The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-20

washington, May 19.-The secret
archives of the state department
which have held the consular reports
of the Cuban war from the public
were partially disclosed today by Sen
ator Foraker of Ohio. During the
mast week the debate in the senate has
been pregnant with limitations ana
i,.nuendoes of reports from United
States officials in Cuba, held at me
state department. which, if published
would disclose a condition on Cuban
soil which would influence pupllc
opinion in a decided manner.
The facts. therefore, which senator
Foraker announced without stating
from whom they came, created d ue-
cided stir Especially starting " a.
the letter from Secretary Olney, IN
which this country offered mediation
to Spain and the refusal OF that couii-
try to accept the proffered aid
While one of the consular Reports
was read without the name OF the
author being disclosed, it is stated 10
be a communication from General L.
which fully sets forth his idea OF me
conditions that exist in Cuba The
extract was quoted as ioloWs' HO
date being given:
I cannot understand the truth of the
claim that all the provinces OF the
island are pacified except that Oh
Santiago de Cuba, because there are
more insurgents under arms at TINS
time than at the period l hrst reacEed
the island. some ten months ago. ana
DO MOI think il a fair inference 70
draw from existing conditions that the
war is approaching a termination pc
cause in pursuance Of an estabhshed
poIicv the insurgents avoid as far as
possible all serious engagements
The impossibility of expelllng the
Spanish troops from TINS lslaiid pS
force Of arms is well known tc them
and they do not propose to risk the
lives of their men or the success OF
their cause upon one or more pltched
battles. I conclude, therefore, that
the war will drag its weary length
along so long as Inc insurgents can
dig sustenance from the ground on enc
side or money be obtained by the oth s,
with the continued result OF untoiu
human suffering. loss of human lie.
the murder of innocent men, women
and children on both sides. ana the
frfghtful havoc which disease makes
in she ranks OF soldiers, particularly
among the unacclimated Spanlarcs
The poverty and distress of the people
are 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 have greatly increased N
this city within the past few weeks,
while IN other points on the island the
suffering has been proporuonateiy
great"
Spanish Minister De LONE, under date
of April /. 1886. is the one in which
intervention is suggested In opening,
Mr.. Olney said:
1t might be well deemed a derelic-
ton Of duty 10 the government Of the
United States. as we'll as censurable
want OF candOr TO Spain. If we're
longer 10 defer official expression as
Well as the anxiety with which the
president regards the existing situation
in Cuba as of his earnest desire Cor
the prompt and permanent paclfcatlon
of the island Any plan giving reason
ahie assurance Of that result and not
Inconsistent with the Just rights and
reasonable 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
1t is now nine or ten months since
the nature and prospects Of the insur-
recfdon were first discussed between US.
In explanation of its rapid and UP TO
that time quite unUpposed growth and
progress YOU called attention to the
rainy season which from June TO No
vemaer renders military operations i'm
practicable. Spain was pouring such
numbers Of troops into Cuba that your
theory and opinion that when they
could be used in an active campaign
the ipsurrection would be almost in
stantlv suppressed, seemed reasonable
and probable. In this particular you
said and sincerely believed that the
present insurrection would offer
most marked contrast to that which
hee-2n in 1865. which being feebly en-
coun1ered with comparatively small
forces. prolonged its life FOR upwards
of ten years.
ii is impossible to deny that the ex-
pectations thus entertained by you in
the summer and fan Of 1895 and shared
not merely by the Spaniards, but by
most disinterested observers as we'll,
have been completely disappointing.
The insurgents seem today to command
a larger part Of the island than ever
before. Their men under arms, esfi-
mated a year ago Al from 70 coo to 20
600 are now conceded TO be at least
two or three times as many
Meanwhile their discipline has been
improved and their supply of modern
weapons and equipment has been
that they have held out 10 this time
has given them confidence in their own
eyes and prestige with the world al
large. In short. il can hardly be ques
toned that the Instruction. instead of
being ouelled. is today more formid-
able thar ever. and enters on the sec
ond veal of its existence with de-
cidedly improved prospects of success
full results Whether a condition of
things emitting the insurgents to
recognition as belligerents has yet been
brought about, may, for the purpose of
the present communication, be re-
garded as immaterial"
Other portions of this document were
as follows:
Even Il it be granted that condi-
ton Of insurgency prevails and moth
ing more, it is on so large a scale and
diffused over so extensive a region, and
is so favored by the physical features
OF the climate of the eountr-r that the
authority 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