The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-29
AMERICANS IN CUBA.
SAFER WITH ONE OF OUR WARSHlPS
IN HAVANA HAReOR.


Presence of an American Cruiser N a 20
Re Construed as Attempted IL .tim,,,a-
tion--Nothing Desired bat rae SAFETY of
American Citizens.
The sending or w'.r ship 10 Havana
could not be construed. as covering the
purpose of irritating or intimidating
the Spanish, nor to provoke them into
hostilities, the tsold purpose being to
protect the lives of our consuls and of
our citizens.
1t will be remembered that shortly
before the Inauguration of President
Mckinley it was announced that the
lthen president elect bad in mind the
,statiouiug of naval vessel at Havana.
That statement was made upon ade-
= quate information.
Since coming to Washington the
president has had opportunity to exam
inc the reports made by our consuls in
Cuba during the last six months, and
In these months and in these reports
he finds ample justification for carry
ing out of his original intention. More
than one of our oonsuls has repL- ted
that his life has been threatened by the
excitable Spanish, and when the pres
ident gave the members of the foreign
relations committee Of the senate re-
Gently certain information supplied by
la In. ut,G xusth tha
condition that the names Of those off,
cials be not made public for fear of vio-
lence TO their persons.
The president believes there is ample
justification for the dispatch of war
vessel to Havana. Things have come to
such o pass that the consular representa-
tives OF the United States dare not have
their reports to the government made
public with their names attached. To
do 90 provokes the danger ef violence to
their persona II is high time some
means were adopted for the protection
not only Of our consuls, but Of all our
citizens in the island.
Sending a warship can furnish no
cause for offense on the part Of Spain. 1t
Is the right Of every nation TO take such
measures as 80 it seem proper for the pro-
lection Of its consuls and private citi-
sens.
During the ten years war General
Grant kept warships in Havana harbor
nearly all the time. We have had our
naval vessels in Honolulu, in Rio janet
70, in Valparaiso. and later in the ports
of Turkey. 1t is a we'll recognized prin-
ciple that a nation may station war
ships in the ports of friendly countries
for this purpose without ofense.
It may be necessary to keep q war
ship at Havana for some time to come.
I II any violence be done TO an American
consul, the commander Of this vessel
will have instructions 10 seek repara-
tion. II an American citizen be arrest.
ed, the commander Of the ship will be
instructed to demand that the citizen
be brought on board within a given
time.
President Mckinley has given much
time of late to the examination Of the
reports of our consular agents. These
reports were made by consuls appointed
by the Cleveland administration, and
some Of them have been on file for many
months. The president has been as
founded at the condition of affairs in
Cuba revealed by these official state
ments. AS result of his examination
ne has ,'ecided it is his duty to make a
prompt movement for relief of Ameri-
can citizens placed in situations of great
distress by General Weyler's cruel or
der. This duty the president has per-
formed, with the prompt and unani-
nous cooperation of congress.
But the measures taken do not 60 to
the heart of the question, they do not
solve the problem, and the president is
thoroughly convinced it is his duty to
solve it. No half hearted measures, no
recognition of belligerency, no gentle
mediation or use of good offices, will
suffice. Something more decisive, more
forcible, will be needed if anything is to
be accomplished. Just what that shall
be, just what form it will be best to give
to the proposals, the president has not
yet determined. 1t is too important and
delicate q matter to rush into without
careful consideration. Walter Well
man in Chicago Times Herald.