New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-15

-@yAN AoIIiLS ton OF The coast of SiCilI
were followed by the Cardinals own
. downfall
Ohe OF the offers 10 surrender Gibral-
tar was contained in an autograph let
ter from George I to King Philip V
which bears the date Of June !. l721.
and which is preserved in the archives
at Madrid, while a copy of it is printed
in the journals Of Parliament.
Written in French. il runs as follows:
i no longer hesitate to assure your
majesty Of my readiness TO satisfy you
with regard TO your demands touching
the restitution Of Gibraltar. promising TO
make use of the first favorable oppor-
tunity TO regulate this article with the
assent Of my Parliament"
SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR.
Spain could not understand that with
the sovereign and the administration in
London ready 70 restore Gibraltar to
Spain. there should be any need Of con-
sidering the national legislature at
Westminster in the matter, and finally
insisted upon immediate restitution or
war. The latter was declared, and in
1121 the Rock underwent an unsuccess-
ful siege, which lasted four months.
Yet in spite Of the bravery Of the de-
fence, Lord Townshend in the following
year. writing TO the English envoy at
Madrid, in a letter Of June II, 172S, pro-
nounced the unconditional surrender of
Gibraltar very reasonable and exactly
conformable 10 the opinion which you
know I have always entertained con-
corning the place" He adds that the
popular feeling aroused by the defence
stood in the way just then Of any such
move.
The fifth offer TO surrender GibraltF
was made by no less a person thSn
William Pitt. in 1857, when he directed
the British Ambassador at Madrid to
offer Gibraltar to Spain as the price Of
a Spanish alliance, TO be contracted with
the object Of recovering possession Of
Ninorca from France. The offer was
again rejected by Spain.
The sixth and last offer 10 surrender
Gibraltar was made in 1883. during the
negotiations that preceded the Treaty Of
Versailles. when Lord Shelburne offered
Gibraltar to Spain in exchange for
Porto Rico. While Spain welcomed the
prospect Of regaining Gibraltar it did
not relish the prospect CT relinquishing
Porto Rico. and again the proposal was
turned down at Madrid.
Under Queen Victoria the question was
occasionally raised as TO the policy OF
exchanging Gibraltar for some Spanish
possession. and Mr.. Gladstone was right
~ or wrongly credited with being in
favor Of the idea; but public sentiment
in ENGLAND would never tolerate any
a abandonment Of a fortress which stands
FOR so much in the history Of Great
Britain and which constitutes so impor-
tsut factor in her line Of communica-
lions with her dependencies in the ORR
cnt. commanding. as IL does, the entrance
TO the Mediterranean.
II these notions We're imputed 10 Mr..
Gladstone. II was because ne had been
identified with some other surrenders Of
English possessions. Thus, in 1864, the
ycnian Islands. including Corfu, which
had been assigned 10 Great Britain by
the treaty Of 1914. and upon which an
immense amount Of English money had
been spent I'm the way Of maintenance
and in the construction OF public works,
q barbors. and Of Notifications. were
presented 10 the kingdom Of Greece
without any return whatsoever.