The record-union., 1896-12-08

the peace and welfare OF the western
Continent.
"Coincidentally with the considera-
ton of the Venezuelan, question, the
two Governments have continued nego-
tiationS for general arbitration
treaty, that all differences hereafter
arising between the two countries, and
not amenable to ordinary diplomatic
treatment, shall be referred to arbitra-
ton The United States and Great
their acquiescence to the great princi-
pie evolved, not only by treaties be-
tween themselves, but severally, by
concluding like adjustments with other
Powers for the adjudication of disputes;
the subject was naturally approached
in a benevolent spirit of agreement, and
the negotiations have so satisfactorily
progressed as to foreshadow a practi-
cal agreement at an early date upon the
text of convention to the desired end"
Under the head of Spain, the Secre-
tary, in his accompanying report, which
is, of course, indorsed by the President,
speaks of the Cuban situation as fol-
lows:
has largely engrossed the attention OF
the Department of State during the
past year. It's efforts to obtain trust
worthy information, and to insure die
protection to citizens of the United
States and their property and interests
within the theater of disturbance, have
been ably seconded by the Consular re-
ports in that island.
''As regards the character and scope
of the hostile operations which now af-
feet the greater part of Cuba, the re-
ports of our Consuls are properly con-
fidential. and while precise as to the
several districts touching which reports
have been received the nature ard
sources of the information obtained are
such as to make detailed publication
impracticable, so that the department
is not in position to do more at pres
ent than state its general deductions as
TO the position of the contendng par
ties.
Confined at the outset, as in the
ten years insurrection, which began at
Yara, in October, 1868, to the eastern
portion OF the island, where the topog-
laphy and absence of settled centerS
especially favored the desultory war
fare apparently normal to this class of
contests, the present insurrection YER
lily took proportions beside those of it's
predecessors, and Herewith assumed
an aggressive phase, invading the pop
ulous central and western districts.
Passing the defensive lines, or
trocha, traversing the island from north
to south, formidable bodies of the rev.
olutionary forces early in the year es-
tabllShed themselves in the rich sugar
planting districts of Santa Clara, Glen
fugos and Matanzas, made hostile forays
almost in sight of Havana itself and
advancing westward effected a lodg-
ment in the fertile fields of Pinar del
Rio. which has so far resisted all eff
forts of the Spanish forces to overcome.
NO prominent seaport has been at
tackled by the insurgents, or even men
aced, beyond occasional raids upon the
outskirts. A large part of the 220O
miles of the irregular coast line of
Cuba, comprising the comparatively
unsettled stretches Of it's western ex-
tremity and the unhospitable mountain
shores Of its eastern part, is practically
in the hands of the revolutionists. The
character Of these shores, filled to the
westward with shallow indentations in
accessible to any but light vessels of
small tonnage and to the eastward
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. be-
;,.rr ii g H.
and garrisonng points upon the coast,
are effectively able to utilize a consid-
erable part of it as occasion offers to
communicate with the outside world,
and to receive clandestine supplies of
men, arms and ammunition.
while thus. in fact. controlling the
greater part of the internal area of the
whole island of Cuba from Cape San
Antonio to Cape May and enjoying
practically unlimited use of an equally
large part of the coast. the revolution
airy forces are scattered, being nowhere
united for any length of time to form
an army capable of attack or siege. and
fit to take the defensive in pitched
battle Assembling suddenly at a CIV
en- point. often in a single night, they
make unexpected sallies or carry dew
astation to the tobacco and cane fields
of Cuba, and at the first sign of pur-
suit or organized attack they disperse,
to assemble in like manner at some 9TH
er point.
so far as our information shows.
| there is not only no local government
by the insurgents in the territory they
overrun, but there is not even a tangi-
BILE potence to establish one any
where. There nowhere appears the nu-
cleus of statehood. The machinery for
exercising the legitimate rights and
powers of sovereignty, and responding
| 10 the obligations which de facto SOW