Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-12-10
OLNEY'S REPORT.
The Secretary Of State Writes on
International Affairs.
his OPINION OF The war IN CUBA.
Hay soon he Call for Some Change In the
Policy Hitherto Pursued by the
United Statea-The General
Arbitration Treaty.

WASHINGTON, Dec a-For the first
time within the memory Of the oldest
officials the secretary Of state has
made regular report to the president
for transmission TO congress like the
reports OF other officers Of the cabinet.
This report was laid before congress-
yesterday az an appendix to the presi'
dents message. 1t treats on many de-
tails Of Amer ica's relations during the
past year with foreign governments,
that either were not touched upon at
all In the message or were briefly
treated. As bearing upon the question
of recognition Of the insurgents which
is to come In some shape before con-
gress, the following statement from
Secretary Oney Is OF Importance in ex.
planning his reasons for declining rec
ognition:
40 for a. our information shows, there Is not
only no local government by the insurgents In
the territory which they overrun, but there Is
not even tangible pretcnse to establish ad-
ADMINISTRATION anywhere Their organization,
confined to shifting exlgencies OF military
operations OF the hour, Is nomadc, without
definite centers and acking the most ele-
mentary features OF municipal government
There now appears no nucleus Of statehood
The machinery OF state exercising the leRiti-
mate rights and powers Of sovereignty and re-
spending to the obligations which dc facto SOW
oreignty entails In the face OF equal rights OF
other states, liz conspicuously lacking 1t Is
not possible to discern homogeneous political
entity possessing and exercising the functions
Of administration and capable II left to itself,
Of maintaining orderly government In Its own
territory and sustaining normal relations with
the external family Of governments
The secretarys estimate Of the stu.
alton Is disclosed In the following par.
sgraph, made aftera preliminary state
ment Of the destruction Of the indus
trial resources Of Cuba.
From whatever point OF view we regard tho
matter. II Is impossible not to discern that
atate OF things exists ut our doors alike dan
ger0us to good relations, destructive Of legiti-
mate commerce. fatal TO the internal re-
sources Of Cuba and most vexati0us and trying
because entailing upon this government ex-
cessive burdens In ts domestic administration
and in its outward relations This situation
cannot indefinitely continue without growing
worse, and tho time may not be for distant
when the United states must seriously con-
slider Its rights md interests. as well as its In
ternational duties In view Of its peculiar re-
lations to the island there may be call for
some decided change In the policy hitherto
pursued
The secretary speaks Of the appalling
phases Of the struggle. such as often
appear In contests among the Latin
races Of the western hemisphere; OF
the excuses and iorcsful and arbitrary
acts Of the military, Of the ravaring
Of private property, the violation Of
principles OF civilized warfare by ire
sponsible officials, and the killing OF
non-com batants in some instances,
happily few, Of American citizens. He
next treats at length Of the financial
losses inflicted upon the American citi.
Gems by the continuance Of the strife.
The secretary gives no inkling OF the
nature OF the Venezuelan treaty be-
yond the statement that 1t provides for
honorable arbitration Of the whole
controversy, Touching the negotia.
lions for general arbitration treaty
for the settlement of oil future dis
putes between the United States and
Great Britain, he says that both
countries have given repeated
proof OF their acqulescence in the
great principle involved, not only by
treaties between themselves, but sew
orally, by concluding like adjustments
with other powers for the adjudca-
ton OF disputes resting on law and
q, fact
The secretary reports that negotia.
tons are in progress for a convention
to locate Immediately that part OF the
Alaskan boundary line along the l4ist
meridian by monuments and joint sur.
vey, wnne the prospects tor the pre-.
else demarkation of the coast line
boundary IRE said to be good, pre-
liminary survey having been com.
pleted and negotiations based upon 1t
about to be undertaken. He after
wards tells Of the relations of the
United States with other countries.
NEl EGATEC To GAlVES1ON