New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-11-08
GEN. LEE WAS CALLED HOME.
THE PRESIDENT WANTED INFORMATION
ABOUT CUBA
1T is BELIEVED IN WASHINGTON THAT MR..
CLEVELAND INTENDS TO DEVOTE
LARGE PART OF HIS MESSAGE TO
THE ISLAND REBELLION.
fRY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE. ]

TRY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBuNE]
Washington. Nov. THE fact has come to
light that Consul General Lee Is here in obedi-
ence to a summons from the State Department
He did not mission Of self-convenience.
This piece Of information is Of much interest.
1t was announced this week at the White House
that President Cleveland had begun work on his
message to Congress. General Lees coming just
now must. therefore, he to acquant the Presi-
dent with the true situation In Cuba AS related
in these dispatches last night. the General has
never submitted n rer ort to the state Depart
ment on Cuban affairs, except on minor and
routine matters.
1t is learned to-day that he did not as has been
announced. leave a written report at the state
Department yesterday when he called on Secre-
tsry Olney The intelligence conveyed 10 the
Secretary and later to the President was COM
municated verbally again to-day. The Consul
General was at the White House in conference
with the President. He was also visitor at the
Navy Department. being In consultation win
Secretary Herbert for more than an hour' ih's
latter call has occasloned no little specuaton AZ
the Naval branch Of the Government II "''
mixed up in Cuban affairs with studieu reso'u
tion Secretary Herbert has endeavored not to
have the Navy involved one way or the o'ner III
reference to Cuba AS is we'll known. the nome
scuadrop has not been south Of Hampton Roads
for year
That General Lee should reach Washington
Of the time when the President is engaged IN
writing out the first pages OF his annual report
which according to custom. will refer 10 the
countrv's foreign relations-is signihcant III
the Judgment of well-informed persons. the '"''-
sul-General is here to inform the president 'na'
the revolution In Cuba is making no heao"a'.
that there is no promise OF an early ehu'hs Va
the struggle and that as long as hostht''s con-
tiruc American trade with the island VIII pe
seriously injured
INJUSTICE TO AMERICANS
private letter received here to-day from
Havana says that there has recently pe'h cN-
asperating Interference there with American
commercial interests. and that Spanish o'n'iais
have been accused cf injustice ana pecuh'ai'
irregularities In the cases of American vessels
This subject it is said. is OF such Important
ne to demand the attention of the S'a'e peP".'
-, 1,ho letter SAYS that General Lee Is IA
,,,,,,ar with the facts and has promised To lay
,bo,, hoforo Secretary Olncy This must be an
o,bor and n new topic which the Committeeman
will discuss with the authorities vi ''u'S.'
these matters are only few OF th"Se WIN"
mako this Government deeply Interested IN "h''
Is going on in Cuph
7, can bo said that the President purposes 10
discuss Cuban affairs somewhat "xhaus,VeE i.
his message To Congress. the res"'u''"" ~
tho Senate and House relating 10 the fe'oe"'
tion of the begcrenfs has never peeh rS'e'''"
., -. ~, r,rcsaeu. since iis adoption The res"-
,r,ion has been In n pigeonhole nj the S'h'e
Depar,ment The subject viii. indeed. be the
..,.s, ,ro,ortan, feature OF the message not ex-
centipg the relations Of the country win Iur-
lac he
iuet what the President will write. but the pre-
dic,,ou seems n safe one from what can he
learned that he will recie some interesting
facts and that his statements VIII he baseh
upon the reports which General Lee mas H'"'o
on his two visits to the White House yesterday
and to-day.
A high official expressed the opinion TINS az
ternoon that the President VIII speak fa'"e'
emphatically on the Cuban situation III 50 III III
the rebellion on the island affects American III
,erests particularly those OF conmercla' ma
ture The official said that the precedent rstap-
lished by General Grant in this relation Wou'u
be a guide TO Mr.. Cleveland. lie also said tn''
the President had never favored the IDEA Oh
recognizing the beliigerents. as ne doubted p"'''
the right and the advisability Of this country
thus interfering with the domestic AFFAIRS OF
friendly Power He believed that Mr.. Cleveland
his message. that ho now left the settei,'sn. ,
Of the question to the wider discretion OF that
body This the course pursued III 'h' '".'
of Hawaii after the failure of the attempt M oo
restore the ex Queen to the throne. The oill-
ciaI was asked what he thought Congress Wou'u
do what action 1t would take, II the Tresi-
dents message showed that the situation IN
cuba was as bad for American interests as mas
been reported He replied ~,
congress will give directions to the Presl-
dcnt which will he quite positive In terms
Having submitted the case to Congress FOR
decision the President Will carry out thc ne"
directions
HOW THE WAR ~ BEING FOUGHT.
To-day General Lee gave out some Interesting
Inflammation relative TO the strength OF the Span-
sh army in Cuba and that OF the Insurgents
The army now under General WeyIer HAS wv"
sssup,ed TO overshad that OF the STRUGGLING
mon under Maceo. but that II consisted "i such
overwhelming numbers was not im"s""'"'
General Lee shows that at present the 'o,i'
forces under the insurgents do not exceed a..
unn mon Opposed 10 them are -IVW" ni'c's
" h 'v.ll-drilled regular soldiers OF the span
ieb armv These men are not actively IN the
doId engaged in cha sing and nghtlns n'Su' sr't
bands but comfortably duartered III 'ne ,, N,'s
and villages of the island General Lee SHOWS
that possibly not 1000 men oi the Hph''S',
army are to-day beyond sight or the ,"Miis. am" %
,ti, no.. heen the case since The war began wv"
., , % a.o The insurgents the other hand
nre always to the front. enerEntic ana act,,e, ~
and ready to meet the foe inc cohi,anu,i Nv,
- ,bia preat hody Of Spains troops slts placiuiy
Va ~, ,'' ui rortors at Havana and spends his time
nisyinp with his children ana directis 'ns
movements os his troops by tciegrapH anu
heograph. ~, ,r., nm an appres-
s,vs camnaign is considered ~ military men
II IL no wonder 10 them that the W.. wal ~ Iii
has been prolonged so far or '. M i'S e',.' , VIZ" -
nut Intervention by the United states, cannot pe
seem