The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-13
Latest Data Before the Forsign
Affairs Committee.
THE REPORTS OF CONSULS
Said TO More Than Sustain Mr..
Morgan's Resolution.
A CONFERENCE WITH SHERMAN
Republicans Disposed Not to Crowd
the Administration on This Oues-
tion, and Mckinley May Await
Calhoun's Report,

Washington, d. c., May 12.-The
| Senate committee on Foreign Relations
| did not conclude it's consideration of the
| Cuban resolution to-day. It will meet to-
| morrow morning at ten O'clock, but the
| subcommittee, consisting of Senator's
| Davis, Foraker and Morgan, which to-
| day was given access to the Cuban re-
| ports now held at the State Department,
probably will ask for further time before
submitting their ideas to the full commit
| tee. The subcommittee was unable to go
| through all the reports that have been
| received from Consul General Lee and
| other Consu IS and officers in Cuba At
| the meeting tomorrow it is possible that
| Senator Morgan will consent to have the
| resolution now pending in the Senate to
go over without prejudice until the COM
| mittee can make its report 1t is intend
ed that all the reports of Consuls be sent
| to the Senate from which the commit
tee will select certain documents bearing
on the condition of affairs in the islands
and on these make it's recommendations
and report This report will generalize
| the situation without making public such
matters as State Department officials
and the committee think would be pre-
Some question has arisen as to the
effect the report of the committee or the
information at the State Department may
have upon the resolution now pending in
the Senate. Members of the committee
do not express an opinion on the subject.
but enough is known to justify the con-
clusion that instead of weakening the
resolution, its friends will find cause for
ipc tStf hotf - fha,. g,
passing it. The object of the Foreign Re
lations committee, which has deprecated
hasty action and suggested that the reso-
luton be deferred to the committee, is
that the Senate should not act in the
premises until there is more information
at hand. The opponents of the resolu-
toin have declared that the newspaper
reports of the condition in Cuba are not
based upon facts and are highly exager-
ated. Those who have become acquaint-
ed with the reports in the State Depart
ment are of the opinion that the reports
in the press have been in the main COR
rect One member of the committee. who
had listened to the summary of the re-
ports in the Department, said that
very serious condition existed in Cuba.
and that the inquiry now being made by
the committee would result in bringing
to light the exact facts.
Some structures were passed upon men,
bers of the Foreign Relations committee
who, about a year ago, voted for reso-
luton similar to the one pending and
who now ask for time to consider the
matter with more deliberations. Speak
ing of this criticism. Chairman Davis, of
the Foreign Relations committee said:
'At the time the former resolution was re-
ported, Gomez was at the head of a
large army in the Eastern end of the is
land and Maceo was at the head of an
other army in the West. They could
march from one end of Cuba to the other.
Campos had been defeated in a great bat
tie and was shut up within solid fortif-
cations and confined to a small territory
around Havana.
Everyone knew that state of war eX-
listed. That was a year ago. Great
changes have since taken place. Maceo
is dead and his army dispersed. Gomez is
at the head of but a small force; GER
tainly it is no such army as was re-
ported then. There are conflicting state
ments as to the strength of the insur-
gents and the control which Spain has
over the island. 1t is right and proper
that the facts that have since reached the
State department should be laid before
the Senate and the committee so that in
telligent action can be had"
MIR. Davis says the sympathy with
struggling Cubans is as great as ever.
The Republicans of the committee do
not feel justified in pushing the admin
istration until it has had time to act. 1t
has been pointed out that only two
months have elapsed since the admins
tration came into power and it has
scarcely had time to take up and consid-
er so important "a matter as that which
has been presented. The pending resolu-
ton, unlike a joint resolution, will re-
quire the executive either to approve or
disapproye of it. This being the case. the
Republican Senators feel that they
should act in concert with the President.
1t is not believed that in case the Senate
Foreign Relations committee finds after
a thorough examination of the reports
in the State Department that the resolu-
ton is justified that any effort will be
made to prevent its passage. Members
Of the committee on Foreign Relations
feel that the question which confronts the
Senate rs serious and any action that is
taken by the Senate will have great
weight with the administration. In case
the resolution should pass both Senate
and the House there is no reason to be-
lieve that it would not be approved and
that the United States government would
not thereafter conduct itself on the lines
which it lays down.
Tonight the subcommittee met Secre-
tary Sherman at the latter's house and
had long conference with him. The sug-
gestion is advanced that the President
CONTINUED on Page Four)