Evening star., 1896-12-08
Mr.. 0LNEYS VIEWS
What BE Said About Cuba in His
Annual Report.
REVIEW OF The SITUATION
Our Relations With Great Britain
Explained at Length.
THE ALASKA BOUNDARY

The Secretary of State has prepared
special report to the President of the more
important international questions which
have occupied The attention of the State
Department during the past year. 1t is
ore of the papers accompanying the Presi-
dents message, and treats of foreign af-
fairs in a more detailed way than does that
document. The report opens with the re-
mark that the relations of the United
States with foreign powers continue upon
that footing of harmony and friendliness
which has been their fortunate character
istic for many years
Details About Cuba.
In regard to the Cuban affair, Secretary
0lney says:
The situation in the Island of Cuba has
largely engrossed the attention of the De-
partmsnt of State during the pas year.
Its efforts to obtain trustworthy informa
ton and to insure due protection TO citi-
zens of the United States and their prop
erty and interests within the theater of dis
turbance have been ably seconded by the
consular representatives in that island
As regards the character and scope of the
hostile operations which now affect the
greater part of Cuba, the reports of our
consuls are properly confidential and while
precise as to the several districts touching
which reports have been received the ma
ture and sources of the information obtain
ed are such as to make detailed publicat ton
1mpracticable. so that the department is
hot In position to do more at present than
state its general deductions as to the posi-
tion OF the contending parties.
Confined in the outset, as in the ten years
inSurrection which began at Yara in Octo-
Der. 1859, to the eastern portion of the Is
land. where the topography and absence of
settled centers especially favored the des-
flyy rv1ol TO hi
class G contests. the present insurrection
very early took proportions beyond those of
It's predecessor and Herewith assumed an
aggressive phase. invading the popuous
central and western districts. Passing the
defensive lines or trochaS traversiEg the
island from north to south, formidable
bodies of the revolutionary forces early IN
the year established themselves in the rich
sugar-planting districts of Santa Clara,
Cienfuegos and Matanzas, made hostile
foTayS almost in sight of Havana itself
and. advancing westward. effected a lodg-
rnent in the fertile tobacco fields of Pinar
del Rio. which has so far resisted all efforts
of the Spanish forces to overcome.
No Seaport Attacked.
No prominent seaport has been attacked
by the insurgents or even menaced beyond
occasional raids upon the outskirts. A
large part Of the twenty-five hundred miles
OF the irregular coast line of Cuba, COM
prising the comparatively unsettled
stretches of its western extremity and the
inhospitable mountain shores of it's eastern
part. is practically In the hands of the
revolutionists. The character Of these
shores. filled to the westward with shallow
indentations inaccessible to any but light
vessels of small tonnage, and to the east
ward with rocky hooks dangerous to ap-
proach by night and affording insecure
anchorage for larger craft. lends itself
peculiarly to the guerrilla warfare of the
interior so that the insurgents being re-
Heved of the need of maintaining and gar
risoaing points upon the coast. are ef-
fectively able to utilize a considerable part
of IL as occasion offers to communicate
with the outside world and to receive clan
destine supplies of men. arms and ammu-
milton. The situation In that quarter, as
regards the ease of surreptitious access
and the difficulty Of repressing Illicit traffic.
finds not unapt parallel In that of the
Cornish and Welsh coasts of England
the Scottish highlands In the last century,
where few adventurers were able to
Smuggle supplies and land rebel emissaries
OF forces. baff1ing ths' watch Of maritime
Cuba.
While thus in fact controlling the larger
part of the internal area of the whole
Cape Maisi, and enjoying practically I'M
limited use Of an equally large part of the
coast, the revolutionary forces are scat
tered. being nowhere united for any length
tack or siege and fit to take the defensive
in a pitched battle. Assembling suddenly
at given point. often in single night.
they make unexpected sallies or carry
destruction to the tobacco and cane fields
Of Cuba. and at the first sign of pursuit
or organized assault they disperse only to
reassemble In like manner at some other
spot
No Estn blished Government.
So far as our information shows. there is
not only no effective local government by
the insurgents in the territories they over
run. but there is not even tangible pre-
tense to establish administration anywhere.
Their organization, confined to the shifting
exigencies of the military operations of the
hour. is nomadic. without definite centers
and lacking the most elementary features
of municipal government. There nowhere
appears the nucleus of statehood. The ma
chinery for exercising the legitimate rights
and powers of sovereignty and responding
to the obligations which de facto sover-
eighty entails in the face of equal rights Of
other states Is conspiC uously lacking. 1t Is