New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-20
FROM THE SECRET ARCHIVES
SOME IMPORTANT CUBAN CORRESPON-
DENCE MADE PUBLIC.
A REPORT FROM GENERAL LEE on THE sITuA-
TON IN THE IsLAND-MR. oLNEY's OFTEN
OF MEDIATION AND SPANS

REJECTION OF IT.
Washington, Nav 10-The secret archives OF
the State Department, which nave heio inc
consular reports on the Cuban war from inc
public, were partially disclosed to-day by sena-
tor Foraker. Of Ohio. During the last week the
debate In the Senate has been pregnant with
limitations and innuendoes Of reports from
United States officials in Cuba held at the state
Department, which. II published, would disclose
a condition which would influence public opin-
Ion In a decided manner. The facts. therefore,
which Senator Foraker announced, without
stating from whom they came. created decided
stir Especially startling was the letter from
Secretary Olney in which this country onered
mediation to Spain. and the refusal OF that coun-
try to accept the proffered aid.
THE SITUATION IN CUBA.
While one OF the consular reports was read
without tho name Of the author being disclosed,
u is said 10 be a communication from Consul
General Lee which fully sets forth his Idea OF
the condition that exists In Cuba. The extract
was quoted as follows, no date being g ven:
IT cannot understand the truth Of the claim
that all the provinces Of the Island are paciiied
except that Of Santiago de Cuba, because there
are more Insurgents under arms at this time
than at the period l first reached the Island,
some ten months ago. and do not think II
fair inference to draw from existing conditions
that the war Is approaching termination. be-
cause in pursuance OF an established policy the
insurgents avoid as far possible all serious
engagements.
''The impossibility of expelling the Spanish
troops from this island by force OF arms Is well
known TO them. and they do not propose to fisk
the lives OF their men and the success OF their
.l.n1 k,ttt
cude. therefore that the war will drag It's weary
length along so long the insurgents can dig
sustenance from the ground on the one side, or
money be obtained by the other, with the contin-
ued result Of untold human suffering, loss Of hu-
man life the murder Of innocent men, women and
children by both sides. and the frightful havoc
which disease makes in the ranks OF the soldiers
particularly among the unaccl!mated Spaniards
The poverty and distress OF the people are daily
Increasing and the loss Of property OF all sorts
daily becoming more enormous No one can
fully appreciate the situation without being here
in person The number OF poor. distressed
starving women, children and old men Of all
races has greatly increased in this city within
the last few weeks, while In other points on the
island the suffering has been proportionately
greater"
OFFER OF MEDIATION TO SPAIN.
The letter from Secretary Olney to Minister
de LONE under date Of April 4. 1896, is the one
in which intervention is suggested. In opening
Mr.. Olney said:
1T might we'll be deemed dereliction OF duty
TO the Government Of the United States as well
as a censurabe want OF candor 70 Spain, IL
were longer 10 defer official expression as well
OF the anxiety with which the President regards
the existing situation In Cuba as or his earnest
desire for the prompt and permanent pacih-
cation OF that island Any plan giving reason
able assurance OF that result and not inconsis-
tent with the just rights and reasonab bic demands
Of all concerned would be earnestly promoted by
him by all means which the Constitution and
laws Of this country place at his disposal.
''It Is now nine or ten months since the
nature and prospects Of the instruction were
first discussed between us. In explanation OF
its rapid and. up to that time. quite unopposed
growth and progress. you called attention to
the rainy season. which from May or June until
November renders regular military operations
impracticable. Spain was pouring such num-
bers Of troops into Cuba that your theory and
opinion that when they could be used in an ac-
tive campaign the insurrection would be almost
instantly suppressed seemed reasonable and
probable In this particular you believed. and
sincerely believed, that the present instruction
would offer a most marked contrast TO that
which began in 1868. and which, being feeby
encountered with comparatively small forces
prolonged its life for upward OF ten years.
GROWTH OF THE INsURRECTION
at Is impossible to deny that the expectations
thus entertained by you in the summer and fall
of 1895, and shared not merely by all Spaniards,
but by most dsinterested observers well,
have been completely disappointed The insur-
gents seem to-day to command larger part OF
the island than ever before. Their men Under
arms estimated year ago at from ten to
twenty thousand. are now conceded to be at least
two three times az many. Meanwhile their
discipline has been improved and their supply
OF modern weapons and equipment has been
greatly enlarged while the mere fact that they
have held out to this time has given them con-
fidence in their owr eyes and prestige with the
world at large. In short 1t can hardly be ques-
toned that the instruction. instead OF being
queled. is to-day more formidable than ever
and enters upon the second year OF its ex-
istence with decidedly improved prospects OF
successful results. Whether condition Of
things emitting the insurgents to recognition as
begerents has yet been brought about may
for the purposes OF the present communication
be regarded immaterial"
other parts OF this document were as follows
Even II it be granted that condition Of in
surgency prevails and nothing more, It Is on so
large q scale and diffused extensive
region and is so favored by the physical feat
ures of the climate of the country that the au-
thority Of Spain Is subverted and the functions
Of Its Government are in allegiance. or practically
suspended throughout greater part of the
island. Spain still holds the seaports and most
II not all. OF the large towns in the interior.
Nevertheless vast area OF the territory Of the
island Is In effect under the control of rowing
bands OF insurgents, which, II driven from one
place to-day by an exhibition of superior force,
abandon IT only to return tomorrow when that
force has moved on for their disodgment In
other quarters.
THE COST OF THE WAR.
1.-THE authority Of Spain Is subverted and the
functions Of it's Government are in allegiance or
practically suspended throughout a great part
OF the island. Outside Of the towns still under
Spanish rule, anarchy lawlessness and terrorism
are rampant The result IL a systematic war
upon the Industries of the island and upon all
means by which they are carried on. and where
as the normal annual product Of the island is
valued at something like $S0000000 or $780,
100000 it's value for the present year is esti-
mated by competent authority at not exceeding
S2000OO00"
Further on. Mr. Olney calls attention to the
fact that capital is fast Withdrawing from the