New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-20
STATE SECRETS REVEALED.
NEW TURN IN CUBAN DEBATE
UNEXPECTED DISCLOSURES BY MEssR&
FORAKER AND MORGAN.
WHY THE ADMINISTRATIONS FEARS TO MAKE
PUBLIC THE REPORTS OF coNsULs n
CURA-A STRONG PLEA FOR IN
rERvENT1oN MADE BY THE
OHIO SENATOR

BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRfBrNg.1
Washington. May 19.--Interest IN the debate IN
the Senate on Mr. Morsan's resolution recognize
ing the begcrency Of the Cuban insurgents was
greatly intensified to-day by some unexpected
disclosures drawn from the members OF the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations to whom a private
and confidential view OF recent consular corre-
spondence from Cuba had been vouchsafed by
the State Department. Mr.. Morgan took the
lead In doling out this secret Information by ex-
planning the reasons given TO him by Secretary
Sherman and Assistant Secretary Day for hedg-
ing the correspondence about with so much
privacy and mystery. According TO the Alabama
Senator, the authorities at the State Department
feared to make public the reports OF the consular
officers in Cuba lest the Consus should suffer
violence at the hands OF the Spanards and their
native following In the island.
THE REAL REASON FOR SECRECY
This extraordinary statement naturally created
great excitement and indignation, which were
only partially appeased by an assurance from
Mr.. Foraker that the chief socitude Of the Ad-
ministration was not much lest the American
Consuls in Cuba should fall victims TO Spanish
violence IL their exposure of the real condition Of
things in the island should be given TO the world
as that the publication Of the reports now In hand
should operate to close for the future all the
sources OF information on which the State De-
partment's representatil es have heretofore
drawn
1t was heatedy maintained by the advocates
Of intervention in Cuba that II American off,
cias were safe In Cuba only so long as their
reports to the home Government remained Sc
cret, diplomatic relations with Spain had
reached a point when their continuance was far
less tolerable than an open rupture
SENATOR FORAKER's DISCLOSURES
Mr.. Foraker who, with Mr.. Davis. the chair
man Of the Foreign Relations Committee. en-
joyed view Of the etill unpublished Cuban cor.
respondence. added to the scanty public knowl-
edge of its drift and tenor by reading several ex-
trects which hc said he had been allowed to use
in an impersonal and fragmentary way. He
read from a consular report only few days old
a summary Of the military situation In the island
which went to show that the insurgent strength
was to-day greater than at any time since the
outbreak of the rebellion, and that the prospect
OF the ultimate success o, the Cuban arms was
brighter now than ever.
He also read extracts not heretofore pub
lished from Secretary Olney's letter OF April
1896 to Minister Dupuy de L6me-many times
alluded to in these dspatches-offering the medi-
alton Of the United States to restore peace In
and continuance OF Spanish sovereignty and
from the reply Of the Spanish Government three
months later explicitly and absolutely declining
the offer made by the United States.
When pressed by his colleagues for further
information from the official records, the ONO
Senator pleaded the restrictions placed upon
him by the State Department. and said that tne
text Of the unpublished reports would probably
reach the Senate, either by secret or open mes
sage within the next few days. For himself. ne
added, he favored giving all correspondence 10
the world without delay. and would be GLAD 10
cooperate in any measure 20 secure 'h'S "hoAy
desirable result.
READY TO VOTE FOR INTERVENTION.
That the hints and scraps OF information
dropped to-day by Messrs Morgan and Foraker
have greatly strengthened the Morgan resolu-
tion In the Senate there can be no doubt nor.
II the opportunity were given, would the Senate,
apparently. hesitate to go 20 the greater length
Of declaring in favor Of intervention In Cuba.
Mr.. Foraker strongly advocated this latter pol
| icy in his speech to-day, and the same step
| was urged by Mr.. Lindsay, Of Kentucky. hith-
| ertO pronounced supporter or Mr.. CleVeland
| and Mr.. Olneys programme or inactlon MT.
| Cannon Of Utah, who also addressed the Senate
| struck an even more becose note, declaring
that the responsibilities Of a protectorate over
| Cuba should be assumed at once by the Unlteo
| States
| Mr.. Foraker's speech was however. the strik-
| ing incident OF the day. the Ohio Senator's lucid
| and eloquent argument for Intervention consti.
| tutng one Of the genuine oratorical surprises OF
| the present session.
| There is little prospect OF a clash next Monday
between the Morgan resolution and the Senate
| Tariff bill The opponents Of Mr. Morgan's
| declaration are ready to fix a day and hour when
! II shall be voted on, and II Is expected that q
| unanimous consent agreement will be reached
either tomorrow Monday. The Senate
will take it's usual Friday, Saturday and Sunday
| less.