The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-04
CRIsIsIN CUBiN AFFAfRs.


The New York Herald yesterday pup
lished the following, with IDS c"nh'e"'.
The following dispatch was received
from correspondent IN Jack'9hNinei
Fla. II was impossible TO very ~ an any
unCer these circumstances IL Is puDN9n'N
ioI what II Is worth. <...,..
JAckSONNILl +, ~ a. nov = ipln
leaders here and in Key N"st declare
that they have reliable Information thtt
the relations Of the United states dle
spain have reached CRISIS. "lu ' i.',o ~
NclOpments of great :ltcrnationai import,
apce In regard 10 cuba may De eNpoV'su
within the next month.
Advices received here from lia' ANA
are 10 the effect that the departure Oh
ConSul-General Lee Tor Washington Was
caused by this crisis. and that ms report
to President Cleveland Will be OF such
character that II VIII almost rerti'hy
result IN action hoins taken ~ ~ ,b ,nt
the oso OF the Competitor prisoners "as
the immediate cause OF the departure OF
General Lee.
The Srunish authorities have been dis
posed 10 proceed in a high-handed "ay
in regard TO these prisoners and without
regard IN treaty rights. After the court
at Madrid set aside the sentence OF ceath
imposed on these prisoners by the nrat
Court-martial. II was understood tnal
they would be given civil trial. IN
stead Of this however. Captain Laborde,
the American correspondent, Melton ana
inc Otltf competitor IilSoltIs were re-
Gently summoned before naval court
at Havana and required to lie written
declarations as preliminary 10 ne"
court-martial. The prisoners, however
refused 20 make any statement, save IL
the presence OF General Lee.
General Lee had not been advised by
Captain-General Weylcr that the prison
ers would be retired, but as soon as the
Consul learned. uLOfficlaliy, what was
going on. and that the case had been
called for military and not Tor clVii con
siderat.On, he sent an energetic note 10
Captain-Gcneral Woyler yrol'sl"5
against any retrial not in accordance
with treaty stipulatiOns, and entering *
cepuOns TO the proceedings as lnduse-
rated. Captain-Generai Weyier eVaded
making any direct response, pleading
Lack of authority TO treat on diplomatic
matters and questioning General Lee
right 10 discuss matters which it had been
the custom to submit to Madrid Tor set
Element by the American Minister ana
the Spanish Foreign Onice.
General Lee then sent captain GeheIdl
Wcyler a. second note. more energetic
than the first. in which he reiterated his
previous objections, ana in ADDITION
strongly limited that the Irregular pro-
Ctedinl IL not remedled. would prevent
tie United States from recognizing ~ any
way the validity OF the new trial. Cop
tain-General Weylcr did not answer this
note but shortly afterward the court
martial proceedings which had been instl-
pended
Captain Ger eral Weyler then requested
General Lee 10 furnish proof that Mellon
and the other Competitor prisoners were
American citizens. Before replying Cen
eral Leo cabled 10 Secretary Olney. As
soon as Secretary Olney answered General
Lee sent a note to Captain-General Wey-
Ter stating that, the prisoners having been
captured at sea on board of a vessel fly
ing the American flag. he must consider
them all under American protection, even
I'm the absence of specific individual GER
tilcates, and no a-oD having been found
in their possession, all were equally en-
titled 90 civil trial.
Ter requested General Lee 70 furnish proof
that the prisoners were American citizens.
ana as often the Consul replied, They
were all captured under the American
flag. and they are all under the protection
of that flag Captain-General Weyler
then proposed 10 allow the correspondent
Melton, 10 90 free but 20 punish the
others. General Lee again replied that
he could make no distinction. as The
American flag was over them all.
In the meanwhile General Lee and Sec
rotary Olney were in constant cable cor
respondence about the matter and the
Consul-Goneral was finally ordered 70
Washington.
For diplomatic reasons Consul-General
Lee would probably deny II. but II is
fact. nevertheless. that he said TO an init
mate friend before leaving for the JnlltQ
states: 1T would not surprise me II 1
should return 10 Havana on a waIsnlp.
The Cuban leaders here are 1ublldnt as
they say that the result Will be either
intervention by the United states or am
ignominiOus backdOwu on the part OF
Spain. which would destroy what little
prestige she has left.