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John Forsyth to Aaron Vail, July 15, 1840 (excerpts).
John Forsyth, Secretary of State of the United States, to Aaron Vail,
United States Charge d'Affaires at Madrid.
July 15, 1840 [excerpt]
The United States have long looked with no slight degree of solicitude to the political
condition of the island of Cuba. Its proximity to our shores, the extent of its commerce
with us, and the similarity of its domestic institutions with those prevailing in
portions of our own country, combine to forbid that we should look with indifference
upon any occurrence connected with the fate of that island. The Spanish Government
has often been apprised of the wishes of the U. States that no other than Spanish
domination should be exercised over it; and scarcely need be told that our policy
in that respect has undergone no change. For fear, however, that the subject should
be lost sight of in the frequent changes or modifications of the Spanish Cabinet,
it is important that you do not allow any person who may be called to a share in
the councils of the Spanish Government to be ignorant or forgetful of our views.
These continue what they have always been, and such as you will find them fully stated
in the correspondence and archives of the Legation --There are, however, considerations
which, in addition, will claim your attention -- It is surmised, and by many believed,
that Great Britain has designs upon the island. If such be the case pretexts will
not be wanting for measures calculated to open the way to the realisation of such
designs -- Spanish liabilities are to a great extent held by British subjects, and
their Government have, it is believed, claims upon that of Spain--As a guaranty for
both the resources of Cuba afford a tempting prize towards which British views have
several times been directed--Let such a guaranty be once given, and its realization
or enforcement might lead to a military occupation of some point of the island--Again:
Spain and England are by Treaty bound to certain proceedings for the suppression
of the African Slave trade; and a mixed commission sits at Havana to enforce sundry
stipulations in the Treaty--The practical operation of the system is known to be
nearly nugatory; for, whether with or without the connivance or knowledge of the
British Commissioners, the fact that the slave trade is carried on in Cuba to a great
extent in violation of the Anglo-Spanish alliance to prevent it, is notorious and
undisguised. England may think herself to have, under the Treaty, a right to call
upon Spain for a faithful and efficient performance of the obligations contracted
under it; and in case of an avowal by Spain of her inability to comply, it might
be apprehended that England would enforce compliance by means which would eventually
affect the territorial rights of her ally to the Island of Cuba, or undertake to
perform her obligations under the Treaty on receiving guaranties or equivalents calculated
to lead to an increase of her influence and power in that quarter -- Whether attempted
to be brought about by one or the other of the means alluded to, or by any other
process, the U. States can never permit it -- The Spanish Government is to bear in
mind this fixed resolution on our part, and be given to understand that it is taken
upon long and mature deliberation; and, at all costs, to govern the conduct of the
United States. You will understand the tact and delicacy which are to regulate the
communications you may have to make to the Spanish Government on this subect -- They
are not to be volunteered nor made in writing unless in case of necessity; but in
informal and confidential conversations with the members of the Government you are
to endeavor fully to acquaint them with our views -- Should you have reason to suspect
any design on the part of Spain to transfer voluntarily her title to the island,
whether of ownership or possession, and whether permanent or temporary, to Great
Britain, or any other power, you will distinctly state that the U. States will prevent
it, at all hazard, as they will any foreign military occupation for any pretext whatsoever--And
you are authorised to assure the Spanish Government that in case of any attempt from
whatever quarter, to wrest from her this portion of her territory, she may securely
depend upon the military and naval resources of the U. States to aid her in preserving
or recovering it.
It is believed that the means of preventing such an attempt, or of disconcerting
all designs that may lead to it, lie within the reach of the Spanish Government.
The readiest which occur to us is to deprive England of all real motive, and even
of the remotest presence for interference on her part in the affairs of Cuba, by
a scrupulous performance of all the obligations Spain may have contracted towards
her, either of a pecuniary character, or as connected with the existing agreements
between the two nations in relation to the slave trade -- No proper opportunity of
which you can avail yourself, without incurring the risk of being thought officious
should be allowed to escape you to let the Spanish Government be fully informed of
the views we entertain with regard to the island, as set forth in these instructions,
and in the others on file in the Legation -- And you will hold yourself in readiness,
should the occasion arise, formally to protest, in the name of your Government, against
any act, whether of Spain herself, or of any other power, likely to lead to a transfer
of her territorial right to the island of Cuba, or to the military occupation of
it by the forces of any other nation....
Source:Vol. 11-Spain. Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States, Inter-American
Affairs, 1831-1860, arranged by William R. Manning. Washington, [D. C.] 1939,
23 - 24.
