The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-03-11
HERBERT FEARS
ENHANCEMENT
Former Secretary of the Navy
Deprecates Sending of Troops
to Mexican Border.
RECALLS HAPPENINGS
PRIOR TO SPANISH WAR
Tells How Cleveland Kept the
Peace With Spain by Not
Interfering.

WASHINGTON, March 1O.-Hilary
A, Herbert, secretary of the navy un-
de- Cleveland. made a statement here
opening of ga new chapter in Ameri-
can history
He asks if the United States is to
undertake the protection, not only
of its own citizens, but of those of Eu'
ropean monarchies, whether it "is not
likely to prove a bigger job than en-
tanglement with European nations in
their efforts to keep the balance of
power, against which our fathers so
often warned us
fi.. Herbert recalls one little known
episode of the period preceding Amer"
ican Intervention In Cuba.
Cleveland Resisted Demand.
president Cleveland was deter
mined. - he said, 'to resist the demand,
then loudly voIced in congress, for IN
tervention In Cuba. Expeditions in
aid of the revolutionists were being
fitted out along our coast, Our navy
was used to prevent these violations of
our neutrality laws Further TO prevent
anv cause of trouble that might pos
sjblv arise from the presence of our men
of war near the scene of conflict, 1t
also was decided by Mr. Cleveland to
suspend the custom, which had prevailed
in time of neace, of sending naval yes
sells now and then TO Cuban waters.
''In 1896. | think it was. our consul
general at Havana. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee,
made an earnest appeal TO me as sec
rp.ory fDp IN station shin
the harbor Of Havana. to enable him
more efficiently to protect American
citl2ers ! could not favor the plan
believing that the presence OF an Amer
lean warship would be a disturbing fac.
tor -
MIR. Herbert said he pointed ont to
General Ice that the incapacity of the
little Central American states TO protect
American interests justified the send.
ing Of warships to those places, but
TINT to pursne such course in regard
90 the Spanish colony. "when Spain.
IN important state. was claiming that
she could and would put down tho re-
bcilicn and protect our interests, would
rive offcnse to that country and her
!orai adnerents.'
War Was Avoided
sGr. Herbert added that Mr. Cleveland
npteld him in this view and except the
pehcr with SPAIN
"When Mr. Mckinley came into of
flee Mr.. Herbert goes on TO say ga
conference took place with the Spanish
minister here, Mr De LONE. Who
suggested the change. it is not for me
to say. but the result Of that conference
was that Spanish and American war
ships once more exchanged visits. The
Viscaya anchored for time in New
York harbor. where, it is understood.
our authorities carefully guarded her.
local sentiment being strongly anti
Spanish.
"The Maine went to Havana, and
then followed the explosion of that
shin. the resolutions of our congress,
and the Spanish war.
"Certain it is that the war followed
swiftly upon this change of naval pol
lev. Whether. if the Maine had never
been sent TO Havana. Mr.. Mckinley
could, as he undoubtedly was anxious
TO do. have avoided that war and so
have saved us from that lasting calam-
ity. the acquisition of the Philippines,
is n matter of speculation