Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-19
QUEEN vlCT0RIA's MESSAGE
Effect During and After the Spanish
War.
WHY PHILIPPINES WERE TAKEN
Another Communication Possible Call
ing on This Government to Re-
main in Occupation.
BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Record-Herald.

BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
RecordIherald
HAVANA, March IA. 1901
The Monroe doctrine received very
strong and significant Endorsement yester-
day when the envoy extraordinary and min
lister plenipotentiary Of Great Britain to the
Cuban republic presented his credentials to
the provisional governor. 1t was an Ameri-
can citizen who received him at the ofncfal
residence of the chief executive Of Cuba
acting by the authority Of the President OF
the United States. 1t was recognition oy
the British government OF his right TO De
there and to perform the functions ne is
performing 1t was recognition py tna'
government Of the authority Of the Uniteo
States to intervene In the affairs OF the
other American nations to preserve the
peace and order of this hemisphere. Inc
representatives of two other European pow
ers have signified the same attitude by their
Official communications with Gov. Ma
goon and therefore it may be said that the
presence of our government and its exercise
of authority in the Island of Cuba are ap-
proved and Endorsed by the rest OF the
world.
At the same time this recognition of our
authority here fastens upon us the RESPONSE
bility for the peace and good order and for
the protection Of lives and property upon
the island. AMI we may expect 70 De re-
minded of that responsibility II President
Roosevelt attempts to withdraw the troops
or turns the government over again to the
Cubans. as Secretary Taft promised would
be done in his proclamation of intervention.
Great Britain, France and RUSSIA nave az
ready expressed themselves directly on this
subject. Spain. whose subjects own 20 per
cent and some people say 10 per cent, OF
the property and wealth of Cuba, has not
formally taken a position, but Is likely TO
do so at any time.
without the consent of the European pow
ers We have assumed responsibility Ior
the protection of the lives and properly
of their subjects in this island. and. there
fore, President Roosevelt Is mol lree
agent in his Cuban policy.
Queen Victoria's Friendly Assurance.
You will remember perhaps that Great
Britain is responsible for our retention OIL
the Philippine Islands. Had 1t not been
for q message Queen Victoria sent to Pres
ident Mckinley one Sunday afternoon Ger
many would have been bearing that white
mans burden instead of the United States,
and 1t is entirely probable that Great
Britain, whose subjects have more than
500, 600. 900 invested here, will sooner OF
later send President Roosevelt similar
message about Cuba.
Lord Pauncefote made two visits to the
White House during the Mckinley admin
istration to deliver personal messages from
Queen Victoria. The first was on the after.
noon Of the Sunday following Mckinley
proclamation calling upon Spain to get out
of Cuba. When that good and wise woman
read his proclamation, she cabled Lord
Pauncefote to tell the President that the
British government would sustain him In
every effort he made to carry out the pol
Icy foreshadowed by his announcement. Nc
message was ever more welcome, because
just at that time. there were grave doubts
whether France, Austria and Germany
would permit US to interfere In Spanish
colonial affairs. With Great Britain be-
hind US. we knew that there would be nc
interference. and when the people of Spain
heard that news they stoned the British le-
cation In Madrid. And the Spaniards de-
clare to this day that they would have
whipped the United States II England had
not interfered to protect us.
Why Philippines Were Taken.
After the war closed the German gov
eminent entered into negotiations with
Spain for the purchase of all her pos
sessions in the Pacific. The price was
fixed at $23.O0O.0OO, and the contract was
practically closed when the facts be-
came known to the British government.
Queen Victoria sent a second message to
President Mckinley and, by singular CO.
incidence, it also came on a Sunday. Lord
Pauncefote went to the White House
on Sunday afternoon to deliver it. This
time he said that he was instructed by
her sovereign majesty to advise the
President that the British government
would sincerely deplore any disposition
of the Philippine archipelago that re-
moved it from the Jurisdiction of the
United States. He told the President
about the negotiations between Spain
and Germany. and explained the reasons
why Great Britain and other European
powers could not permit the kaiser to
obtain such a solid foothold in the Pa
cifc. Mr.. Mckinley Immediately cabled
the facts and appropriate instructions to
the American peace commissioners at
Paris, and that is the reason the United
States paid $20,O00,OOO for an archipelago
in the Pacific that it did not want, and
cannot get rid of. That white mans
burden was placed on our shoulders by
lsreat britain Gerx,aar,r rIirchasota Ia