The Portland daily press., 1897-05-20
OUTLINED By CONSUL GEN
ERAL AT HAVANA.
Startling Revelation Made by Senator
Foraker.
FROM THE SECRET ARCHIVES OF
STATE DEPARTMENT.

No Prospect of the War Ending-Insur-
gents Stronger Than Ever In So Called
Pacifed Districts--Poverty and Dis
tress of People Daily Increasing-Secre-
tary Olney's Letter Offering Media
tion.
Washington, May 19.-The secret
archives of the State Department which
have held the consular reports in the
Cuban war from the public, were partial
ly disclosed today by Senator Foraker of
Ohio. During the past week the debate
in the Senate has been pregnant with in
timations and innuendoes of reports from
United States officials in Cuba. held at
the State Department, which if published
would disclose a condition on Cuban soil
which would influence public opinion in
decided manner The facts, therefore,
which Senator Foraker announced with
out stating from whom they came, created
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 proffered aid.
While one of the consula ar reports was
read without the name of the author be-
ing disclosed, it is stated to be COM
munication from Consul General Lee
which fully sets forth his idea of the con-
dition that exists in Cuba. The extract
was quoted as follows:
''I cannot understand the truth of the
claim that all the provinces of the island
are pacified except that of Santiago de
Cuba, because there are more insurgents
under arms at this time than at the
period first reached the island some ten
months ago, and I do not think it fair
inference to draw from existing conditions
that the war is approaching a termination
because, in pursuance of an established
policy, the insurgents avoid as far as
possible all serious engagements.
'HThe impossibility of expelling the
Spanish troops from this island by force
of arms is well known to them, and they
do not propose 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 insur-
genus Cttil ulS ouStc1tttuCe from Un6 ground
on the one side, or money be obtained by
the other, with the continued result of
untold human suffering, of human life.
the murder of innocent men, women and
children by both sides and frightful
havoc which disease makes in the ranks
of the soldier, particularly among the
unacclimated Spaniards. The poverty
and distress of the people are daily in
creasing 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 num-
Der OF poor, distressed, starving women,
children and old men of all races have
greatly increased in this city within the
the island suffering has been proper
tionately greater
The letter from Secretary Olney to
Spanish Minister DeLome, in which med
iation is proposed, is dated April 4, 1896
In opening, Mr.. Olney said cit
might well be deemed dereliction of
duty to the government of the United
States if l were longer to defer official ex-
preston as well of the anxiety with
which the President regards the existing
situation in Cuba. Any plan giving
reasonable assurance of that result, and
not inconsistent with the just rights
and reasonable demands of all concerned
would be earnestly promoted by him by
law of this country place at mis- disposal
Mr.. Foraker read only one extract from
Mr.. DeLome's reply, which was dated
June stating that there was no effectual
way. to pacify Cuba unless it commenced
with the actual submission of the armed
rebels