New-York tribune., 1901-02-05
pRrcrnENrs OF crRAN POLICY.


Webster began his famous speech in reply to
Hayne with an appeal TO the Senate 10 take It's
hearings and "a observe the actual facts Of
the case before H. The principle is sound one
and may well be applied, for example. 10 the
case Of Cuba. now about 10 come under con
sldaration II is we'll 10 review the record and
ascertain what has been the long established
| polcy Of the United States Government toward
that island and what is its present position in
! relation TO H. The record is "A long one, dating
back more than three-quarters OF a century. In
the administration of President Monroe this
formal declaration was made by John Quincy
Adams. Secretary Of State CApri 2s, 1928:
Cuba has become an object Of transcendent
! Importance to the commercial and political in
terests Of our Unicn importance
! little inferior to that which binds the different
| members OF this Union together. IL -
! scarcely possible 70 resist the conviction that
| the annexation OF Cuba 10 our Federal Republic
will be Indispensable TO the continuance and in
tegTity NJ the Union Itself.
Continuing. Mr., Adams referred. in plain
terms, 20 rumors Of British acquisition Of Cuba
declaring that such transfer OF the island would
he IAN event unproptious 20 the interests of this
Union" and he raised the question both Of
! "our right and Of our power 10 prevent il, If
necessary, by force" A few weeks later June
| H. 1929 Thomas jefferson In letter 10 Presi
dent Monroe. expressed similar sentiments, and
declared that the possession Of Cuba by Great
Britain would be n great calamity 10 us"
| Again, in the administration Of John Quincy
Adams. the Secretary of State, Henry Clay
under the Presidents instructions. announced 10
the chief European Governments October Il,
1920 that the United States could not with
Indifference see it'-Cuba passing from Spain
TO any other European Power" To this Mr.
Clay added October 90 that We could not
consent TO the occupation OF those ISLANDS,
Cuba and Porto Rico-"hy any other European
Power than Spain under any contingency
| "whatevGr." How Well this policy Of the United
States was known by other Governments ap-
pears i'm the diary Of Lord Peterborough. a
member Of the British Cabinet, under date Of
February g, 1880. in which the wrltor says:
The Americans declared that they could not
see with indifference any other State than Spain
in possession Of Cuba. and further their dis
position 10 interpose their power should war he
conducted in Cuba in devastating manner.
when odd Hickory was President the
United States Government. through Martin Van
Buren. Secretary Of State, expressed n strong
desire that the possession Of Cuba should not
he transferred from the Spanish Crown 10 any
"other Power October > 1920 In the Van
Ruren Administration the Secretary of State
Mr.. Forsyth, declared that "the United States
will resist at every hazard an attempt Of any
foreign Power to wrest Cuba from Spain" July
L. lS40l. and under the Presidency of John
Tyler. the Secretary Of State. Daniel Webster
made This noteworthy utterance Ganuary H.
1S4a:
The Spanish Government has long been in
possession OF the policy and wishes OF this Gov
ernment in regard 20 Cuba. which have never
changed, and has repeatedly been told that the
| United States never would permit the occupa-
ton ~ that island by British agents forces
| upon any preteXt whatever; and that in case
OF any attempt 20 wrest II from her she might
| securely rely upon the whole naval and military
| resources or this country aid her in preserv-
( ing or recovering il.
| Similar declarations were made hv Mr. Gal
| latin. when Minister England: by Mr.. A II
Everett; by Mr.. Upshur. Secretary OF State. bv
James Buchanan, Secretary OF State: by Mr.
| Crittenden Acting Secretary of State: nv Ed
ward Everett, Secretary of State: nv Mr.
Marcy, Secretary Of State-"the United States
| will never consent 10 its transfer 10 anv other
foreign State"-by President Grant. and by
various other authoritative members of the
Government of the United States in substsp-
TALLY unbroken line from the time Of NTonros
10 the present III any policy be established
by precedent and practice then This ona &c
that the United States shall exercise n virtual
protectorate over the island OF Cuba at least
10 the extent OF determining its form Of govern
nent and it's relationship 10 the Powers of E,,.
rope. For the maintenance Of that policy the
United States more than once declared IT'S readj.
ness 10 go 10 war. if need be. with the most