Daily camera., 1898-09-03
PREDICTION VERIFIED
Made by an American Minister to
Spain Years Ago.
Who Solicited Proposals from Spain
Regarding the Control of Cuba
and the Relief of the
Monarchy.

Two things have long puzzled the
student of Spanish history. One is as
to how Spain has managed to exist so
long with depleted treasury, and the
other is as to how she has so long kept
such valuable islands as in the West In
dies and the Philippines.
In 1925 this government was repre-
sented at Madrid by Alexander H.
Everett, his former teacher and con-
fidential friend, John Quincy Adams,
being president. In the fall OF that
year Mr.. Everett wrote personal let
ter to the president that was not pre-
served in the archives of the state de-
partment and which was not made pub
lie until more than 80 years later. It's
of special interest in view OF our pres
ent relations and impending negotia-
tions with Spain.
AS secretary Of state, Mr.. Adams
had himself brought about the treaty
under which Florida end all the claims
of Spain north of the parallel of AZ
degrees, as far west as the Pacific,
were ceded to the United States. He
insisted upon these cessions and re-
ceived the credit of getting them, Mon
roe, Calhoun and other prominent
statesmen of the time being lukewarm
in the matter. Mr.. Adams had also
held in this connection that Cuba was
really part of the Floridas and
should pass under the control if not
the ownership Of the United States.
Mr.. Everett was in full sympathy with
this view of the case, and it no doubt
had a bearing upon the course that he
pursued with the government at Mad
rid He found the king obstinately de-
termined not to recognize the inde-
pendence of Cuba, then in revolt. He
also found Spain without credit and in
pressing need of money, chronic con-
dition that has since become familiar
to that power.
Under these conditions, ostensibly
upon his own motion, but approved by
the president, he sought to elicit GER
tain proposals from the troubled mon,
archy. These can be set forth in much
less space lldh tuSy oSSuPy Ill ''iS ~
ter referred to. Spain was just as
Jealous CT her honor then as now. and
! the scheme was baited with the assur-
auce that honor and expediency went
together in this instance. The finan-
cial distress of Spain was to be relieved
| by the loan Of large sum from the
United States and the burden of mill
tary charges in Cuba was to be lifted.
Full title and ownership of the island
was to remain in the parent govern
ment, but it was to be turned ever to
| the United States "temDorarily" as
security for the loan, made for an in
definite period and without interest.
We were to have full control of har'
bors and armaments, guaranteeing
against invasion or seizure hy other
| powers, and to restore actual posses
sion to Spain "when the debt was
paid"
In arguing this plan Mr.. Everett
made some predictions that have been
| fulfilled and others that history has
failed to verify. He urged upon Spain
that the Cubans would persist in their
revolutionary movements until their
| independence was granted or their re-
| lease from Spanish control was effect
ed through foreign Intervention. He
insisted that the government could not
stand six months without replenish-
| ing its treasury. He declared that the
Cubans were not capable of self-gov-
| ernment, that their affairs would have
| equitable administration at the hands
of the United States and that the one
way of maintaining Spanish honor
had been opened through this pro-
posal. Some of the kings advisers
urged his acceptance of the PROPOSE
ton, but he obstinately and blindly
| refused to ALLEVIATE the island upon any
terms or for any purpose.
How history would have been
changed had these secret negotiations
been successful is largely a matter OF
imagination, but it is not credible that
Spain would have repaid the millions
it was proposed to advance her, and 1t
is certain that the war now in progress
would never~have been fought. The
scheme was revived when the acquisi-
| ton of Cuba was agitated under the
second Grant administration, but the
sequel to it all is being read in the
story of current events.-Detroit Free
| Press.