The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-21

to bring about an honorable settlement
OF the war between Spain and Cuba was
made by this government to Spain II year
ago, and was bluntly declined "There
is no effectual way to pacify Cuba, was
the reply Of Spain, "unless it begins with
the actual submission of the armed rebels
TO the mother county,"
The details o. this unsuccessful MT.
tempt at mediation were made public
by Senator Foraker in his speech in
the Senate yesterday on the Cuban
question. "Mediation,'' said he, "has
been rendered by this government and
has been rejected by Spain. The record
shows" he continues, ".hat the purpose
OF our government i'll her Intervention
was to secure peace by means consistent
with honor, dignity and the continued
sovereignty of the Spanish government
IN Cuba"
The most interesting contribution
made by Senator Foraker from the secret
archives OF the State Department, und the
one that created the most stir in the Sen.
ate, was the letter written by Secretary
Olney on April 4, 1896, to Minister de-
LONE, and suggesting intervention
Mr.. Olney called attention to the long
time the insurrection had been i'm pro-
gress, the declaration of the Spanish min
lister mt tie start that as soon rs the rainy
season was over the insurrecton would
he suppressed, and the iinpossihility of
denial that the insurgents commanded n
greater portion of the island than ever
although Spain had sent to Cuba three
times rs many troops. In summing up
all these Secretary Olney said that the
instruction was more formidable than
ever, the insurgents being better euuip
ped, and the authority of Spain sub.
verified. Anarchy was rampant and there
was systematic war upon the indus.
tries of the island. This had led to com
plete devastation, The frightening of cap
ital, land the end," said Secretary Olney,
is to come sooner or later through the
inability of Spain to prolong the conflict,
and through her abandonment of the is-
land to the heterogeneous combination
of elements and races now in arms
against her."
This situation Mr.. Olney points out
to be of great interest to the people of the
United States, not only from civilized
standpoint, but on account of the trade
relations, since in the W holesale desuruc-
ton of property in the island there was
mo discrimination between enemies and
neutrals." "This interest being second
only to that Spain herself" says Mr. Oh
ney, "has led many good and honest per.
nate the conflict is the immediate and
imperative. duty of the United States. "
Mr.. Olney's offer was this:
TO cooperate with Spain in the i'm.
mediate pacification of the island OH such
IL plan as, leaving Spain her rights of
sovereignty, shall yet secure to the peo-
pie of the island all such rights and pow
ers CT local self government rs they can
reasonably ask. To tx at end the United
States offers and will use her good Offices
at such time and in such manner as may
be deemed most advisable"
The refusal of Minister de LONE to ac-
cept this offer Of the United States was
summed up by him in the significant
sentence quoted ut the beginning of this
article. He, however, does not hesitate
to suggest that the United States could.
If IL would, greatly aid in "pacifcaton''
by preventing the extension of any aid to
the Cubans by the citizens of this coun-
try. He also expresses deep gratitude
for what had already been done in that
regard, saying:
The high moral sense of the govern
ment OF Washington will undoubtedly
suggest to it other more eifectual means
OF preventing henceforth what is now
the case, struggle which is going ON so
near it's frontiers, and which is proving
so injurious to it's industry and com.
merce, fact justly deplored by your en-
ceilency, being prolonged so exclusively
by the powerful assistance which the re-
bellion finds in the territory of this great
republic against the wishes of all those
who love order and law
The consular report obtained by Sena.
tor Foraker from the State Department
from which he read extracts, carefully
emitting every sentence or fragments of
sentence which might give the identity
of the writer, was made by Consul Gen.
eral Lee. The more important portions
of that report follow:
II cannot understand the truth of the
claim that all the provinces of the island
are pacified, except that CT Santiago de
Cuba, because there are more insurgents
under arms at this time than mt the per-
iod first reached the ISLAND some ten
months ago, and do not think it fair
Inference to draw from existing condi-
tons that the war is approaching n ter
mination because in pursuance of an es-
tablished policy the insurgents avoid, as
far as possible, all serious engagements.
"The impossibility of expellng the
Spanish troops from the island by force
OF arms is we'll known to them and they
do not propose to risk the lives of their
one or moro pitched battles. | conclude,
therefore, that the war will drag its
weary length along so long as the insur.
gents can dig susteuance from the ground
on the one side or money be obtained on
the other, with the continued result of
untold human suffering, loss Of human