Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-18
FRIDAY. MARCH l8, 1898.
SPAIN AND THE POWERS.

The more closely the matter is looked
into. the less reason there is for sup
posing that the foreign Powers aye likely
10 unite for Intervention between this
rountry and Spain for the settlement of
the Cuban question. And certainly it APP
pears that should there be such a move
ment. it will not be against our side.
All the facts and conditions sustain this
latter view, especially.
We know enough TO justify the assump-
ton that on the single ground of hu-
manity we have in the crisis the moral
support and sympathy Of the vast ma
jOrity of the British nation. But aside
from that, British commercial interests
and the complication in the far East
would incline Great Britain to favor us.
Russia, while recently expressing SYM
patty with Spain, at the same time prac-
tically warned the latter that she would
better not break the peace, and the EN-
peror Of Germany was quick to deny the
rumor that he had declared that the
United States should never have Cuba.
This denial alone could hardly fail to
have great weight with the other two
members of the Dreibund.
We have already stated that there
were commercial reasons why Great
Britain should. not ]antagonize us. Now,
let us consider the commercial logic of
the situation with reference to the prin-
cipal Continental Powers: Austria
Hungary is credited with being at the
head of the alleged Intervention propo-
sition. The of the dual mon
urchy with the United States amounts
10 100000 per annum, but with Spain it
is 50 small as not, we are told, to be
considered entitled to separate recogni-
tion in Austria-Hungary's statistical
tables The trade of Germany
with Spain is estimated at $6,OO0,OOO
a year; with the United States it is
thirty times as great-that is, $lSO,OOO.OO-
and 1t is a very significant fact that de-
spite Germany's late retaliatory measures
against Dingleyism, the Emperor's denial
OF his reported Cuban utterance has
been followed by articles in the German
semi-oficial press stating that the COM
mercial relations between the United
States and the empire are more amicabIe
and more important than are the com
merciai relations between Germany and
Spain. Russia's trade with Spain
amounts TO some 100000 per annum.
and her with the United States
is about the same, but whereas Russo
Spanish m has been practically
at a stand for years, Russo-American
has been rapidly growing.
France, of all the Continental Powers.
has the heaviest trade with Spain, that
trade footing up 100000 a year; yet,
against this is $40, 600, 900 to the credit of
the United States.
That these facts make for friendliness
towards the United States-or, to say
the least, initiate against the idea of
any combination for dictatorial interview
obvious. seeing that all the
Powers named are energetically Engages
in attempts TO extend their commerce.,
that the United States offer an in
finitely better field for their so doing han
does Spain.
We could not afford to accept foreign
good office Intervention even, if, as is
likely, acceptance would be a menace to
our historic policy. Much less could we
afford TO form an active alliance with a
foreign Power or foreign Powers, as that
would unquestionably be a dangerous pre-
cedent, that might impose upon us en-
obligations as to the future.
think 1t clear that for commercial,
as above Indicated. and other reasons, IT
is Illogical to suppose that Spain could
an alliance against us. There
fore. it seems pretty safe to conclude
that when it comes to the final test,
European sisters will hands or;
recognize what we have always
maintained, that the Cuban question is
purely N absolutely an American cues.
ton. n will leave us to settle il our
on hat basis.