The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-24
THE EFFECT 1T WOULD HAVE.
A War With Spain Would Doubtless Fol.
low, and Cuba Would Profit Thereby.

Washington, Dec. 1S.-The action of
the senate committee on foreign relations
in agreeing to report the Cameron reso-
luton recognizing the independence of
the republic of Cuba has naturally led to
inquiry as to how such recognition, if
completed, would affect the position of
the insurgents. Inquiry of competent
authorities goes to show that such rec
ognitiOn, from legal point of view
would be of great value to them morally.
This moral force probably would mani
fest itself first in enabling the new re-
public to float loan in the markets of
the world, and thus obtain the sinews of
war in abundance, for with the power
full backing given by this implied express
sion of our faith in the ability of the in
surgents to achieve and maintain their
independence there can be little doubt
but that capitalists would take up such
an attractive loan. Then the Cubans
would be represented in Washington by
a fully accredited minister and legation in
place of the unofficial representatives
they are now obliged to be content with.
If the Cubans can manage to float few
warships, or even privateers, their flag
would admit them to United States ports
under the protection of the neutrality
laws, though it is true our government,
having in mind the Geneva award, could
not tolerate the fitting out of such priva-
teers originally in our ports. However,
the privateers could bring their prizes
into our ports and would no longer be
kept from the seas by fear Of denuncia-
ton as privateers.
Furthermore. this recognition Of indie
pendence would involve the recognition of
a state of war. Neither the Spanish gov
eminent nor the Cubans would be permit
tons in the United States, and this coun-
try would observe strict neutrality to-
wards both parties.
One ill-cffect on the United States of
the proposed action would be the loss
of claims for American property destroyed
during the instruction, which may lie
against Spain, for our action would re-
lieve her at once of responsibility. AS
the Spaniards themselves, however, are
prepared to prefer large claims against
the United States for the damage wrought
by filibusterng expeditions this loss is
in measure offset. OF course, too, by
recognizing the jurisdiction of the Gu
bans over their island we should he able
to hold them responsible for further losses
of this character. All of these gains to
the Cubans, after all, are theoretical in
value. What the insurgents expect and
ardently wish for, in the opinion of the
state department people, is the precipita-
ton of a war between the United States
and Spain, as the latter power more than
once intimated that such. action on our
part in the recognition of independence
of Cubans would be an unfriendly act
and such authorities as Wharton concede
that it would be sufficient for casus
belli.
An interesting precedent in this line,
and, by the way, one supporting the as
sumption that war will result, is the his
tory of the action of our government in
recognizing the independence Of Texas |
In a report made by Senator Clay of the |
committee on foreign relations in regard |
to the recognition of Texas, are the fol- |
lowing passages, possibly applicable to
the present case:
s'The right of one Independent power |
to recognize the fact of the existence OF
n new power about to assume position |
among the nations of the earth is incon-
testable. 1t is founded upon another
right, that which appertains to every SOW
ereignty to take care of its own interests
by establishing and cultivating such COM
mercial or other relations with the new
power as may be deemed eXpedient.
Its exercise gives just Eiouhu VI
umbrage or cause for war. The policy
which has hitherto guided the. govern
ment in respect to new powers has been
the fact of their existence without regard
TO their origin, whether that has been by
them subversion of a pre-existng gov
eminent or by the violent or voluntary
of one from another part OF n
common nation.
"But with respect to the new powers
the recognition of their governments corn.
prehends, first, an acknowledgment Of
their ability to exist as independent
states. and. secondly. the capacity OF
their particular governments to perform
the duties and fulfill the obligations. to-
ward foreign powers incident to their
new conditions"
THE effect of the resolution in causing
an agitation and possible uprising in
Spain is felt by officials to present the
most serious feature of the situation at
the present time. The government au-
thorities at Madrid undoubtedly have
heen Informed of the action taken today.
There is no reason to expect any expires
sion of official disple1sure, as the Spanish
authorities will he fully advised of the '
long legislative procedure through which Y