The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-23
HmeriCa's Interest
Paramount in Cuba

nm 1852, with Millard Fillmore as
III president and Daniel Webster as sec
III retary of state, the carl of Malmes-
bury, then Englands premier
y through the British minister at
Washington. John T.. Champion, submit
ted to the government of the United
States, with request for its approval,
the draft of a proposed tripartite agree
ment between France, England and the
United States relating to Cuba, of whioh
this was the substance: The high and
contracting parties hereby, severally and
collectively, disclaim, both now and for
hereafter, all intention to obtain possess
sion of the sland Of Cuba; and that they
respectively bind themselves to discoun-
tenance all attempts to that effect on the
part of any power or individuals what
ever. The high contracting parties de-
clare severally and collectively, that they
will not obtain or maintain, for them
selves, any exclusive control over the
island, nor assume or exercise any do
minion over the same" Before the reply
of our government to this proposal was
penned Daniel Webster died and Edward
Everett was made secretary of state in
his stead. Mr.. Everett drafted this gov
ernments answer, and 1t is asserted by
| Wharton, the great authority on inter-
| national law, to be one of the ablest state
papers ever penned. This paper has es-
pecial interest at this time, when the Gu
| ban question is again before the world
| for settlement. Below is its substance:
o
In stating the reasons of the American
government for declining to enter into the
| tripartite agreement, Mr.. Everett says
| that while 'the president doeA not covet
| the acquisition of Cuba for the United
| States, at the same time he considers the
| condition of Cuba as mainly an American
question. "The proper convention" says
| Mr.. Everett, proceeds on difcren.
principle. 1t assumes that the United
| States have no other or greater interest
| in the question than France or England
| whereas, ii is necessary only TO cast one S
| eye on the map to see how remote are
| the relations of Europe and how intimate
| those of the United States with this
| island" After commenting upon the ira
ditional policy of the United States ia
avoid entangling alliances with foreign
nations, Mr.. Everett proceeds "But the
president has a graver objection to en-
tering the proposed convention. He has
no wish to disguise the feeling that the
compact, although equal in its terms
would be very unequal in its substance
France and England, by entering into il
| would disable themselves from obtaining
possession of an island remote from theii
seats of government, belonging to another
possess it must always be as good as
their own, a distant island in another
| hemisphere, and one which, by no ordi.
nary peaceful course of things, could ever
| belong to either of them. The United
| States, on the ether hand, would, by the
proposed convention, disable themselves
from making an acquisition which might
| take place without any disturbance of eX
listing foreign relations, and in the natura
order of things. The island of Cuba lie!
at our doors 1t commands the approach
of the Gulf of Mexico which washes The
shores of five of our states. 1t bars the
entrance of that great river which drains
half the northern continent, and with III
tributaries forms the largest system o.
internal water communication in tht
world. 1t keeps watch at the doorway o
our intercourse with California by IN,
Isthmus route. If AN island like Cuba
belonging TO the Spanish crown, guarded
the entrance to the Thames and III,
Seine, and the Upited States should pro
pose convention like this TO France anC
England, those powers would assuredll
feel that the disability assumed by our
selves was far less serious than lha
which we asked them to assume"
%
Mr.. Everett then draws a splendid pic
ture OF the devloppent of the United
States as evidence of the unwsdom o
committing this country at that time I,
any compact as to Cuba. There then oc
ours this remarkable passage: "Spail
meantime has retained of her EXTENSIVE
dominions in this hemisphere but the tw,
islands OF Cuba and Porto Rico. A re
I spectful sympathy with the fortunes o
sn an"isnt siiv snd a gallant nsopie. will