The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-25
CUBAN BELLIGERENCY
Tho True Principle or nccoKnltIop-A Precedent
in our own struggle FOR Freedom.

editorial article OF Oct. q, The Change of Min.
istry In SPAIN" you said, In reference 10 the
mission OF Minister woodford.
The overtures which Mr. woolford has bcrn IN.
structed to make. which, 1t Is believed, embody an
onert to guarantee an Indemnity for the surIender OF
cuba, VIII be rejected clvilly but iuexurably. We
shall hnd ourselves then confronted IN Tho re a..
%scIAhling OF Congress with the question whether, SEQ.
ing TINT our prorer of mediation has been r,prlled,
we ought any longer to refuse TO I, cognize the Cubans
as independent, or, at all events, as tclligrrcnts.
The news from Madrid has verified this pre-
diction. The United States Government finds
itself in a position somewhat similar to that
occupied by France at tho breaking out Of our
Revolutionary war. l say somewhat similar, be-
cause the circumstances which suggest and
Justify our recognition of the Cubans as belliger-
ents are much stronger than those which in
duccd the recognition of our bclligcrcucy at
that time by France.
All writer's ON International law agree that
self-protcction or its own interest, is the true
ground upon which q neutral State recognizes
an insurgcnt community as n bclligercnt. 1t
was upon this priciplo that France acted in our
Revolution. In its incipioncy her Ministry saw
that II was her interest to recognize the
United States as bcl!iserents, because she would
thereby obtain a large part OF that valuable
h'Na ~ w Nlihb Nihi' l"i p'Vi
monopolizcd by Great Britain. and which was
then offered by the Americans to France. That
by so doing she would wound her old adversary
and diminish tho power OF tho great nation that
had antngonized her for centuries and had re-
Gently inflicted on her tho humiliating treaty OF
Paris, was doubtless an additional motive. But
tho ground upon which Louis XVI. satisfied his
own conscience and appealed to the world for
Qualification was the right of every nation to
Judge for itself the course dictated by its own
interests in reference to the recognition OF u
belligerent.
Soon after the arrival OF silas Deane in France.
he obtained an interview, on July 10, 1776, with
the Count de Vergenncs. Minister of Foreign
Affairs. In his account of that interview, trans.
mitted in August to tho Committee OF Secret
Correspondence. Deane says:
pursued nearl y the line marked out by my instruc.
lions. stating the Importance OF the American com.
merce. and the advantages Great Britain had re.
coived from a monopoly OF It: that all intercourse
ceasing between the two countries. the colonies had
considered where they might dispose Of that produce,
which they necessarily had SO large a surplus OF. and
receive for their raw or nrst materials the various
manufactures they wanted; that they turned their
eyes on France as the best country in Europe for
them TO be connected with in commerce; that I was
purchasing q large quantity OF manufactures for
which l expected to pay the money. and that I should
want a quantity OF military stores. for which remit.
tances would be made; that I doubted not tho
colonies had before this declared indcpendency, and
that l should soon receive Instructions In consequence,
more full and explicit; that In the meantime they
were very anxious to know how such n declaration
would be received by the powers in Europe, par.
tcularly by France. and whether. in such case. an
Ambassador would be received from them.
De VerBennes replied that tho Importance OF the
American commerce was well known. and that no
country could SO well supply the colonies. and in re-
turn receive their produce as France. 1t was there.
fore the interest OF both to have the most FREQ and
uninterrupted Intercourse. for which reason, the
Court had ordered their ports to be kept open, and
equally free TO America as to Great Britain. That
considering the good understanding between the two
Courts OF Versailles and London, they could not
openly encourage the shipping of warllke stores.
but no obstruction OF any kind would be
given; II there should. as tho custom houses
were not fully in their secrets in this matter.
such distractions should be removed on the first
application. That I must consider myself perfectly
free to carry on any kind OF commerce in the king.
dom. which any subject OF any other State in the
world might. as the Court had resolved their ports
should be equally free to both parties. That l was
under his Immediate protection. and should I meet
with any difficulty. either from their police. with the
rules OF which he supposed me unacquainted, or
from any other quarter. ! had but TO apply to him
and everything would be settled. That as to indie.
pendency. II was an event In the wombo of time. and
1t would be highly improper for him TO say anything
on that subject until 1t had actually taken place.
1t will thus be seen that France did not for one
moment hesitate as to the recognition OF the
United States as belligcrents. As to the recog-
milton of their independence, she did hest
tate long and obviously, and it was not until
more than a year and a half after she had rccog.
nized them as belligerents that she acknowl-
edged their independence by the treaties OF Feb.
6, 1878. We know. In fact, that tho French
Ministry had determined before the arrival of
Mr.. Deane not only to recognize the bellieerency
of the insurgent colonies, but also to assist them
secretly with money and arms. But | do not
propose to discuss here the propricty of such as
%sistance. judged by the standard of interna-
tional law. because it has no bearing on Frances
right to recognize our belligerency. Against
this recognition Great Britain, jealous as she
was OF her rights, did not presume to protest at
that time. Tho correspondence between Lord
Weymouth. the British Minister, and the Brit.
ish Ambassador to France, Lord Stormont,
shows that while they were anxious to have
France exclude tho Americans from her ports.
they did not dare to demand what they were
satisfied would DO refused.
Tho King Of Portugal, Mt tho inst.igation Of
Great Britain, had issued an edict couchcd in
Tx ocNoioot anu uioSl OHcublVe terms, shutting
his ports against American commerce.; and Wey.
mouth wrote to Stormont on July 90, l77G:
Transmit to your EIcellency herewith an edict OF
his Most Faithful Majesty with respect to any Amer.
can vessel that may put into the harbors OF Portugal.
II is unnecessary to apprlse you that II would be very
desirable that something similar should be done at
the Court where you reside; but as In the present sit.
uation OF Affairs 1t would not DO expedlent to receive
q refusal, / must wholly leave the matter to your
discretion. not doubling that you will use the most
proper means to try the practlcability OF a measure
that would DO important at the present crisis.
To this Stormont replied. July 81:
The objections to an unfavorable answer are too
obvious to be dwelt upon. and that in the present mo-
ment we should receive such an answer as we wish is
more than l can bring myself TO expect.
Lord Weymouth wrote on Aug. 0:
The object, though desirable. Is not such as
should induce your Ercellency to demand II IN form.
and not obtain 1t. Your ExccIlcncy's caution and
sagacity VIII warrant this matter being left TO your
care. and his Majesty will be satisfied. II the appli-
cation should not be made TO NJ. de Vergcnnes, that