The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-06-12
ThE CUBAN SITUATION.
Lees Report May Cause Adninistra-
tion 10 Change Its Policy.

retary Day said Tuesday that the report
of Consul General Lee upon the results
Of the investigation made I'm Havana in
the Ruiz cnse had not yet been received
ut the state department. Consequently
IL was not possible to learn whether the
publications purporting to be copies of
the report were accurate. Assuming.
however that the consul generals con-
illusions are correctly set forth, In
brief that Ruiz died while in Jail in vio-
lation of his treaty rights, the question
before the department of the largest i'm
portance is, what shall be the next
step? The wife of Ruiz has filed with
the department claim for $i50,000 for
the death of her husband. The Span
ish contention has been that he was not
killed and that he was not treated
harshly. Gen. Lees inquiry Is under
stood to have failed 20 bring out the
truth on these points. but his state
ment on another namely. that of his
confinement in violation of treaty
rights, appears to make the first two
points non-essential and TO leave the
case resting on the broad claim that In
combining DIR. Ruiz for more than az
hours without permitting him to COM
municate with his friends or trying
him. the Spanish officials in Cuba have
assumed full responsibility for the re-
suits of that extra confinement.
The fact being established that Dr..
Ruiz kept up his citizenship by regis
tering himself at American consulates
in Cuba from time to time as required
by regulations, Is taken as an offset
against the claim that by continuous
residence in Cuba for nearly 20 years
he had forfeited his rights as an Ameri-'
can citizen. so IL is surmised that the
next step in the case will be the pre-
sentation OF claim against the Span
ish government in behalf of the family
of the victim of this illegal imprison-
ment.
Washington. June 0.-There was re-
vival of Cuban talk about the senate
Tuesday on account of the return of MIR.
Calhoun. The republican senator's,
some of them members of the foreign
relations committee, say there is no
doubt that the president will take nc
ton as soon as Mr.. Calhoun's report is
received. No definite information was
given concerning the attitude of the
president, but the impression OF the
senators from such reports as they
heard was that there would be change
from the present negative policy and
the adoption OF n definite line of action
with view to endeavoring TO secure
settlement of the present unfortunate
state of affairs in Cuba.
Washington. June 0.-W. j. Calhoun
of Danville, ILL.,. the presidents special
commissioner TO Cuba, returned to
Washington Tuesday afternoon. lie
went first 10 the state department TO
see Assistant Secretary Day. Judge
Day and Mr.. Calhoun went thence to the
white house, where for an hour Mr.. Cal
houn related his experiences in Cuba
20 the president. Mr.. Calhoun said that
his conversation with the president and
Judge Day was an official one. and that
he could not repeat what had passed be-
tween them. lie said the conversational
was general on the affairs in Cuba, and
that lie had related some OF his impress
sions and conclusions. but that the pres
ident desired 10 ask him some questions
and go into n more detailed discussion
OF the subject. Mr.. Calhoun will make
no written report. His experiences in
investigating the Ruiz case. which was
the first object OF his visit TO Cuba, have
already been related.
Regarding the reports of suffering in
Cuba. Mr.. Calhoun said that they had
been somewhat exaggerated. "Of
course" he said, there are great
many hungry people in Cuba, but they
are not dying In the streets as we have
been led TO believe. There is much beg
ging and many other evidences of hum
ger and priyation, but few people nre
actually starving to death. lie doubts
whether there are more than 80 or 100
genuine Americans In distress on the
whole island. But he says the number
OF Cubans there who have become Amer
leans by naturalization at Key West
or elsewhere in the United States is
tempt 10 estimate their number.
While he would not be quoted on the
advisability OF stationing United
States war ship In Havana. II was evil
dent from his conversation That he
would oppose such course. He be-
lieyes, i'm the first place. that an Ameri-
can crew would be in grave danger
from yellow fever. In the next place 4
war ship could accomplish nothing-
It's presence would only uselessly en-
rage the Spnninrds.
There is nothing that should be ndded
10 Gen. Lees means of caring for Amer
leans. II the United States is going to
adhere TO the treaty obligations It's
present and past course is the proper
one. II il is going to recognize the
belligerency or the independence of
Cuba. then other measures will be in
stantly needed.