Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-07

trality which recites the de facto condition
of belligerency as its motives. 1t announces
a domestic law of neutrality in the declar-
ing state. 1t assumes the international
obligations of neutral in the presence
of public state of war. 1t warns all cit
iZens and others within the jurisdiction of
the proclaimant that they violate those
rigorous obligations at their own peril
and cannot expect to be shielded from the
consequences. The right of visit and search
on the seas and seizures of vessels and
cargoes and contraband of war and good
prize under admiralty law must, under in
ternational law, be admitted as le-
gitimate consequence of a proclamation of
belligerency.
Would Help Spain More Than Cuba.
While according the equal belligerent
rights defined by public law to each party
in our ports. disfavors would be imposed
on both. which. while nominally equal.
would weigh heavily in behalf of Spain
herself. Possessing a 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
margin of our own territorial waters. and
condition of things would exist for which
the Cubans within their own domain could
not hope to create q parallel: while its
creation through aid or sympathy from
within our domain would be even more
impossible than now, with the additional
obligations of international neutrality We
would perforce assume.
The enforcement of this enlarged and
onerous code of neutrality would only be
influential within our own jurisdiction by
land and sea and applicable by our own
instrumentalitiess 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
tie paramount authority of Spain accord
Ing to the international code of war.
Recognition Held to He Unwise.
For these reasons I regard the recogni
tior of the belligerency of the Cuban in
surgents as now unwise ana. therefore. in
admissible. Should that step hereafter be
deemed wise as a measure of right and
duty the executive will take it.
Intervention upon humanitarian grounds
has been frequently suggested and has not
failed to receive my most anxious and
earnest consideration. But should such
step be now taken when it is apparent
that a hopeful change has supervened in
the policy of Spain toward Cuba? A new
government has taken office in the mother
country. 1t is pledged in advance to the
declaration that all the effort in the world
cannot suffice to maintain peace in Cuba
by the bayonet; that vague promises of
reform after subjugation afford no solution
of the insular problem; that with a SUBJ
sutton of commanders must come
change of the past system of warfare for
one in harmony with a new policy which
shall no longer aim to drive the Cubans
to the horrible alternative of taking to
the thicket or succumbins in misery" that
reforms must be instituted in accordance
With the needs and circumstances of time.
and that these reforms, while designed to
give full autonomy to the colony and TO
create a virtual entity and self-controlled
administration. shall yet conserve and af-
firm the sovereignty of Spain by a just
distribution of powers and burdens upon a
basis of mutual interest untainted by
methods of selfish expediency.
Clemency and Autonomy offered,
The first acts of the new government lie
in these honorable paths. The policy of
cruel rapine and determination that SO long
fly has been reversed. Under the new mil
itary 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, it is
asserted, is to be used not to spread ruin
and desolation, but to protect the resump-
ton of peaceful agricultural pursuits and
productive industries. That past methods
are futile to force a peace by subjugation
is freely admitted. and that ruin without
Cancellation must inevitably fail to win for
Spain the fidelity of q contented depend
ency.
DEGREES in application of the foreshad-
owed reforms have already been promul-
gated. The full text of these DEGREES has
rot been received. but as furnished in a tel
egraphic summary from our minister are:
All civil and electoral rights of peninsular
Spaniards are. in virtue of existing con-
stitutional authority. forthwith extended to
colonial Spaniards. A scheme Of autonomy
has been proclaimed by decree to heroine