Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-27
CupA AND THE POWERS.

All the northern morning papers that
issued editions ycstorday-the day after
Christmas-reprod n dispatch from
Paris to the London Times. which
Is very important. II the news it con-
voyed is authentic This dispatch. after
stating that the United States had been
conndontally Informed. in the most
friendly terms, that the European Pow
crs could not remain impassive In the
event OF the United States abandoning
the attitude OF President Cleveland and
his Cabinet anent the Cuban question.
goes on to say:
should the United states presume to
exercise pressure on Spain by recogniz-
ing the Cuban insurgents. or encouraging
them I'm their resistance. 1t has been
informed. Europe generally might be-
come uneasy az the idea OF such an eN-
tension Of international action by the
United States"
The Paris correspondent OF tho Thun-
derer then explains that II is feared
the aforesaid extension Of international
action on the part Of this country might,
at "a given moment threaten almost all
tllt 0M'lrf MtNff lN's'Nf'"'Ntt" 49,
proximity to the United States. and
might tempt the spirit Of enterprise and
encroachment that IS inspiring the SEN
ate Committee on Foreign Relations"
and concludes as follows:
"If am correctly informed. the United
States has been ccncurrenuy informed
that Germany Is already quite prepared
20 side with Spain IN the event Of the
United States showing that she Is DIS
posed officially 10 side with the rebels
But, IS the news authentic? We are
seriously inclined TO doubt t. We should
be disposed to look upon the Paris cor
respondents statement as not calculated
to hold water even If It had not been
learned from last evenings kilograms
from Washington that those holding on
fidentlal relations with Secretary-of-State
Olney and the President attach no i'm
portance TO his story.
In the first place. Cuba occupies, with
reference TO the United States. 20
siuon different from that OF any other
possession in this hemisphere Of a Eu-
ropean Power. Our policy in regard to
the island has been clear and continuous
ever since the carly days OF the Ameri-
can republic. While that policy IS incor-
porated in the Monroe doctrine 1t may
be said to have had a distinct existence
before that doctrine was actually formu-
lated. Indeed, It may be said 10 con-
sutute even now distinct phase Of our
general policy touching the relations OF
European Powers 10 the Western Hem
isphere. This distinct phase-the conten-
ton that the Cuban question was solely
an American quesfion-we have cmpha-
sized time and again. but IN such man
ner as affords no possible justification for
the fear that IS said 10 have inspired
the proposed European alliance.
In the second place, Great Britain and
the United states have recently come 10
better understanding than they ever
had before regarding their relations IN
respect Of British possessions and in
terests affected ly the Monroe doctrine;
and. while that understanding was being
reached. it was pretty clearly demon
stratod that the sentiment IN Great Bril-
tain was decidedly against provoking
trouble with this country. For these
and other rcasOns-among them. hus!-
ness reasons-it Is fair % assume that
the chances Of Great Blit-ln's being IN
duced TO join an alliance against tAe
United states. to control our action re-
garding Cuba, are exceedingly slim.
Under present conditions on The Cont
nent no general continental alliance Is
practical; and. We're either Of the exist
ing alliances 20 attempt TO support Spain
by force of arms. &c would be apt TO
bring down upon It the other alliance.