Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-06

|
all of them and the States on the Pacific
passes through the waters which wash the
| shores of Cuba. The exercise of this super
vision could scarce fail to lead if not to
abuses certainly to collisions perilous to
| the peaceful relations of the States.
There can be little doubt as to what result
| such supervision would before long draw
this nation. 1t would be unworthy Of the
United States to inaugurate the possibilities
| OF such result, by measures of questionable
| right or expediency, by any indiTection''
Turning to the practical aspects of a
recognition of belligerency and reviewing
| it's inccnveniences and positive dangers,
still further pertinent considerations APP
pear. In the code of nations there is no
such thing a naked recognition of bel
ligerenoy unaccompanied by the assumption
of International neutrality. Such recog-
milton without more will not confer upon
either party to a domestic conflict a status
not therefore actually possessed or affect
the relation of either party to other States
| The act of recognition usually takes the
| form of a solemn proclamation of neutral
| ity which recites :he de facto condition Of
| belligerency as its motive. 1t announces
| a domestic law of neutrality In the declar-
ing State. 1t assumes the International
| obligations of a neutral in the presence
Of public state of war 1t warns all
citizens and others within the jurisdiction
| of the proclaimant that they violate those
| rigorous obligations at their own peril and
can not expect to be shielded from the con-
sequences. The right of visit and search
on the AMI seizure of vessels and
| cargoes and contraoand of war and good
prize under admiralty law must under in
| ternational law he admitted as "a legitimate
| consequence of proclamation ct belijGer-
ency. While according the equal belIiger-
! ent rights defined by pubic law TO each
party in our ports disfavors would be i'm
posed on both, which while nominally equal
| would weigh heavily in behalf of Spain
| herself. Possessing 4 navy and controlling
! the ports of Cuba her MARITIME rights
could be asserted not only for the military
| investment of the Island but up to the mar
gin of our own territorial waters, and
condition of things would exist for which
the Cubans within their own domain could
| not hope to create parallel; while its
creation through aid or sympathy from
| within our domain would be even more i'm
possible than now, with the additional
obligations of international neutrality we
| would perforce assume.
The enforcement of this enlarged and on
erous code of neutrality would only be in
| fuential within our own jurisdiction by land
| and sea and applicable by our own instru-
! mentallties. 1t could impart to the United
! states no jurisdiction between Spain and
the insurgents. 1t would give the United
States no right of intervention to enforce
the conduct of the strife within the para
mount authority of Spain according to the
| international code of war.
For these reasons 1 regard the recogni-
ton of the beligerency of the Cuban in
surgents as now unwise and therefore in
admissible. Should that step hereafter be
| deemed wise as measure of right and duty
the Executive will take it.
Intervention On Humanitarian
Grounds.
Intervention upon humanitarian grounds
has been frequently suggested and has not
| tailed to receive my most anxious and
earnest consideration. But should such
step be now taken when it is apparent that
hopeful change has supervened in the
policy of Spain toward Cuba? \ new gov
ernment has taken office in the mother
country. 1t is pledged in advance to the
| declaration that all the effort in the world
can not suffice to maintain peace in Cuba
by the bayonet; that vague promises of re-
form after subjugation afford no solution
OF the insular problem; that with a substi-
luton OF commanders must come change
Oh the past system of warfare for one in
harmony with a new policy which shall no
longer aim to drive the cubans to the "hor-
rible alternative of taking to the thicket or
succumbing in misery" that reforms must
be instituted in accordance with the needs
and circumstances of the time, and that
these reforms. while designed to give full
autonomy 10 the colony and to create vir-
tual entity and sef-controlled administra-
| ton vet
ereignty of Spain by just distribution of
powers and burdens upon basis of mutual
interest untainted by methods Of selfish ex-
pediency.
The first acts of the new government lie
| IN these honorable paths. The policy of
cruel rapine and determination that so long
shocked theuniversal sentiment of human
ity has been reversed. Under the new mill
tary commander broad clemency is prof
fered Measures have already been set on
| foot to relieve the horrors of starvation.
| The power Of the Spanish armies 1t is as
serted is to be used not to spread ruin and
| desolation but to protect the resumption OF
peaceful agricultural pursuits and produc-
tive industries. That past methods are fu-
tile to force a peace by subjugation is free
iy admitted. and that ruin without con-
Citation must inevitably fail to win for
Spain the fidelity of a contented depend
| ency
DEGREES in application of the foreshadow-
ed reforms have already been promulgated
The full text of these DEGREES has not been
| received, but as furnished in Geographic
summary from our Minister are: All civil
and electoral rights of Peninsular Span
iards are, in virtue of existing constitu-
tional authority, forthwith extended to Co
lonial Spaniards. A scheme of autonomy
has been proclaimed by decree, to become
effective upon ratification by the Cortes
1t creates Cuban parliament which, with
the insular executive can consider and vote
upon all subjects affecting local order and
interests, possessing unlimited powers save
as to matters Of state, war and the navy
as to which the Governor-General acts by
his own authority as the delegate of the
central government. This parliament re-
ceives the oath of the Governor-General to
preserve faithfully the liberties and privi-
leges of the colony, and to it the colonial
| secretaries are responsible II has the