The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-06-23
IN DOUBT.
Cannot BE Learned that Mr.. Lee Had
Special Instructions.

Cannot he Learned that Mr.. Lee Had
Special Instructions.
WASHINGTON, June pa day or two
at least must elapse' before the report
which Consul General Lee is said to
have forwarded Saturday can reach the
department of state. It is not clear
whether the report will come by mail,
or whether General Lee will avail him
self of the services of Internal Revenue
Collector Ryan as a messenger, as has
been intimated might be the CASEY As
there has been much speculation as to
what has called forth this particular re-
port, it can be stated that aside from
some brief cablegrams announcing his
arrival, and the receipt of instructions,
nothing has been heard officially from
the new consul general, so report from
him i'll the ordinary course of
the consular routine is fully due. While
it is tire that consular officers, under
their general instructions, are expected
to report to the state department any
vents that might be of interest to our
government, it cannot be learned that
Gen. Lee was under any especial in
structions to make a report upon the
Policy to BE Pursued Towards Cuba.
For such information respecting the
military situation as he could have gath
cred while pent up in Havana, and at a
distance from the fighting line, the state
department would be grateful, and it
would carry weight in view of the mil.
tary experience of the consul general,
but, after all, his reports will be of value
in exact accordance with the facts con-
tanned, and it is hardly to be supposed
that the consul general will go
beyond such a statement. 1t is not
supposed in official circles that he will
attempt to shape the policy Of the state
department as to recognition of bellig-
erency or of independence, which must
be decided in Washington after con-
temptation of a field that is broader
than the conception Of an official sta
toned in Cuba. The state department
is giving more attention to the redress
of grievances of American citizens than
to projects of interference in the strife
between the Spaniards and the Cubans,
and to this end has been pushing a Wig
orous correspondence with Mr.. Hannis
Taylor, our minister at Madrid. The
purpose is to prevent SO far as possible
depredations upon the property of Amer.
leans in Cuba. and especially the recur.
renee of such affairs as the i'll treatment
of the Delgados, father and son, and
their servants.
Nice Questions of Diplomacy.
Some nice questions Of diplomacy are
involved in the adjustment Of these
matters, as for instance in the Delgado
case is in issue the whole question Of
how long an American resident in Cuba
can preserve his American citizenship
when he has practically given up his al
legiance to his native or adopted
country, and has concentrated all Of his
material interests in the island. The
treatment Of such matters Is sufficient
to engage the attention Of the state de-
partment Just now. 1t is regarded as
improbable hat there will be any i'm
mediate change in the policy pursued
towards the general subject Of relations
with Spain, particularly rs the preva-
lence Of the rainy season in Cuba has
acted largely to restrict military opera
tiOns there.