The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-05
CUBAN CRISIS
MAY BE AT HAND
The Treatment Of Competitor Prisoner:
Causes Serious Tension.
WERE DECLARED TO BE AMERICANS
A Protest Entered by General Lee.
Says lie Nav Return to Cuba ON
War Ship.-DiplOmatic Correspond.
ence Upon the Subject.

Jacksonville, Fla, Nov. 4-Cuban
leaders here and i'm Key West declare
that they have reliable information
that the relations of the United States
and Spain have reached crisis, and
that developments of great interna-
tional Importance in regard to Cuba
may be expected within the next
month.
Advices here from Havana are to the
effect that the departure of Consul
General lee for Washington was
caused by this crisis, and that his re-
port to President Cleveland will be OF
such a character that it will almost
certainly result in action being taken
by the United States.
1t is understood that the cases of the
Competitor prisoners was the imme-
diate cause of the departure of Cen
eral Lee.
The Spanish authorities have been
disposed to proceed in a high-handed
way in regard to these prisoners and
without regard to treaty rights.
After the court at Madrid set aside
the sentence of death imposed on these
prisoners by the first court martial II
was understood that they would be
given a civil trial.
Instead, of this however, Captain
Laborde, the American correspondent
oners We're recently summoned before
naval court at Havana and requir'
to file written declarations as prelim-
inaries to new court martial. The
prisoners, however, refused to make
any statement save in the presence OF
General Lee.
PROTEST ENTERED BY GEN. LEE
General Lee had not been advised by
Catain General Weyler that the prison
ers would be retired, but as soon as the
consul learned unofficially what was
going on, and that the eases had been
called for military and not for civil
consideration, he sent an energetic note
to Captain General Weyler, protesting
against the retrial not in accordance
with treaty stipulations and entering
exceptions to the proceedings as inaug-
urated.
Captain General Weyler avoided
making and direct response, pleading
lack of authority to treat on diplomatic
matters, and questioning General Lees
right to discuss matters which 1t had
been the custom to submit to Madrid
for settlement by the American minis
ter and the Spanish foreign office.
General Lee then sent Captain Gen.
eral Weyler a second note, more ener-
Setic than the first, in which he reiter-
taed his previous objections, and in ad-
dition strongly limited that the irregu-
lar proceeding, il not remedied, would
prevent the United States from recog-
ming in any way the validity of the
new trial.
Captain General Weyler did not
answer this note, but shortly afterward
the courtmartial proceedings which
had been instituted in the Cubana fort
reSS were SllSOpnded
Captain General Weyler then request
ed General Lee to furnish proof that
Melton and the other Competitor pris-
oners were American citizens. Before
replying General Lee cabled to Secre-
tary Olney.
DECLARED TO BE AMERICANS.
AS soon as Secretary Olney answered
General Lee sent a note to Captain
General Weyler stating that the prison
ers, having been captured at sea on
board Of a vessel flying the American
flag, he must consider them all under
American protection, even in the alb
sence of specific individual certificates.
and no arms having been found in their
possession, all We're equally entitled
to civil trial.
Again and again Captain General
Weyler requested General Lee to fur
nlSn PROOF nat tne pflSOnerS were
American citizens. and as often the
consul replied: ''They We're all cap
tured under the American flag, and
they are all under the protection Of that
flag"
Captain General Weyler then pro-
posed to allow the correspondent, Mel
ton, to go free, but to punish the 9TH
ers.
General Lee again replied that he
could make no distinction, as the Am
erican flag was over them all.
In the meanwhile General Lee and
Secretary Olney were in constant cable
correspondence about the matter and
the consul general was finally ordered
to Washington.
For diplomatic reasons Consul Gen.
eral Lee would probably deny it, but
it is a fact, nevertheless, that he said
TO an intimate friend before leaving
for the United States: 1T would not
surprise me if I should return to Hav-
ana on a war ship"
The CUban leaders here are jubilant,
as they say that the result will be
either intervention by the United States
or an ignominious back down on the
part of Spain which would destroy
what little prestige she has left.