Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-15
LEE SEES. no SIGN OF WAR
Consul to Havana Expects No Serious
Trouble with Spain,
THINKS SPANISH CENsUaE IS MISPLACED
Points out thnt the United states Has
stopped II Dozen Fiiibustcring EN-
pcditidus while Mc9Icr Has
only Captured one.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1i.-Geueral Fits-
hugh Lee. consul general Of the United
states to Cuba, returned here this evening
from Virginia, where he has been visiting
his family. No time has yet been fixed for
his return to Havana, but it is understood
he has been asked to remain here probably
a couple Of weeks longer in order to hold
himself in readiness to confer with the
president and secretary OF state over the
Cuban situation.
General Lee talked tonight of the Spanish
Cuban situation, and, while not denying
the possibility of war with Spain, expressed
the opinion that the reports that open rup-
ture was imminent and that consequent
preparations for trouble were being made
by both countries might be greatly oNag-
gerated. He said he had no knowledge OF
immediate danger of hostility, though, of
course, there was great feeling among some
Spaniards against this country. as they
thought that without flibustoring aid and
comfort from here the rebellion might easily
be suppressed He had no Information as to
whether the Spanish were prepared or pre-
pairing for war.
lie said Il do not believe there has been
any massiug of armament in Cuba with
view to possible trouble with the United
States. nor that the construction OF Spanish
war vessels is to be attributed to any such
contingency. The Spanish may be imprON-
ing their defenses wherever possible Dut
it does not necessarily imply expectation OF
war. The United States is steadily strength
ening it's fortifcations and defense works.
but it is an old maxim that says: In time
OF peace prepare for war
About the war sentiment in Cuba? The
Spanish officials said nothing to me that
indicated an expectation OF war, Inc only
1, ,g,,,, ~, ha apf,g firm N
impression is the mounting OF battery
of heavy seacost guns along the coast above
Havana. There are from twelve to fifteen
of these that extend perhaps mile or
mile and a half north of the limits of the
city proper. These point to sea and not
toward the Insurgents. In case of attack
1t IS possible that these might be made to
supplement the defense given by MORO
Castle Cabanas and Reina and other forts.
The Spanish authorities rather censure
the United States for not strictly enforcing
the neutrality laws, and many think that,
as the sympathy of this country is more
with the insurgents than with the Spanish,
our government does not want to take the
proper precautions to prevent expeditions
leaving United states seapor;s and landing
in Cuba | told the Spanish authorities
that they must remember that there was
an immense extent Of scacoast, with in
Vulnerable inlets and places where eNpedi-
tons could be concentrated and embarked.
From the trouble from which they them
selves hid to preyent the landing of such
expeditions on the Cuban coast. notwith-
standing the Sfactl that their gunboats and
other vessels were constantly patrolling the
coast and oa the lookout for flibusters
some idea could BE formed Of the compare
tive ease with which the United States
could be evaded. with the comparatively
small Cuban coast line | know of only one
big expedition-that OF the Three Friends
which has been captured by them Yet this
country has certainly prevented the start
ing of least half dozen big expeditions for
the island. In view of this, an object
lesson of the difficulty of putting a stop
to hllbusterinF. contend that the Spanish
ought to be careful about censurng us