Evening star., 1896-12-30
EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS
Feeling in Regard to Their Rumored Up.
holding of Spain.
A Different Effect on Congress From
What Was Anticipated by
Spanish Friends.

The reiteration of the statement that
European governments will sustain Spain
as against the United States, because Of
the general European opposition to the
Monroe doctrine, Is likely to have a very
different influence upon Congress than that
anticipated by the Spanish government.
The denials that European governments
have intimated to the United States State
Department that they might interfere in
behalf Of Spain have been made very pos
tive, but it is maintained by the authors
of the original statement that these de-
mands are merely technical, and that as
matter of fact the spirit of hostility toward
the United States does exist in connection
with friendly feeling toward Spain. The
general belief in Washington Is that the
report of actual or lntimated support Of
Spain by Germany, Austria and France
comes from high Spanish authority. and rs
reiteration Is accepted as an indication
that the Spanish government expects 10 IN
timidate Congress. Quite the contrary ef-
feet Is likely to be produced. The sugges-
ton that European powers will make tnelr
objection to the Monroe doctrine the excuse
for assisting to maintain Spain's power IN
Cuba, as against any interference On the
part of the United States, is extremely re-
pugnant to the prevailing sentiment in
Congress.
Efforts to Restrain Congress.
The most earnest efforts are being made
by the friends of Spain and by the admin
istraticn to restrain Congress. The influ-
ence of the leaders in the House Of Repre-
sentatives and feeling among many re-
publicans who are in favor Of the inde-
pendence of Cuba, that it would be better
to allow the matter to go over until after
the 4th of March to be dealt with by the
new administration contribute to the plan
of inaction. But the impression that Euro
pean powers are assuming a threatening
attitude in the matter will again strengthen
the hands of the Cuban sympathizers. If
it is to be made a test of the Monroe doc
trine involving the right of foreign powers
to acquire possession of territory in this
continent now held by other foreign pow
ers, Congress will be found practically
unanimous in support of firm and, per-
heps, aggressive policy. The suggestion
ade in foreign dispatches that Spain an
ticipateS, in com ection with an agree
n,ent with the Cleveland administration
for the autonomy of Cuba, the establishment
of commercial treaty, is regarded here
with some surprise.
The idea conveyed seems to be that Spain
will be compensated for any loss of dignity
she may suffer in the pacification Of Cuba
by the advantage of reduced duties, or per-
haps free entry to this country of the chief
products of Spanish provinces, and that
patriotic humanitarian impulses of
Americans may be overcome by the recip-
rocal extension of privileges to certain
American products. This suggestion proves
irritating to certain elements In Congress.
They find something extremely offensive
in the apparent assumption on the part of
Spain that between feeling of fear of the
foreign powers and a natural commercial
instinct, the American people may be d.
verted from any active interest in the fate
of the insurgents and lose all sentimental
sympathy with the cause of liberty.
Could Not Go Through COnEress
1t is certain that no adjustment between
the Cleveland administration and Spain
which involves a commercial treaty can be
surned, would not ratify such a treaty, and
the necessary legislation to give Spain the
advantages she may desire at our ports
could not be got through Congress-
What Mr.. McMilIin Says.
Representative McMillin said today, when
his attention was called to the information
coming from Spain that there was under
consideration the question of a commercial
treaty between the United States and Spain
in connection with the adoption of reforms
in Cuba, that any reciprocal arrangement
between the United States and Spain abol-
ishing the duty on tobacco and sugar, as
indicated, would result in a great fiscal
gain to Spain and a corresponding fiscal
loss to the United States. without any COM
pensatory consideration to the latter One
of the objections, he said, to the annexa-
ton of either Cuba or Hawaii to the United
States is the great loss of revenue It would
involve. The remission Of duties on Cuban
tobacco and sugar, as suggested, would
mean the loss of an important revenue
without any compensatory acquisition of
territory.