Evening star., 1896-06-24
GEN. LEES LETTER
Spanish Authorities Said to Be
Indignant at His Reflections
NCONSlSrENr'WITH DIPLOMATIC USAGE
internal Revenue Collector Ryan
Returns From Cuba.
VIII AT HE SAW TIL E r E

1t Is said that the Spanish authorities are
indignant over the publication of Consul
General Lees severe reflections upon Span
ish officials and methods in Cuba, and that
1t Is probable that the matter will be made
the subject of an official complaint to the
Secretary of State. According to enc
story. Senor De LONE, the Spanish min
lister, has already protested against the
alleged conduct Of Consul General Will
Jams military successor.
The officials of the State Department are
said to regard Gen. Lees action as incon-
sistent with proper diplomatic usage. re-
gardless of the fact that Gen. Lees letter
containing the aspersions on the Spanish
authorities was a private communication
to a friend. One of the fundamental rules
for diplomatic or consular officer Is a
strict avoidance Of public discussion Of the
affairs of the country to which he is ac-
credited.
The truth Of the allegations has nothing
to do with the case. In diplomacy, as in
libel, under the common law, the greater
the truth the greater the libel On the
other hand 1t is stated that Gen. Lees
letter on the Cuban situation was private
communication to a relative in this city
and was not intended for publication. In
the absence of Secretary Olney 1t Is i'm
possible to learn whether the department
VIA eohS SoS5AiZdACc VI ILC AA"SISi'
Collector Ryan Back From Cuba.
MIR. William Ryan, collector Of internal
revenue at Richmond. Va, who has been
paying visit to Consul General Fitzhugh
Lee in Havana, arrived at the Metropolitan
Hotel this morning. having landed In New
York yesterday from the Ward line steam
ship Yumuri after being detained a day at
quarantine MIR. Ryan left his hotel early
and nrOcee1ei n a White House and the
State Department, where he delivered per-
scnal letters from Gen. Lee for the Presi-
dent and Secretary Olney.
Mr.. Ryan had not returned to the hotel
up to O'Clock this afternoon, but 1t is
known that an interview with him, pub
lished in the New York World this MORN
irg, contains correct statements Of his ex-
periences in Cuba. Mr. Ryan said that
General Lee was completing his report on
the conditions in Cuba and would mail it
to Washington today. He also said he had
a personal interview with Gen. Antonio
Maceo. the Cuban leader, in Havana. Ma
Geo was disguised poor pea SAINT.
Il saw Gen. Maceo," said Mr.. Ryan, ac-
cording to the World. Il had long talk
with him. Yes, I told Gen. Lee all about
it. and he knows what Maceo told me-"
Mr. Ryan was asked whether he asked
Gen. Maceo If he was in favor of annexa-
tion of Cuba.
Il did mention this to him." said Mr..
ANsGi Ills .Tcply was. am SOldler
l am here to make war 1 am going to
continue to fight Spain until Cuba shall
be free. l know nothing about diplomatic
surrounded by three OF his commanders
who had accompanied him to Havana
II think he came to Havana to see some
of the leaders of the revolutionary party"
said MIR Ryan. in speaking about General
Maceo's presence in tie capital He was
awaiting news from the United States
He said that he hoped the United States
would recognize the .Cubans as beliiger-
ents." e.g ~
Our r, only hope lies in the action that
General Maeeo told Mr. Ryan.
Another important feature of Mr.. Ryans
trip Is that he personally visited the
trocha. unknown to General Weyler, and
he intimates that General Lee, too has
seen the trocha.
YES" said Mr.. Ryan, II did visit the
trocha. How could 1 do it? l was accom-
Iaried by friend who knows all the by
ways well. We went on horseback and rode
for twenty miles before we reached the
trocha. The country through which We
PASSED was all one mass of ruin. sugar cane
and tobacco were all In ashes. and after
leaving the city of Havana proper we only
saw TWO persons ON our way to the trocha." I"
Mr.. Ryan said that ne saw the Spanish
outposts. that he saw the wire fences built
by the Spaniards along the route south
from Mariel, the northernmost point of the
u ochd' anu tnat no could see the soldiers
on guard in the small fortress along the
line of defense.
Here Is one thing that Gen. Lee told me.
and ! want you to print this in the World ;"
said Mr.. Ryan. Gen. Lee is confident that
he Is going to do something that will sa tis-
fly everybody. He thinks that he is going
to work this problem out to the satisfac.
tion OF all concerned. The Cubans and the
American people in Cuba have the great
est confidence in him. or in the General
Americana as they are wont to call him.
They look to him as their friend They
have every confidence in him, and they
Know that he Is very fair-minded, con-
scientious man, one who will not shrink to
do his full duty to his government Cen
Lee Is soldier. He is statesman, and he
knows what Is right"