The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-03
sonE ;NEvI.-coKs.



By Henry Cabot Lodge dlnrpers) il based on the
ofhdal reports of the military and naval opera
TONS supplemented with such accounts Of eye
uitneasos as have seemed TO the author trust
worthy. The description Of the political Incl
dents which pi cecdcd and followed tho declare
ton Of war is, Of course. founded on the Senator 4
personal observations The book will undoubtcd-
~ be accepted the best contemporary history
Of the contest and It's immediate consequence
The diplomatic aspects Of the story cannot be
probably discussed until all tho facts arc made
known, and II In possible thai q full disclosure Of
them will DO postponed for a generation. Mr.
Lodge does however point out that England re-
fused 70 Join n European concert proposed for
tho purpose OF interfering with us in the Philippines
but ho fails 70 note the fundamental change Of
position tho part Of tho British Government
which rendered our intervention in Cuba possible.
Tho full sgnifcanoc Of this change was brought
out in an article published about year ago undor
ths pom -namo Of -Diplon3atc,is- in the Fort
nightly Repte1 Tho writer Of that article recalled
ths attitude with reference 70 Cuba, which had
becn pcrsistontly taken by tho British Foreign
Ofhos from tho time OF George Coming down 10
and including 1878 That attitude. in which
France concurrod, characterized by q
reiterated refusal 70 permit tho United States
20 treat tho Cuban question as ono affecting
tho Now World alone. ono In which
Spain and the great American Republic
wore exclusively concerned. 1t In secret that
70 should have interviewed in Cuba after tho Viz
Ginius affair. had not Secretary Fish. in reply To
an inquiry, received fsom tho British and French
Foreign Oficos distinct intimation that the po-
gtion which they had maintained for half cen.
fury with relation TO the Spanish Antilles
unchanged. II was Englands recession from
that attitude in tho spring OF 1898 tbas left France
impotent 10 interposo and rendered Il possible tho
MS TO undertake the dislodgement Of Spain from
her American possessions
In his chapter on the Coming Of War Mr.
Lodge makes II clear that the failure Of the joint
resolutions Of Congress 10 recognize the republic
Of Cuba as represented by its provisional govern
ment was due. not to tho Senate but 10 the Re
publican majority in the House Of Representa-
hves. which was VIGOROUSLY controlled by Speaker
Reed. who. rightly wrongly. is believed TO have
opposed =, even after the blowing up Of the Maine
any intervention upon part for tho liberation
Of tho Cubans from Spain The facts set forth
In the book before U.S. these-wo remind the
reader that Mr. Lodge. a member Of the Senat,
Committee ON Foreign Relations speaks with I'M
questionable authority Notwithstanding the des
perato efforts Of the peaoe at any price people
70 stem the tide Of public sentiment after the de-
struction of tho Maine il was understood that a
decisive message on Cuban affairs would como
from the President to Congress Monday, April
4, 1893 Then II was given out that the message
would be sent in on Wednesday. April g. but
when the House met on tho last-named day. there
WAS again delay and then the leader Of the House
Ind three Senators Of the Foreign Relations Com.
mittee were summoned suddenly TO the Executive
hf 10 aba
despatch from General Lee to the effect that, II
The anticipated message went in that day he could
not answer for the lives of Americans in Havana.
and that he ought 10 have until Saturday to get
them out Of Cuba In consequence Of this des-
patch. tho message once moro held back
and II generally believed that Spain would
take advantage Of the respite TO make some new
and ostensibly acceptable proposal As was an
ticipatcd on Saturday word come from Madrid
that Spain proposed armistoe and that her
council had voted 5000 900 for the relief Of the re-
concentrates These offers impressed only tho
peace party in Wall street and the House of Repre-
sentatives- The Cubans naturally refused an armis.
tice, which was simply an invitation to lay down
their arms and there is no proof that dollar was
ever really appropriated for the reconcentrados and
II II had been il would never have reached its dcs
tination. Tho President accordingly. declined
TO accept such fraudulent promises, and, on Mon
day April II, the message requesting authority
10 end hostities in Cuba arrived and was referred
TO the House Committee on Foreign Afairs and
the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations On
April Is. report on the message from the commit
tho on Foreign Affairs was made in the House
II submitted a resolution which was passed by
o vote of 324 TO 10 authorizing and directing the
President "to intervene at once to stop the war
in Cuba, TO the end and with the purpose Of Sc