The times., 1897-09-07
Azcarraea and War.

IN tie letter which Gen. Azrarraga mas
written 10 a leading spaniard III Havana.
The Spanish prime minister evidently
wanted TO advertise it in the United States
and took tie readiest means to that end.
1t is an utterance that offers better op-
portunities to the gambler than to the
analyst. 1t may mean anything or moth
ing. To understand its value in diplo-
macy OF preparation for an international
row, it woald he necessary to know some
thing in regard to recent negotiations in
LoIii0n in connection with the Cuban bond
ed debt and the Sugar Trust interests, and
how far the result OF these negotiations
between the British foreign office, Am-
bassador Hay and Minister Woodferd have
affected or modified the instructions or
the last named. These are things not yet
confided tG tie American press or public;
but we may take it for granted that they
are not equally matters Of mystery to
Gen. Azcarraga, whose representative ia
Washington has never been known total in
|
Of the most confidential kind from, our au
| th3rities. Bat this does not help Us any at
the moment To a correct diagnosis OF
Z. declaration that, coming as il does from
/ the prime minister of a nation with which
we are at once at peace, in alliance and
Ii extreme friction, has all the text flavor
1 Of r-lef I'm
shut Ip or fight.
Gen. Azcarraga tells his correspondent
that reports concerning objects of Gen.
W0odford's mission probably are exaEger
ated anu adds. Besides, our position ID
SO clear and our determination TO repel
any unjust pretcnsion of that nation tthe
United states 50 emphatic that We are re-
solved before yielding TO go 10 all ex-
trenles. even to war, if necessary. in order
TO defeadour sacred rights in Cuba Then
he continues, in a strain that gives much
sensational interest to his remarks:
Nor, if we go to war. shall we be less
confldent or the triumph OF Spain. We
| VIII be the champions or the great political
| principle OF European colonization in
! America against that wrong idea that the
United States is the arbiter of nhtionaI
| HE and property IN the new world. We
| WIZ have the sympathies OF Europe, no
| doubt about that, and Europe VIII NOT con-
sent 20 our expulsion from cuba. Tne day
IN which, by the power OF arms or yielding
before waTiike pressure from the United
states, we shall give Cuba up, that day
would be the eve Of England 5 loss Of
Canada and Jamaica, and Frances de-
! partuIe from her American colonies No.
Europe VIII not consent to our failure,
and apart from the fact tnat our rms viii
| nave better occasion 10 display their
1 strength Ia q contest against q civilized
| country than in guerrilla fights in the
naniquas OF Cuba, we sh all have, even If
We fail, i hand TO lift up in tie asst mo-
ments.
We shall not pretend to express an
opinion as to what all this seeming rho.
dGmontade may Indicate. Possibly il
may mean what many people in this
country win be inclined to suspect, in
advance OF definite information, that a
secret deal has been arranged between the
United states and Spain, with Lord Sails
10 lie insulted and fight, and that ther
England is to step in as missionary OF
peace and ostenSihle agent OF the Spanish
Cuban bondholders and the Sugar Trust
while the United States agrees to settle
Inent Of the Cuban anc Spanish war on the
basis OF Cuban autonomy and assumption
OF the debt, the suzerainty OF Spain ard the
principal and interest OF the Ss5OGG0 ,o0C
bonds to be Jointly guaranteed by Great
Britain and this country.
On that theory, the preliminary proclama
, tions and gongs and shooting would b,
) prepared ana intended only to feed the
Wild Jeasts OF patriotic sentiment In Spair
!. and America, while the real purpose an,
play would he to commit the people OF tn,
: United States helplessly and irrevocabll
to the Administration, Hanna olney- Atkins
Long-9avemeyer-J j. P. Morgan Cuban boni
I deal. Azcarraga merely may be playing
= his partin the comic opera which is to satisf
:. the sanguinary aspirations of two nations
E save a dynasty from destruction, and pu
e a hundred millions into the pockets of
e gang of financial pirates.
Perhaps this is not the correct view q
all Possibly the weight of America
condemnation OF the Hanna Cuban polio
may have minded the Administration t
assume for once brave and vigorou
American attitude. It may be barrel,
possible that some power in Europe NIGH
s back Spain diplonlatieaIly. hardly othei
wise-but still even that is conceivable
In paper published in the septembe
Forum, Murat Halstead discusses such
e possibility. He says:
It would not be unlike the Emperc
william 10 take an interest in Cuba
!, | England does not regard her share OF tf
o West Indies SO highly as she did a fe'
= years ago; for latterly the sugar-produein
islands nave not fIourished IN Englis
r hands. 1t might very well happen tha
Germany, whose beet sugar production ha
| become a great industry, should care
a | have the cane competition in her charge
If, therefore, the United States shoul
q offer her good offices to Spain To secuT
| the liberty and Independence of Cuba, I'll
5 Eastern despOts might support Spain, W hos
y Queen Regents an Austrian. The Easter
question may thus come West and cha
4 | lenEe US in the very waters where II
dominance of the sea was fought for
/ | the last century. And, at the same tim
= Japan might face us iii the Pacific wit
the ancient asian aggression opposing s.
d periOr civilization.
e Awaiting further advices we are NJ
5 prepared TO say on which horn OF II
r Spanish dilemma we are inclined TO har
II the Azcarraga letter. on general primo
e. pies we believe that our people won
&c rather fight all Europe on square issl