The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-13
Confidential Consular Reports to the State Department
at the Service Of the Sub Committee
of the Senate
SHOWING SAID TO BE SERIOUS.
Senator Davis Defends the Committee Against Criticism
Aimed at Its Delay Republicans Desire to
Protect the Administrations

WASHINGTON, May 12.-The senate
committee on foreign relations did not
conclude its consideration of the Cuban
situation today. 1t will meet tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock, but the sub-com-
cittee consisting of Senators Davis,
Foraker and Morgan, which today was
given access to the Cuban reports, now
held at the state department, probably
will ask for further time before sub
hitting their ideas to the full COM
mittee. The subcommittee was unable
to go through all the reports that have
been received from Consul General Lee
and other consuls and officers in Cuba.
AT the meeting tomorrow 1t is possible
that Senator Morgan will consent to
have the resolution now pending in the
senate to go over without prejudice
until the committee can make it's re-
port. 1t is not intended that all the re-
ports of consuls shall be sent to the
senate, but the senate committee will
select certain documents bearing on
the condition of affairs in the island
and on these make its recommended
tons and report.
This report will generalize the stu
alton without making public such mat
tiers as state department officials and
the committee think would be preju-
dicial to persons on the island Some
question has arisen as to the effect the
report of the committee or the tnfOrma-
ton a the state department may have
upon the resolution now pending in the
senate. Members of the committee do
not express an opinion on the subject,
but enough is known to justify the con-
cluson that, instead of weakening the
resolution, its friends will find cause
for insisting that there is a stronger
reason for passing it. The object of
the foreign relations committee which
has deprecated haSty action and sug-
gested that the resolution be referred
to the committee, is that the senate
should not act in the premises until
there is more information at hand.
The opponents of the resolution have
declared that the newspaper reports Of
the conditions in Cuba are not based
upon facts and are highly exaggerated.
Those who have become acquainted
with the reports in the state depart
ment are of the opinion that the re-
ports in the press have been in the
main correct.
One member of the committee who
had listened to the summary of the re-
ports in the department said that a
very serious condition existed in Cuba
and that the inquiry now being made
by the committee would result in bring
ing to light the exact facts. Some
structures were passed upon members
of the foreign relations committee who,
about a year ago voted for resolution
similar to the one now pending and
who now ask for time to consider the
matter with more elaboration.
Speaking of this criticism, Chair
man Davis, of the foreign relations
committee, said: SAT the time the
former resolution was reported Gomez
was at the head of large army in the
eastern end of the island and Maceo
was at the head Of another army in the
west They could march from one end
to the other Of Cuba. Campos had
been defeated in a great battle, and
was shut within sold Notifications and
confined to a small territory around
Havana. Everyone knew that state
of war existed. That was a year ago
Great changes have since taken place.
Maceo is dead and his army dispersed
Gomez is at the head of but a small
force. certainly it is no such army as