Evening star., 1896-06-23
FITZ LEE AND CUBA
No Likelihood of an Immediate Change of
Administration Policy
Some OF the Consul Generals Obscr-
by Spain-The Case Of SanguflIy.

There is authority for the statement that
no immediate change is at all likely i'm the
policy Of the administration in the matter
OF the Cuban insurrectioa. a consequence
of Consul General Lees brief sojour, at
Havana. In official circles it is explained
that the State Department adopted its
present line of policy respecting the Cuban
revolt after obtaining the best evidence
in Its reach, and there is no reason to ap-
prehend that events have occurred on the
island recently Of sufficient importance to
warrant radical departure. General Lee
has been In Cuba only twenty DAYS being
the entire time within Spanish lines and
even with his military training. it is be-
lieved at the department that he can
scarcely have arrived at a conclusion to
the status Of the revolt upon which he Is
willing to risk his reputation. However
this may be. 1t is certain tnat the State
Department Will not make a change in its
policy unless necessitated by radical
change In the situation itself, and does not
expect, 1t can be stated positively, to re-
ceive any report from General Lee that
would require 1t at this time to make
ISSUE
A written request has been filed at the
State Department that tine gooi offices of
the United States be eXerted with Spain
toward securing the transfer Of Julio Sam
gully from Havana to Madrid, there 10
be released on bail or parole until final &C
tion is taken on the appeal in the case.
Sanguilly was convicted last December
and has since been In prison pending the
appeal of his case to the court of last re-
sort at Madrid. 1t was throdgn the active
efforts OF eX-Consul General Williams that
he was given civil trial On the charge
of rebellion he was convicted and sentenced
to Imprisonment for life. His American
citizenship figured largely in the proceed
ings, but it was not decisive in securing
his release.
The present move by his relatives and
advisers is based on several precedents OF
leniency shown while case Is before the
appellate court at Madrid.
Gen. Lees Unofficial observations.
Consul General Lee has written an un-
official letter to a relative OF his I'm this
city dealing with Cuban affairs with IN
usual frankness He says the Spanish au-
thorities have treated him with great cour-
teSy, and Captain General Weyler has
granted every request thus far pref erred,
even allowing him to visit the prise ms
where the captured Am ericans are con-
fined.
OF the Spanish troops, he says, they are
fairly well drilled, but under system OF
tao tics and manual totally different from
any the general had ever seen.
AS to the insurgents, they practically
have control of the island. Their ennis
saries come in and go out of the town and
cities they WILL and he believes the en-
tire native population is IN sympathy with
them.
OF the Spanish commanders, General Lee
says: They do not regard the laws of
modern war nor the usages customary
among civilized nations at all. From oy
cry quarter there is the same testimony
concerning the barbarities of the Spanish
soldiers. Some of the evidence / have heard
would be beyond belief did L not know ii
to be most reliable. Violations Of women,
the plunder of inoffensive citizens, muir
der, every form of rapine, is the unyary-
ing story of prisoners and natives of tho
island who happen to be under suspicion,
and 1t takes very little, indeed, here to
place you under suspicion.
General Lee says he doubts if reace
could be made now short of a basis of
absolute independence and freedom from
Spanish control.