The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-09
SPAIN'S INJUSTICE
TO OUR CITIZENS
The True Reason of General Lees Re.
turn From Cuba.
PRESIDENT WANTED INFORMATION
l, is Believed in Washington That
Mr.. Cleveland Intends to Devote a
Large Part Of His Message 10 the
Island Rebellion.

come to light that tConsul-General Leeis
here in obedience to q summons from
the state department. He did not come
on mission Of self-convenience. This
piece of information is of much inter-
est. 1t was announced this week al
the White House that President
Cleveland had begun work on his mes
sage to congress. General Lees COM
ing just now must, therefore, be TO ac-
quaint the president with the true sit
uation i'm Cuba. The general has never
submitted report to the state DEPART
ment on Cuban affairs, except on min
or and routine matters.
1t Is learned that he did not, as has
been announced, leave a written report
at the state department yesterday
when he called on Secretary Olney.
The intelligence conveyed to the secre-
tary and later to the president was
communicated verbally again today.
The consul-general was at the White
House in conference with the presi-
dent. He was also a visitor at the
navy department, being in cOnsulta-
tion with Secretary Herbert for more
than an hour This latter call has oc-
casioned no little speculation, as the
naval branch of the government is not
mixed up in Cuban affairs. With stud
led resolution Secretary Herbert has
endeavOred not to have the navy in
volved one way or the other in refer
ence to Cuba. AS is well known, the
home squadron has not been south of
Hampton Roads for over year.
That General Lee should reach WASH
ington at the time when the president
is engaged in writing out the first pages
of his annual report-which, according
to custom. will refer to the country's
foreign relations-is significant In the
judgment of well-informed persons, the
consul-general IL here to inform the
president that the revolution I'm Cuba
is making no headway, that there Is no
promise of an early ending of the strug-
gle, and that as long as hOstilitiS1 con-
tinue American trade with the island
will be seriously injured.
INJUSTICE TO AMERICANS.
A private letter received here today
from Havana says that there has re-
Gently been exasperating Interference
there with American commercial inter-
ests, and that Spanish officials have
been accused of injustice and pecun-
iary irregularities in the cases of Amer
lean vessels. This subject, it is said, Is
of such importance as to demand the
attention Of the state department The
letter says that General Lee is familiar
with the facts, and has promised to lay
them before Secretary Olney. This
must be another and a new topic which
the consul-general will discuss with the
authorities. of course, these matters
are only few Of those which make this
government deeply interested in what
is going on in Cuba.
1t can be said that the president pur-
poses to discuss Cuban affairs some-
what exhaustively in his message to
congress. The resolution of the senate
and house relating to the recognition of
the bclligerents has never been referred
10 by the president Since its adoption
the resolution has been In a pigeonhole
at the state department The subject
WILL indeed, be the most important fea-
ture OF the message, not excepting the
relations of the country with Turkey.
1T would be the mereSt speculation to
say just what the president will write,
but the prediction seems a safe one
from what can be learned that he will
recite some interesting facts, and that
his statements will be based upon the
reports which General Lee has made on
his two visits to the White House yes
terday and today.
A high official expressed the opinion
this afternoon that the President will
speak rather emphatically on the Cuban
situation in so far as the rebellion on
the island affects American interests,
particularly those of commercial ma
ture. The official said that the prece-
dent established by General Grant in
this relation would be guide to Mr..
Cleveland. He also said that the Presi-
dent had never favored the idea of
recognizing the belligerents, as he
doubted both the right and the advisa-
bility OF this country thus Interfering
with the domestic affairs of friendly
Power. He believed that Mr. Cleveland
would lay the facts before congress
;v, hit
left the settlement of the question to
the wider discretion of that body. This
was the course pursued in the case of
Hawaii, after the failure of the attempt
to restore the eX-Queen to the throne.
The official was asked what he thought
Congress would do. what action it
would take. IL the Presidents message
showed that the situation In Cuba was
as bad for American interests as has
o. been reported. He replied:
Congress will give directions to the
President which will be quite positive
in terms. Having submitted the case
to Congress for decision. the Presi-
dent will carry out the new directions"
HOW THE WAR Is BEING FOUGHT.
Today General Lee gave out some
interesting information relative to the
strength of the Spanish army In Cuba,
and that of the insurgents. The army
now under General Weyler has been as.
sumed to overshadOw that of the
struggling men under Maceo, but that
it consisted Of such overwhelming
numbers was not imagined. General
Lee shows that at present the total
forces under the insurgents do not ex-
coed $4,000 men. Opposed to them are
100000 finely armed, will-drilled, regu-
lar soldiers of the Spanish army.
These men are not actively in the field
engaged in chasing and fighting insur-
gent bands, but comfortably quartered
in the towns and villages of the island
General Lee shows that possibly not
5000 men of the Spanish army are to-
day beyond sight of the towns, and
this has been the case since the war be-
gan two years ago. The inaurgents on