Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-25
RECOGNITION OF CUBA.
what IL Means, According to Mr..
Coudert, an Authority.
(New York Herald9

NEW OrK Hefdlu.)
Mr.. Frederic r. Coudert, who Is a
recognized authority on international law,
said to me yesterday. when l asked him
what, in his opinion, would be the re-
suit of recognition by the United states
of the Cuban insurgents:
II presume that by recognition IS
meant recognition of a state Of bellige-
rency which would give the Cuban IN
surgents a status as a belligerent power.
/ do not think il is intended, however,
by that expression TO intimate that the
President will recognize the Cuban re-
public as an Independent and established
power. 1t does not seem TO me that II
has yet reached the stage, notwlthstand-
ing it's stubborn fight for freedom during
the last three pears, where we can rank
IL among the States that are entitled to
diplomatic intercourse.
Assuming that the President will re-
cognize that there is a state OF war in
the island, and that there are two parties
TO the war-namely, Spain on the one
hand and Cuban insurgents on the
other-the effect will be far reaching.
Whether 1t will aid the insurrection as
much as is expected by its many friends
is doubtful. 1t would certainly subject
the United States to some Inconvenience
Heretofore we have required that the
Cuban sympathiZers should not ut out
expeditions against Spain, which Is a
friendly Power. We have only recog-
nized one authority in the island, and
Spain. having on her part refused to
admit that there was a war In Cuba
could not exact from us what she might
exact from neutrals.
OUR SHIPS LIABLE TO SEARCH.
after the recognition of a state of bell
lgerency we become neutrals, and are
forbidden to give aid or comfort to either
of the Powers; our ships will be liable
to search and our commerce TO much
harassing and annoying Interference
he Of Cttha
enable IL to ratse funds Whether this
will be so or not, is a matter of con-
lecture. 1t will certainly increase the
moral force of the insurgents and give
them a status which they do not now
possess.
This will not Of itself justify Spain in
taking offence. We simply recognize
fact. and we are the sole judges of the
existence of that fact. Three years is
long time for an instruction to last,
unless il is one Of great power and one
very difficult TO subdue. President CleVe-
land stated two years ago that the state
of affairs then existing in Cuba must be
stopped within a reasonable time. Presi-
dent Mckinley has stated the same thing.
The question Of reasonable time Is one
for us to determine and for no one else.
1.-THE President, in acknowledging con-
ditiOn of belligerency, will be acting
strictly within his right and / have no
doubt will be supported by the country.
Our citizens generally have entire faith
in his intelligence. his sense, and his
patriotism. Whatever he decides will,
believe, find general acceptance.
What effect, If any, would recognition
bv the United States have upon Spains
right 10 treat as pirates the officers and
crew of any insurgept vessel they cap
tured on the high seas? This is a question
which would depend very much upon the
view that Spain would take. We cannot
change the situation as between Spain
and Cuba by a mere declaration OF our
opinion as TO the existence OF n certain
fact, We declare that a fact exists.
Spain denies IT, AS there is no court and
Jury TO decide, each nation must act upon
what II deems proper and expedient
under the circumstances
SPAIN NOT IN TREATY OF PARIS.
Spain Is not bound 10 treat her rebel
Iious subjects as belligerents because we
declare that they are entitled 10 that de-
slgnation. At the same time. she must be
consistent, or ought to be, and II. in her
dealings with US, she acts on the assump-
ton that there Is a state Of war, and she
inyokes the benefit Of that theory as
against the neutral, II is difficult 10 see
how she can. In the same breath. declare
privateers TO De pirates anu u ueae
them as such.
1--WE must remember that she was not
one OF the Powers that Joined i'm the de-
claration Of 1886 against pr1vateefihs, anu,
therefore. could not avail herselI on tnt
treaty OF Paris 10 declare the prNa,ecrs
time. we must not forget that war Is
great foe 10 considerations based on rea,
son. Justice. and the equity or men anu
things. The object OF war u meIey ~
sstablish the right OF the stronger, 9 9f
the strongest. 10 have MS own way. =.
n he succeeds. then he has demonstrated
the correctness OF his pOA'e'S'-