
toned in his message, and only two discussed
Venezuela being dismissed with BRIEF re-
mnder of facts already known. Turkey ana
Cuba receive detailed consideration. IN tone
devoid of anything like wanton aggressvenesS.
The situation in Turkey is painted III dark col
ors. Massacres still occur. Claims Tor ihdeih-
nifty for injury to American citizens are sui ls-
nored or at any rate remain unsa'lshed. Inc
President promises that all things possible VIII
be done for the protection OF Americans ana
the securing of redress for wrongs; which, of
course no one doubts; but he offers no ground
for confidence or even for hope that such 'l-
forts will be successful He deprecates the
making of extreme demands, such as that thls
Government shall order the seizure or bonn
bartlment of some Turkish city. Such action
would do more harm than good To those or
his over-zealous friends who have been clamor-
ing for America to be made the Cats-paw OF
Europe he administers a quiet but severe re-
buke reminding them that-as everybody ought
TO knOw-fOr this country to interfere III 'he
general Turkish problem would really he most
offensive to those European Powers which have
the settlement Of it seriously at heart. The SIT
uation is an agonizing one, but relief must
come from other hands than ours That is the
Presidents judgment 1t Is depressing. II
may to some be disappointing But he would
be rash who should declare 1t altogether I'M
sound.
Still more detailed and more dreadful. and
equally true. is his account OF affairs III 'uba.
The insurgents are as strong as ever perhaps
nnit of hnir
belligerency would be untmely, and perilous
and injurious to American interests. The lat
ter is quite true There are many millions of
American capital invested in Cuba, and some
millions of Just American claims against Spain
on account of losses sustained in this war.
Such recognition would mean forfeiture of
every dollar of them. He opposes recognition
of independence because he thinks the insur-
gent Government not sufficiently tangible to
merit 1t; opposes the purchase Of Cuba by this
country. because Spain does not want TO sell IT;
and opposes on general grounds of peace and
morality all present schemes of forcible inter
yention. The settlement which he favors is the
granting Of autonomy to Cuba by Spain. II
that were done he magines, the Cubans would
be content to remain under the Spanish flag.
To that the answer is perfectly simple. The
SPANISH Government has indicated its unwll-
,ncness 10 grant autonomy. and the Cubans per-
sist i'm declaring in the most emphatic manner
their unwllingness even to consider any con-
cessOn short Of complete independence.
Nevertheless the President thinks such a set
tement feasible. He confirms the report OF n
few months ago that he has gone so far as to
propose 1t to Spain and TO offer the friendly
services Of the United States In bringing it
about. He did that months ago, but the Span
ish Government has not seen ut to give him a
reply The Presidents well-meant attempt
can scarcely, therefore, be reckOned Il triumph
of diplomacy Perhaps 1t Is just as well that
it did not succeed. For Mr. Cleveland pro-
posed that this Government should become
| sponsor for Spain, and should guarantee to the
Cubans the faithful fufment Of Spanish prom
| ises 1t might be thought rather delicate mat
| ter to intimate TO so proud a government that
| il stands in need Of a sponsor. If Spain thinks
| so, that may explain why the offer has been
| ignored. Moreover, while mediation between
| two independent Powers is proper and praise
worthy, mediation between 4 sovereign State
| and its own disafected subjects. whose bellig-
| erency even, is unrecognized, Is a very differ
| ent matter, quite new departure one would
say, in diplomatic affairs. Once before. twenty
| odd years ago, an offer of mediation between
| Spain ana CUBA was lnaue by tnlS IONerlincul,
| but that was expressly for the purpose Of ef-
| fecting the separation of Cuba from Spain.
| Such an offer now would be logical, if inefect-
| ual But an offer Of mediation between Spain
| and her own subjects for the purpose OF keeping
/ them her own subjects an offer to help Spain
govern her own household. must be classed
among those diplomatic alterations which MIR.
| Cleveland's best friends would most willingly
| forget.
| The most hopeful note in the whole discussion
| is that which most closely apprOximates to
menace The President repeats what has been
said so many times by his predecessors, that
| this country would not tolerate the transfer OF
| Cuba to any other sovereignty than that OF
| Spain The island must remain Spanish. or be-
! come independent or pass into our own pos
| session Then he adds significantly that while
| this Government should continue to be patient
its patience may presently be exhausted. IL
| Spain does not end the war regard for her
| sovereignty may be superseded by the higher
| cannot endure to have an intensified and ag-
| gravated combination of Poland. Ireland and
| Armenia perpetually at its very doors. The
| question to be answered Is. how much longer
affairs may he permitted 10 continue as they
| are The President tells Spain Is now ap-
parently no nearer victory over the rebels than
she was year ago. Will she be any nearer q
year hence? There Is no country more con-
cerned In answering that than Spain herself.