Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-20
CORRESPONDENCE ON CUBA
Senator Foraker Delves Into Archives Of th g
State Department,
GIVES SENATE RESULT OF HIS R8sA4CH
Text of OIney's Letter Proposing
Mediation to Spain, and De
Lome's Rcpiy Declining the
OGer with Thanks.
GIVES SENATE RESULT OF HIS RHsAS,

WASHINGTON, May 19.-The secret arch
ives 1f the state department which have
held the consular reports on the CUBAN
war from the public were partially disclosed
today by Serator Foraker of Ohio. During
the past week the debate in the senate has
been pregnant with intimations and inuen-
dcs of reports from officers in Cuba, held at
the State department. which If published
would disclose condition on CUBAN SOIL
which would influence public opinion IN
decided marrer. The facts, therefore, which
Senator Foraker announced without stating
from whom they came, created a decided stir.
Especially startling was the letter from
Secretary Olney, in which this country
offered mediation to Spain and the refusal
of that country to accept the preferred aid.
While one OF the consular reports was
read without the name of the author being
disclosed, 1t is stated to be a communica-
ton from Consul General Lee, which fully
sets forth his ideas of the condition that
exists in Cuba. The extract was quoted
as follows, no date being given:
cannot understand the truth of the
claim that all the provinces of the island
are paclfed except that of Santiago de
Cuba, because there are more insurgents
| first reached the island, some ten months
ago, and | do not think It a fair Inference
to draw from existing conditions that the
war is approaching n termination, because
in pursuance of an established policy the
Insurgents avoid as far as possible all
serious engagements.
troops from this island by force of arms Is
well known to them, and they do not pro
pose to risk the lives of their men and the
success of their cause upon one or more
pitched battles. / conclude, therefore, that
the war will drag its weary length along
so long as the insurgents can dig susie
nance from the ground on one side, or
money be obtained with 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 unacclimated spaniards. The poverty
and distress of the people are increasing,
and the loss of property of all sorts is 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 past few weeks, while at other
points on the island the suffering has been
proportionately great.
oLNEY TO DE LONE.
The letter from Secretary olney to Span
ish Minister de Lone, under date of April
4, 1896, is the one in which Intervention is
suggested. In opening Mr. Olney said
1t might be well deemed derelction of
duty to the, government of the United
candor to Spain if l were longer to defer
official expression as well of the anxiety
with which the president regards the eX-
sting situation in Cuba as of his earnest
desire for the prompt and permanent pacifi-
cation of the island. Any plan giving rea-
Wh the nst gh and
sonable 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 some nine or ten months sipce
the nature and prospects of the insurrection
GrGt cnh hat n
PLANTATION of it's rapid and up to the time
quite unopposed growth and progress, you
from May or June until November renders
regular military operations impracticable.
sGan pouring such nS of
when they could be used in an active cam
paign the insurrection would be almost in
stantly, suppressed, seemed reasonable and
probable. In this particular you believed
and sincerely believed, that the present in
trast TO that which began in 1885, and
which, being feebly encountered with com
paratively small forces prolonged its life
for upward of ten years
DISAPPOINTED EXPECTATIONS
1t is impossible to deny that the eXpecta-
tions thus entertained by you in the sum
by ali spandards, but by most dsinter-
ested observers as well, have been com
today to command a larger part of the
island than ever before. Their men under
arms, estimated a year ago at from 10000
two or three times as many. Meanwhile
their discipline has been improved and their
has been greatly enlarged while the mere
fact that they have held out to this time
has given them confidence in their own eyes
and prestige with the world at large. In
short, 1t can hardly be questioned that the
insurrection, instead of being quelled, is
today more formidable than, eyer and en-
with decidedly improved prospects or sue
h l.
ton as belligerents has yet been brought
about may. for the purpose of the present
communication, be regarded as immaterial.
Other portions of this document were as
follows:
Even If II be granted that condition
of insurgency prevails and nothing more 1t
is on so large scale and dfused oyer so
extensive region, and is so favored by the
physical features of the climate of the
country that the authority of Spain is sub
verted and the functions of its government
are in abeyance or practically suspended
throughout greater part of the island.
Spain still holds the seaports and most If
not all of the large towns in the interior.
Nevertheless, vast area of territory of the
Island Is in effect under the control of row.
Ing f, bands of Of insurgents; which L driven
superior force, abandon 1t only to return
tomorrow when that force has moved on
for their dislodeement in other quarters.
The authority of Spain Is subverted and
the functions of Its government are in
allegiance or practically suspended through
~
the towns still under Spanish rule anarchy,
law abuses and terrorism are present.
There IL a systematic war on the industries
of the island and upon all means by which
they are carried on, and whereas the nor
mai annual product of the island Is valued
at something like $50 100000 or 100000 00O
its value for the present year is estimated
by competent authorities at not exceeding
s2O,00O,OO0.
HURTS CAPITAL.
Further on Mr. Olney calls attention to
the fact that capital is fast withdrawing
from the island, frightened away by the
utter honelessness of the outlook"
Why should II not be? What can a pru-
dent man foresee as the outcome of existing
conditions except the complete devastation
OF the island, the entire annihila tion of it's
industries and the absolute impoverishment
of such of its inhabitants as are unwise
enough or unfortunate enough not to sea-
sonably escape from It? 1t may well be
feared that II the present nsurrection Is
to be of shorter duration than the last II
will be because the end is to come sooner
or later through the inability of Spain to
prolong the conflict and through her aban-
donment of the island to the Heterogeneous
combination of elements and of races now
in arms against her
Such conclusion Mr. Olney said would
| almost inevitably result in war of races
with the probable establishment OF a white
| and black republic"
The situation thus described is of
great interest to the people of the United
States. They are interested in any strus-
gle anywhere for freer political institutions
but necessarily and In special measure in
a struggle that Is raging almost In sight CT