Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-14

u
determination of the whole Greek race
This description of the Grecian struggle
for Independence from the Turkish yoke
needs only a change of words. Turkish"
to Spanish" and Greek race to Cuban
people" faithfully and accurately to de-
scribe the Cuban situation today. The re-
suit of the intervention was the establish
ment OF the present kingdom of Greece.
The result of intervention by the United
States in Cuba will be the establishment
of the Cuban republic The Intervention
of the powers named in behalf of Greece
was based on three grounds:
The Case of Greece.
First. in order to comply with the re-
quest of one of the parties.
Secondly, on the grounds of humanity,
in order to stay the effusion of blood.
Thirdly, in order to put a stop to piracy
and anarchy.
These grounds. like those on which the
United States will base it's right to inter-
vene in Cuba. were technically illegal I'M
der the rules of international law, they
were morally right. Speaking of this
event Sir W. Harcourt, an English writer
of repute OF international law, in his ceie-
brated Historicus letters, says:
THE emancipation of Greece was high
act of policy above and beyond the do
main of law. As an act of policy it may
have been and was justifiable. but it was
not the less a hostile act. which, If she
dared. Turkey might properly have resent
ed by war"
1t follows from this precendent that, SO
far as international law is concerned, the
Intervention of tho United States on behalf
of the Cubans will be high act of policy
above and beyond the domain of law. AS
an act of policy it may be and will be
justifable, but it will be not the less a
hostile act. which, If she dare, Spain may
properly resent by war.
An effect of the Intervention of Great
Britain, France and Russia on behalf of
&c them from h.
jecting to the Intervention of the United
States behalf of the Cubans. even If
they were inclined, while it will have
restraining effect, If it does not estop, up
on Austria Prussia and other German and
European states which, if they did not
formally approve of, certainly took no
steps to prevent, the Intervention and
afterward acquiesced in the result.
Later Instances.
There have been other and later in
stances of Intervention on the part of the
great powers, such as that in 1860, when
they interviewed to put stop to the per-
secution and massacre of Christians in
the district of Mount Lebanon. OF this
act of intervention by the great powers,
Lawrence says: Their proceedings were
worthy of commendation. though they
could not be brought within the strict let
ter of the law
Lawrence lays down as corollary of
the rules of international law relating to
intervention, that InterVentionS in the IN
iernal affairs of states are greater IN
Engagements of their Independence than
interference with their external action
which must, from the nature of the case,
be concerned with other powers. Such in
terventions, therefore, should be watched
with the utmost jealousy, and require the
strongest reasons in order to justify them.
Great Britain, by her Intervention IN
Egypt, province of Turkey, which mas
been carried on with armed force ever since
1SS., admits that the interests OF a state
and its people are good grounds for inter
ference by state i'll the internal con-
Germs of another state. The principal
grounds OF her Intervention in and armed
occupation CT Egypt are found in her IN
terests in the SueZ canal and in those OF
her people in Egyptian bonds. The justih-
cation of the policy of Intervention be-
cause of the interests of the intervening
state and It's people being thus found IN
Great Britains action as to Egypt, IT only
remains to point out the fact that the IN
terests of the United States and its people
Iequire the cessation of the struggle in
Cuba which is devastating the island. ruin
ing its industries and destroying Its popu-
lation. Trade with the island is at a prac-
teal standstill and American property is
involved in the common ruin the war has
brought to its people. This covers the sec
ond ground on which the United States
finds justification for the character of in
reference in Cuban affairs defined by Law
renee as Intervention.
To Prevent an Epidemic.
The third ground is different from that
cited in the books. Cuba is the home of
yellow fever, a disease which has again
and again scourged the people of the
United States. Our own experience has
taught us that this dread disease, which is,
to use the expression of the celebrated d.
vine, Gods opinion of Dirt, can be pre-
vented by proper sanitary precautions.
Sanitation is an unknown science to the
Spanish. The conditions for fearful out
break of yellow fever the worst ever
known to mankind are ripe in Cuba Once
started, it will be beyond our powers to
hours away. and its spread to the inte-
rior. Standing alone this would perhaps
not be sufficient, even morally, certainly
not legally under International law to JUS
tify intervention, yet undoubtedly it adds
weight to the other two grounds, just as
piracy and anarchy added to the first two
in the intervention of Great Britain France
ard Russie on behalf of the Greeks.
Concluding his remarks on the general
subject of Intervention and non-interven-
ton, Lawrence says:
Neither selfish isolation nor undignified
remonstrance is the proper attitude for
honorable and self-respecting states. They
should intervene very sparingly, and only
on the clearest grounds of justice and ne
cessity; but when they do intervene they
should make it clear to all concerned that
their voice must be attended to and their
wishes carried out"
In these words the United States finds it's
course in the past approved and its path
way for the future blaZed out
z Ut