The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-02
oun ssGHr OF INTERVENTION.


right under international law TO inter-
fere with the business OF Spain OK Ia
the manner in which she rules one OF
her colonies.
The doctrine CT non-intervention 10
very jealousy maintained By every IN
dependent power. Each does this In Its
own interest. and 1t Is we'll to uphold
Il. because otherwise Might would very
frequently be found sufficient excuse
for meadling in the affairs OF weaker
powers All authorities. however, agree
that Intervention may become justifiaoie
either on the ground OF seif-protectfon
from the consequences OF the policy OF
another power or II may also be justi-
fed on the ground Of humanity. Inter-
national law does not attempt To apply
ordinary rules TO intervention on hui
rianitarian grounds, but 1t maintains
that I'm the event Of such Intervention
the power interfered with has right
TO meet it with war. Every such inter
vention must find It's own excuse in the
exceptional circumstances.
We may, then. consider whether our
proposed interference with SPANS pol
icy in regard to Cuba 10 justified by the
conditions: and to aid us in that in
anlry the safest course is to resort to
the presidents furnished by history.
Referring TO the authorities on the SUBJ
iect we find that wooisey in his Intro
duction To International Law" says in
reference on the score Of humanity or
of religion can be justified only by the
extreme circumstances Of the case"
George b. Davis professor In the West
international law lays down the princi-
pal proposition that ''it Is possible for
case to exist In which a part of the peo-
pie OF state may be SO oppressed or
prosecuted as to warrant other states
In interfering upon grounds OF human
ity." Prof. T. j. Lawrence. an English
writer. SO late as 1896, wrote that IAN
Intervention to put stop to barbarous
and abominable cruelty Is high act Of
policy above and beyond the domain Of
law. 1t Is destitute Of technical legal
ity. but it may be morally right and
even praiseworthy to q high degree"
Mr.. Lawrence deprecates Intervention
which Is confined to moral suasion. He
says:
Neither selfish Isolation nor undigni-
fled refnonstrance Is the proper attitude
for honorable and self-respecting states
They should intervene very sparingly.
and only on the clearest grounds of JUS
tice and necessity; but when they do in
tervene they should make 1t clear to ali
concerned that their voice must be At
tended to and their wishes carried out"
These authorities make 1t clear that
under some circumstances Intervention
may be undertaken by any self-respect-
ing power. and the next question upon
4
whether the circumstances surrounding
Cuba are OF such an imperative charac-
ter as 10 warrant our Interference on
her behalf We have been so isolated
and have always 50 rigidiy maintained
the doctrine OF nop-intervention. which
was first most conspicnously advocated
by Washington. that we must look
abroad for parallels and precedents.
The most notable OF recent instances
of Intervention ia that afforded by En-
glands policy with regard TO Egypt.
While humanity was made the motive
was impelled to her course By the fear
Of bankruptcy TO Egypt and the neees-
slty Of taking prompt and determined
steps TO protect aud foster the resources
of Egypt, In order that It's grea; debt TO
English investors in Egyptian bonds
might rot be repudiated.
Perhaps a better example would be
that ty which. IN 1929. England, France
and Russia formed special alliance for
the purpose Of interfering in the strug-
gle between Greece and Turkey. Greece
was then under the dominion 81 the sui
tan. The GREEKS were seeking 10 save
themselves ffom determination by an
instruction and the case Is therefore
very analogous 20 that OF Cuba The
whole World justified that Intervention
on humanitarian grounds. and many
enlnen, authorities have eSnphaticaiiy
defended Il. The best reference We can
Sow make is 60 the opinion Of Sir Will
tasa uarcourt. the eminent English
| statesman. who made q declaration
which has since been widely quoted and
Is accepted as determining Tie question.
| He says:
The emancipation ot Greece was a
hsgh act 81 policy above aad beyond thu
domain ~ law. "a al act Of policy Il