The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-19
The Proposition OF
Cuban Intervention


m FTER three years of warfare The
I'M situation in cuba resolves itself
JUl thus: Spain cannot put down the
I'M rebellion; Spain will not grant in
dependence; the CubauS cannot eN-
pei the SpaniardS, and will not yield to
them Therefore ii is argued. the United
States ought to intervene. Spain is an
Independent state Lawrence. in his "Prn-
ciples of International Law" the latest
authoritative wolk on the subject in the
English language, ANA one that is con-
suited constantly these days by the de.
partment of state, defines independence
as the right of Il state to manage all its
affairs. whether external or internal.
without interference from other states.
as long as IL respects the corresponding
right possessed by each fully-sovereign
member of the family of nations While
this is true. as a principle, it happens
sometimes that another state or group Of
states interferes with proceedings of an
Independent state ITO compel il TO do
something which. if left to itself it
would not do, or refrain from doing
something which, if left to itself, it would
not do This usually happens when such
SIaIe is engaged in an internal turmoil
or an external conflict. Lawrence says:
"Interference of this Kind is called inter.
Vention.'
Lawrence continues: "'rhe essence of
intervention is force, or the threat "f
force. in case the dictates Of the inttrNcn-
ing power are disrC gardCd" The general
policy of the Unted States il non-inter-
VeDtion. Yet. like all general rules. il Is
subject ~ exceptions. The most notable
of these exceptions was when France,
under NapC icon III, by force of arms at
tempted to set up a monarchical form OF
government under MaXmilian against
the wishes of the Mexican people, The
United States interfered aud by threat
of force comrelled the Franch emperor
to withdraw his troops from Mexico. The
result of the downfall and death of Max.
imilian, followed by the establishment OF
the Mexican republic on more secure
foundations than ever. This was o true
instance Of intervention, ana was a splen-
did vindication of the Monroe doctrine
| The grounds upon which the United
! States might intervene in Spanish-Cuban
| affairs are three:
|. Humanity.
.. The interests of its own citizens
| 3. The protection Of its own citizens
| from threatening danger.
d
Although destitute of technical legality
| under the ordinary rules of international
| law as at present written, the first of the
| grounds upon which the United States
| might intervene i'm Cuba is one that ap-
| peals to the moral sentiment of mankind
| and under exceptional circumstances is
| morally iuStiiable The power which in
| tervenes on this ground must undertake
| such intervention with a single eye 10 the
| object in view and without Interior con-
| siderations of self-interest and ambition,
| if it is to be justified at the bar of ma
| tons. 1t must be kept in mind that inter
national law does not lay down the prln-
ciple that cruelty on the part of a gov
arm ant lIak AAp rixsa a
of its freedom of action, nor does it i'm
pose upon states the obligations of pre-
Renting either ordinary barbarity on the
| part of its neighbors or that special kind
| of inhumanity which takes the form OF
| religious persecution.
| O.
Lawrence says: AN Intervention to
| put "A stop 10 barbarous and ahomnable
| cruelty is "a high act OF policy above and
| beyond the domain of law IL is desti.
| tute OF technical legality, but il may be
morally right and even praiseworthy 10
Il high degree" The question the United
States is called upon to decide for itself
is whether of not it is justified in inter
tering i'm Spanish-Cuban affairs on the
broad ground of humanity. Fortunately
we are not without a precedent, created
by three of the principal European pow.
ers. The case in point is that of the in
reference of Great Britain, France anC
Russia on behalf of the Greeks in 1927 and
the following years. "rhe contest le
tween them and their Turkish oppress
ors had gene on for years" says Law
renee land had been marked through
out by the most horrible baTbarties. Il
seemed as If Il would end i'm the exteT
mination of the whole Greek race" Thi!
description of the Greclan struggle fo
| Independence from the Turkish YOKE
needs only a change of words Turk
ish" 10 spanish" and Greek race" t.
cuban people, faithfully and accuratel,
to describe the Cuban situation today
The result of the intervention was IN
establishment of the present kingdom o
Greece. The result of interventian b.