Evening star., 1896-11-06
A TALK ON CUBA
Consul General Lees Interview With
Secretary 0lney.
BOTH GO TO FHE WHITE HOUSE
No Radical Change of Policy Con-
tempIated Now.
BUSINESS THERE PARALYZED

The case OF the Cuban insurgents. who
are struggling for release from the s,an,sb
yoke, Is once more brought prominently IN
the front as a national issue by the pres
ence In this city of Consul General Lee.
iresh from the scene of action He Az
rived In New York from Havana yesterday
morning and came direct TO this city but
MADE no effort to communicate with the
President or the Secretary of State until
this morning He walked over to the State
Department about IL o'clock today, lust af-
ter Secretary Olney had gone to the White
House to attend the regular meeting of the
cabinet.
Interview With Secretary OIney.
General Lee had an informal talk with
Assistant Secretary Rockhill IN regard to
the general state of affairs in Cuba In the
meantime word was sent to Secretary OIL
ney that General Lee was at the DEPART
ment with the result that the Secretary
OF State excused himself from further at
tendance at the cabinet meeting and has
tened back to the foreign office" The
two gentlemen were soon togelh her in close
conference i'm the Secretary's private Of
flee. 1t lasted some time. Subsequently
Secretary Olney and General Lee went over
to the White House and saw the President,
to whom the latter gave a brief resume of
his observations of the Cuban situation.
No Radical Change of Policy.
His report is OF course an official secret,
but there is authority for the statement
that there is nothing In II to justly belief
In any radical change in the policy of the
administration in the near future. The
matter will be treated at length in the
Presidents forthcoming message to Con-
gress. and until that document is submit
TED the public will be kept in official ignor-
aEce as to what changes, II any, have oc-
CURED In the Presidents views as to :hs
duties OF this nation In the premises. So
Tar as press dispatches show there has
been no radical change in the political sit
uation on the island since the President
issued his last proclamation for the OBJ
servance of strict neutrality and Al remains
10 De seen whether he regards existing and
prospective conditions as justifying the
recognition Of The insurgents as belliger-
ents- Such course is possible, in view Of
the poor showing made by the Spanish
fCrces In their feeble and long-conttnusd
efforts to suppress the insurrection, and
the consequent paralysis of business af-
fairs.
Will Not Talk Much.
Consul General Lee is stopping at the
Shoreham and is under a state of almost
perpetual siege by newspaper men. To
many of the questions put to him he main
tains diplomatic silence or evades. them
by calling attention to the impropriety of
newspapers. Gen. Lee will remain in WASH
ington possibly for several days and then
will proceed to his home in Virginia, which
he has not visited since assuming the duties
OF mis- ONCE. In reply to direct question
he said he had not been called mere by the
President for the discussion of the situation
there.
When asked whether the insurgents or
the Spaniards held the advantage in the
war Gen. Lee shielded himself by having
recourse TO what he said was a term the
aexlcans used when questions were put to
them which they did not wish 10 answer
viz. qui en- sabe" which translated means
who knows" First reports are heard OF
success on the one side and then on the
otner The war has bean in progress since
February, 1S93,' he continued, 'and there
ticn."
The consul general testified to the baneful
the island
business. he said. is paralyzed and
the island is being gradually ruined What
one side leaves the othe er destroys, as in all
civil wars. There is a systematic destruc-
ticn OF the vast sugar estates"
Press Censorshfp.
Gen. Lee confirms the reports of the press
censorship which prevails in the island. ana
says nothing can be sent out by telegram
which is not first subject to the scrutiny of
tie officials similar censorship exists
respecting the Havana newspapers and
what Is "blue-penciled' has to DE left ont
of the papers.
Gen. Lee reiterates the statements that
ne mad made in New York concerning the
iair treatment which has been accorded
MIN py the officials of The island, and saws
tbat ne mas no cause for complaint There
are many naturalized American citizens on
the lsiard and their interests are locked
aIter as well as can be. Many complaints
OF cruelty and of damage TO properly are
received and are investigated as promptly
as possible.