The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-11-07
CUBAN CRISIS IS COMING,
Trial of Competitor Prisoners Cause
OF the Friction.
GENERAL LEES STRONG PROTEST
But for His Vigilance aud Determination
Gen. W~yier would Have Had Them
Again Sentenced to Death.

Key West Fla. November Cuban
leaders here claim TO have reliable informa-
( ton that the relations of the United States
ana Spain have reached crisis, and that
developments OF great international i'm
poriance in regard to Cuba may be err
pected within the next month.
Adyices received here from Havana are
to the effect that the departure of Consul
General Lee for Washington is In regard
TO this crisis, and that his report to presi-
dent Cleveland will be of such character
that 1t Will almost certainly result In ac-
ton being taken by the United States
IL is Understood that the case OF the Com
peiitor prisoners is the Immediate cause
" the departure OF General Lee.
The Spanish authorities have been dis
posed TO proceed in a high handed way In
regard 10 these prisoners, ana without re-
gard to treaty rights.
After the court at Madrid set aside the
sentence Of death imposed Oh these prison
cTs hy the first courtmartiai il was un-
44 s'pua mat they would be given a civil
utai. Instead OF this how ever. Captain La
ilrao' correspondent Melton and the other
O"Mprutor prisoners were recently sum
NoAed before naval court at Havana, and
required to file written declarations as pre-
siIi mary 20 new courtmartial
me prisoners, however. refused to make
written declarations as preliminary to n
new court martial. The prisoners refused
to make any statement save In the pres
cnce OF General Lee General Lee had not
been advised by Weyler that the prisoners
would be retained. but as soon as the con.
sul learned unofflcially what was going
On aud that the case had been called for
military and not for civil consideration he
sent an energetic semi diplomatic note
10 captain General Weyler protesting
% g-u tFr 81 s,4f,
treaty stipuatlnns and entering exceptions
TO the proceedings as inaugurated Weyler
cvaded making any direct response.
pleading lack of authority 20 treat on
diplomatic matters and questioning Lees
rieht to discuss matters which 1t had been
the custom heretofore to submit to Madrid
for settlement by the American minister
ana the Spanish foreign office General
Lee then sent Weyler a second note mora
energetic than the first In which he re-
itcrated his previous objections. and IN
addition strongly limited that the irregular
proceeding If not remedied. would prevent
the United States from recognizing in any
way Tie validity Of the new trial
Weyler dil not answer this note, but
shortly afterwari the court martial pro-
ceediugs began In the Cabanas were sus-
pended. Wcyler then requested Lee to
furnish proof that Melton and the other
Competitor prisoners were American citi-
zcns. Before replying Lee cablcd to
olucy AS soon as Olney answered Lee
sent note to Weyler, stating that the
prisoners having been captured at sea
ON board OF a vessel flying the American
flax he must consider them all under
American protection. even in the absence
OF specific individual certificates. and NJ
orms having been taken in their posses
sion all to be equally entitled to civil
trial. Again and again Weylor requested
Lee to furnish proof that the prisoners
were American citizens, and rs often the
consul replied They were all captured
under the American flag and they are all
under the protection OF that flag" Wcy-
Ter then proposed to allow Correspondent
Melton to 70 free but to punish the
others bn, Lee again replied that he
coult make no distinction as the American
nag WAS over them all
In the meantime Lee and Olney were
IN constant cable correspondence about
the matter. and the consul was finally or
derci 10 Washington. whittier he is now
en- route, For diplomatic reasons Consul
Lee would probably deny It, but it is
fact nevertheless that he said to an inti-
mate friend before leaving for the United
etatoe ut would not surprise me II
returned 10 Havana or a worship" The
Cuban leaders here are iublant. as they
claim the outcome will be either iutcryon-
ton by the United states or an lgpomiuious
hackdown on the part OF Spain. which
would destroy what little prestige she has