Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-05-21
rendered by Secretary Olney
Through Spanish Minis
tor de Lome.
SOME FACTS MADE PUBLIC.
Extracts From a report Of Con-
sul General Lee Read In
the Senate.
Terrible Condition Of Affairs on
the Island ls Officially
Set Forth.

WASHINGTON, May N.-The secret
archives Of the state department. which
have held tho consular reports OH the
Cuban war from tho public We're par
TALLY disclosed by Senator Foraker OF
Ohio. During tie past " eek the debate
i'll the senate E&s been pregnant with
intimations ard i,,l, enGoes Of reports
from United St.c...as officials in Cuba
leld at the state department, which, ii
published, would disclose condition OH
Cuban soil which would influence pub.
Lie opinion in a decided manner.
The facts, therefore, which Senator
Foraker announced without stating
from whom they came created decided
stir. Especially stai til 8 was the letter
from Secretary Obey in which this
country offered NC ia icn to Spain and
the refusal Of that ccur!ry to accept the
profered aid.
Extract from Lcc's Report.
While one of tho consular reports was
read without the name of the author
being disclosed, it is stated to be COM
munication from Consul General Lee,
which fully sets forth his idea Of the
condition that exists in Cuba: The ex-
tract was quoted as follows, no date be-
ing given:
Icannot understand the truth of the
claim that all the provinces of the island
ore racif1ed except that Of Santiago dc
Cuba, because there are more insurgents
under arms at this time than at any Pc
Rod since I first reached the islands, some
10 months ago, and l do not think 1t @
fair inference to draw from existing con-
ditions that the war is approaching u ter
animation, because, in pursuance of an
established policy, the insurgents avoid
as fnr as possible all serious engagements.
WIN Continue Indefinitely.
|. The impossibility of expelling the Span
ish troops from this island by force Of
arms is well known to them and they do
not propose to risk the lives of their men
and the SUCCESS of their cause upon one or
more pitched battles. l conclude, there
fore, that the war will drag it's weary
length along so long as the insurgents
can dig sustenance from the ground on
the ono side or money be obtained by the
other, with the continued result Of untold
human suffering, loss Of human life, the
murder Of innocent men, women and
children by both sides and the frightful
havoc which disease makes in the ranks
of soldiers, particularly among the unac-
climated Spaniards The poverty and
distress of the people is increasing and tho
loss of property of all sorts daily becon-
ing more enormous. No one can fully
appreciate the situation without being
here in person. The number of poor, dis
trcssed starving women, children and
other men of all races have greatly in
creased in this city within the past few
weeks, wilhelm other points on the island
tho suffering has been proportionately
great.
Olney's Letter to Dc Lomc.
The letter from Secretary Olney to
Spanish Minister de LONE under date Of
April 4, 1896, is the one in which inter-
vention is suggested. After going at
length into prevailing conditions on the
island and the hopeless outlook for Span
ish success, the secretary continues:
Y The situation thus described is of great
interest to the people of the United States.
They are interested in any struggle any
where for freer political institutions-but
necessarily and in special measure In q
struggle that is raging almost in sight OF
our shores. They are interested, as CIV
ilized and Christian nation, in the speedy
termination Of civil strife characterized
by exceptional excuses on the part of
both combatants. They are interested In
the non.interruption Of extensive trade
relations which have been and should
continue to be Of great advantage to both
countries. They are interested in the pre-.
vention of that wholesale destruction OF
property on the island which, making no
discrimination between enemies and
neutrals, Is utterly destroying American
Investments that should be Of immense
value and ID utterly impoverishing
Great Numbers Of American Citizens.
On all these grounds and in all these
ways the interest Of the United States in
the existing situation in Cuba yields in
extent only to that Of Spain herself, and
has led many good and honest persons to
insist that intervention to terminate the
conflict 10 tho immediate and imperative
duty Of the United States.
F.. He said his purpose was not as that
time to suggest intervention, but that the
United States could not contemplate with
complacency another 10 years Of Cuban
insurrection. His suggestion looking to
finding way Ito cooperate with Spain
In the Immediate paciflcation Of the Island
on such . plan %, leaving Spain her
rights Of sovereignty, shall yet secure to
tho people Of the island all such rightd
...au powers OF local self-government as
they can reasonably ask. To that end the
United States offers and viii use her good
Offices at such time and In such mannea
~ may DO deemed most advisable"
The Story Not Credited.
DENVER, May 20.-Careful inquiries
at Helena and Butte, Mon, have failed
to confirm the report that w. Il. Ham