The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-10-15
TIE SITUATION IN THE ISLAND
Consul General Lee Upheld by
Private Writer-FrIghtfui Atrocities

NEW YORK, Oct. Is, 1S96.-The follow
ing private Letter has been received in this
city from reliable correspondent in
Cuba. writing under date of Havana,
October Z. 1885,
In It's issue of the 2Sth Sept, ultimo,
the Philadelphia Press, under the head
ing, Americans Bleeding in Cuba
prints an-alleged interview with an Ameri-
can citizen said to have arrived recently
from this country and who, after graphi-
caly describing the horrors of the Cuban
war and how the lives and properties of
the American citizens are endangered by
this state of things. makes scathing re-
marks and severely crsticises the weak
policy of the United STATES Government
for not taking hand in stopping all these
outrages, which are being daily committed
at its very doors. In all this he is abso-
lutely correct for nothing can surpasS
the iniquities, the untold crimes and out
RACES, which are constantly being per-
petrated by the bloodthirsty and ferocious
Spanish troops all around the country,
as testified to by truthful correspondents,
who have been constantly reporting all
these horrors. But where Mr.. Mannix
flor l believe it is that gentleman who
has written the article) has made a sure
misstatement is in his comments regarding
Consul General Lee when he says
when General Lee was sent TO Cuba
Spanish officials seemed to think that
American rights there must be respected,
and that such respect must be enforced
1t was thought that he would make re-
port to this Government Of the facts that
he could discover, and that he would be
backed by this Government in his de-
mands for protection. Time went on and
no report seems to have been made that
gave any idea of the real situation of af-
fairs. General Lee was expected to main
tain the dignity of this Government in
Cuba, and he has reported within a
short time that the relations between this
country and Spain, as far as affairs in
Cuba went, We're of the most pleasant
character. He and Weyler are known to
be on terms of friendliness.
When complaint is made General Lee
is sad to go to General Weyler and ask
concerning the abuse that Is complained
Of
injustice to Consul General Lee In the
first place General Lee sent his report
to the Government concerning the state
Of affairs in Cuba, two months after his
arrival here. / cannot give you the text
nor the nature of the report because,
as you may presume, it is diplomatic
secret, but l can say this much that it
contained ample and sufficient information
on the conditions of things in the island
to guide the Government in its future
course in its relations with the Spanish
Government. In the second place, he has
maintained the dignity Of the American
Government and people, for in all his
dealings with the Spanish authorities
here he has always impressed them with
American interests above all consdera-
tiops. and whenever he has any commu-
nications to deliver to the authorities
which are always couched in the most
severe and vigorous terms-always hands
them personally, in order to show them
the interest he takes in having the affair
promptly and satisfactorily arranged. and
to argue whatever difficulties should
arise.
In the third place it is absolutely false
that when a complaint is made to him
he first goes to General Weyler to get
information about il, because this would
seem to imply that he subordfnates all
his actions to the Spanish side Of the
questions, and is influenced by the reports
that Weyler may give him of the facts.
when 1t Is just the contrary. Take the
Gown case as an instance. Long before
the facts were known in the States he
was already making his Investigations
on certain Information furnished him.
which greatly assisted him in work to
find out the truth. Well in this par
ticular case, Consul Lee never for mo-
ment consulted with the Spanish authori-
ties until he, obtained the facts from
reliable outside sources, and then pre-
sented the claim to Wey1er just q day
before he received Instructions from
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