Speech #540038560

This desirable result has not been accomplished. Its failure has not resulted from any interference on the part of our people or Government with the people or government of Cuba. The hospitality which our treaties. the laws of nations. and the laws of Christianity have extended to Cuban refugees in the United States has caused distrust on the part of the Spanish Government as to the fidelity of our Government to its obligations of neutrality in the frequent insurrections of the people of Cuba against Spanish authority. This distrust has often become a source of serious annoyance to our people. and has led to a spirit of retaliation toward Spanish authority in Cuba. thus giving rise to frequent controversies between the two countries. Tl absence of responsible government in Cuba with powers adequate to deal directly with questions between the people o? the United States and the people and political authorities of the island. has been a frequently recurring cause of delay. protracted imprisonment. confiscations of property. and the detention of our people and their ships. often upoi groundless charges. which has been a serious grievance.