Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-31
AMERICAN INTERESTS IN CrBA.

The report from the senate foreign
relations committee regarding the war
in Cuba says that the fact cannot be
longer overlooked that the destructive
character of the conflict is doing serious
harm to the rights and interests of our
people in the island and to lawful COM
merce, the protection and freedom of
which is ~safeguarded by treaty obliga-
tons. 1t is estimated that the losses
already sustained by American inter-
csts in Cuba amount to not less than
500 900 and the p~rolongation of the
this sum, which in any event will I'M
doubtedly be irreparable, for in case
Spain suppresses the insurrection she
will never make any restitution, simply
because she will never be in Il financial
condition to do so. while should the in
and republican government be estab-
lished it would hardly be expected to
consider any claims for indemnity,
should they be presented by our o
eminent. Perhaps, however, there would
be a better chance of American citi-
zens getting some rcparation for losses
from an Independent government in
Cuba than from the Spanish govern
ment, since in the former case the dis
position would be to cultivate the
friendship of our people. 1t may as
well be concluded, however, that for
A. 100000. ,rI..I hn,-. ,,,
tanned in Cuba there will be no redress.
whatever the result of the conflict shall
be.
The effect of the war upon our COM
merce with Cuba has also been serious.
Exports from the United States to tina
island have fallen off fully one-hnlf and
as to some commodities the decrease
has been greater than this. Doubtless
the higher duties which went into effect
soon after the abandonment of recipro-
city have operated to reduce exports to
Cuba from this country, but this is a
minor influence. Before the wal there
was n large trade with the island in
machinery and this has dwindled
to almost nothing, while the demand
for provisions and breadstuffs, though
relatively well maintained, was ma
terially less last year than the year
preceding. AS to importations from
Cuba, the chief articles of which are
sugar and tobacco, there has neces-
sarily been a large decline in the
amount of sugar imported, owing to the
rpnnt 1nctrltntinn of fhn ,rnns hitt thni,n
has been no material change in the
amount of tobacco imported.
In view of these facts and conditions
and the certainty that with the pro
Iongation of the war in Cuba American
interests must still further suffer, it
can hardly be expected by Spain or by
any power OF powers in sympathy with
her, that the United States should
longer remain silent and apparently in
different respecting the existence of n
conflict in which the rights and inter
ests of its people are so largely involved,
will continue to maintain an attitude
of neutrality and strictly observe its in
ternational obligations, but it Is not in
consistent with this position to make
such representations to the Spanish
government as are contained I'm the
resolution and report submitted to the
senate, nor Is the force of these repre-
sensations in the least impaired by the
fact that they are associated with a
suggestion which is said to be without
precedent. Spain will not, Of course.
accord belligerent rights to the insur-
gents, but she may be induced to soc
the ~eXpediency of giving some consid-
GRAFTON to American rights and inter
ests in Cuba and If so it might have a
salutary effect upon her policy.