New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-30
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INTERVENTION IN CUBA.
PRAISE FOR MKINLEY'S ATTITUDE AND
EFFORTS.

JUDGE PHELPS FORMER MINISTER TO ENGLAND
DISCUSSES THE oUEsTroN-rTs INTER
NATIONAL ASPECTS.
From The Ncw-York Herald.
Former Minister to England e. j. Phelps has scnt
the following letter the Cuban question to former
Governor Levi F. Morton:
To mo Hon. Levi =. Morton.
My Dear Sir: My views In respect to the CUBAN
situation. FOR which you do me the honor 10 ASH
quito at your service.
Unil the report of the Board Of Inquiry was re-
ceived Il not easy 20 know with certainty now
far the situation might be complicated by facts
or questions arising out or the disaster 10 nc
Maine. But as no completely on the part OF Spain
IN that calamity IS found 10 exist, that brancn OIL
Whether a claim the part % the United States
Gorcrnmcnt for reparaton from spain on me ne
considered. Such a claim, II made. Will be matter
for diplomatic discussion, or would be the proper
mnation Of disputed question OF fact depending
upon evidence can only take place In that way. ana
forms, in my judgment, almost me only case III
which international arbitration Is likely to be use
That grave subject being for the present. at least,
taken out Of tho way. the time has now arrived
when the proposal that The United states cover
ment shall go to war with Spain can be discussed
upon its merits. The country appears to be drttlnI
those VINO have an interest In bringing 1t to pass
and the excitement, groundless but contagious
which hey have SUCCEEDED IN ctfat deorol into
gcncc OF the American people. OF That majority
bers. IS In favor OF any unnecessary war ana sun
loss OF that Is TO be brought on ny an attack
cannot be justified under any principles that regu-
late the intercourse Of nations. Before engaging
siier what those principles so far as applica
bic to the present case. and how far we are pound
by them.
NATION MUST OBSERVE PRINCIPLE.
There seems to be an impression among unrcf'cct
Ing people that what is called international law IS
merely a scholastic science. Of no practical I'M
portance and to which Americans are quite SUI
peror They do not perceive that II is ns inpossi-
bic for nation TO make a law for ITSELF IN us
relations with other countries as 1t Is for an ina
vidual to do SO in respect to his own conouc' !"
the community in which ne lives. .-..,.u, n,
The fundamental principles Of international law
have been established by the general concurrence OF
long experience 20 be both just and indispensable
Hence they derive even higher SANCTION man d.,
WAYS at ends the law that is enacted by legislatures
or promulgated by judges. 49,. ,,,
Every government is alike bound by these princi-
pies for the sake OF ts own protectIon de W.. ,n
Tor that OF others and the general peace ana ~ ui,
der implied covenant with manKInd 70 inietss
tbs arreement sets Itself against the enlightened
opinion of he world does what is universally con-
coded 20 Zoe wrong and establishes me dangerGu s
precedent which. sooner or later, with unfaillng
certainty. will come home 10 itself NO nation can
afford TO take such course
THE LIMITS OF INTERVENTION.
Among the rules Of conduct that have thus be-
imperative none are more cleh'iF NO''''N-
those which limit the right Of military intervention
M, on, nation in the internal affairs OF another
certainly the most important and delicate OF all
that can arise in in Int afG concerns
These rules are no, new for they nave neen iomg
settled and not doubtful. for they are uinVersaiS
acouesced in II is the general agreement OF man,
Kind instructed by experience which the world
ca mot afford rejected ha. mas eS,an , ihe
necessary self-defence OF nations nateriaS N
terests or OF the national honor, which is Its i's
fOrCible
affairs Of another country with which II IS NJ peas
The prefer OF mediation or Of friendly or de-
clined by the government TO whlcn Il rs aIu ILL, nv,
But when declined the atempdi ND 10 Bitter con.e-
cnonces Of which have been demorstrated on mani ~,
page OF hstoT 3 the Ana rase OF in aid Of
an armed rebellion against another so'e'""'e"' -
The IDEA that this country or any other Is ,nsd
fed IN undertaking moral or poirl 6 II cPrrectng
bv armed invasion the faults o. their institInT,nS
or the mistakes OF their administration or sq,,n
lstering charity to them by Tore Is aoSoiu'7' "'
missible and infinitely mischieious
WHAT JUST GROUNDS APPEAR.
IN the light OF these consideration let us inquire
unHn what grounds it IS claimed that we ought 70
GmTo and precisely what viii intervention turn
spain IS a friendly nation and always has been:
most indnstri0us agitator for war has been
unabI" 10 hun, up in any history since under Span.
ism auspices this country was first opened to us py
Columbus. any cause OF quarrel between us. she
Ies not attacked us. Is proposing TO attack US;
IA T. virtualiv Incapable OF Il. She has manifested
every desire and made every effort to a'old nos'i-
ties which. to her as she We'll Knows rsbslion
against her Government in Cuba thus far without Sn
s~c1gs cor the seat Of the conflict Is more IMAM
three thousand mics from the mother country ana
The military genius that Nigh: have terminated II
has not yet ebpGh'So wod long ago have persisted
from n' exbsuson had it not been supported and sup
p oatSn Of our own neutrality laws and treaty
ofiiFations our Government has not it Is true true
oSeorts 70 suppress them sincere. doubt but al
wavs ineffectual. through United states marsnaIs
wich :he vesScls sailed after their departure
4 twentieth part 90 the naval force wnlcn we arc
n noW me prposes OF National defence would
have put an end to me ohy source iFo'h "ii'" LILO
rel elton has been kept alive
THE MATTER OF LIABILITY.
1t has been claimed by some OF the advocates OF
var dss ac q, he Maine whether her Government
blame for it or not Th ZIP y s9.S b treg gs s
,cro The cause Of the disaster. her liability Is ques
Does # occur TO these gentlemen that the rule
,hoy invoke works in either aspect OF the case potn
Ts ts sp odT MheSer in Fault fault not
we must equally guarantee TO her that armed ex,
Pead9ns to 19d dspdched rom ours And y nes
gcnre in the one case Is the criterion OF Hao''y'
We rcco1cred SIS OO ono from Great Britain for the
dopr"da,ons o. the Alabama only butt not armea
th7f nor government was not vsilant enough in
mr.. ,cntinc the sailing OF the vessel Is II 10 be
drth,ed that a much stronger case OF negligence
could be made out before tribunal OF arbitration
against Government IN respect 10 these eXpeul-
lions?
sELF-DEFENCE NOT INVOLVED
In this quarrel between Spain and her rebel sub
teots without reference to It's merits and concedlne
10 the insurgents all the virtues when are supposed
30 attend rebellion against constituted government
cxcept when II attacks our own. have we IN the
frat Mace any interest OF our own that 1ustthes IN
,ersernnre under the right OF self-dsfence?
That claim was at first pat forth on the score OF
tho int.rruption OF our commerce. but II has been
abandoned IL Is too well settled 10 admit OF dis
mite that the Inconvenience and loss suffered by
ihe commerce. OF neutral States when war exists.
though OFT en- considerable. constitute no ground or
interven ton hut must be borne. The loss OF Great
Rri,ain In th. respect Is much greater than ours.
When i'm our Civi War the Southern ports were
hlockaded by the Federal fleets very great loss 10
Tho commerce. OF other nations ensued. especially In
the Important staple OF cotton YET no suggestion