The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-14
Account of Its Discovery
and Its Theft.
AN EMBASSY EMPLOYE
Impaired Contents Of Missive to the
Cuban Junta.
HOW ORIGINAL WAS OBTAINED.

Philadelphia. Feb. IA. - The Press
prints what IL asserts to be the true
version of the acquisition and publica-
ton OF the letter from Minister De LONE
to Mr.. Canalejas. The authority cited
For it's authenticity is Cuban or the
highest standing In the councils OF his
party" who receives his information
from headquarters in New York"
The story goes on to say: THE letter
was not stolen from the United States
malls. but was secured by an agent OF
the Cuban Junta in the postofiice at Ha-
vana. Joseph Canalejas, to whom the
letter was addressed, never saw the
original. He did not know until eight
days after the letter reached Havana
that such a letter from SPANS repre-
sentative in Washington had been writ
ten him.
" DE Lone wrote the letter in his pri-
vate residence in Washington instead OF
at the Spanish legation. The paper
however, was marked with the official
type and read in the corner, Legation
De Espaha The same inscription was
upon the left hand upper corner of the
envelope. Mr.. De LONE did not man the
not quite completed it upon the morning
1T was written and carried il to the le-
CATION, where is was first seen and no.
ticed by person who is in the employ
of the embassy, acting in a substitute
official capacity. The letter lay upon
the desk of the minister in his inner
office the outer office being his place of
reception to visitors. During his alb
sence OF half an hour from the inner
office. the clerk in question saw the open
letter and read some OF it,
"rhe next day the same person sent
word to his Cuban associates in Wash
ington to the effect that he had seen a
letter from De LONE to Canalejas, in
which President Mckinley was villified
and autonomy called scheme. Several
OF the Cuban leaders got together and
asked the employe of the embassy to
secure the letter. They did not believe
implicitly in his story, although he
urged them 10 come into the public
print and make charges against De
LONE. Because they did not have the
letter in their possession the leaders re-
fused to say anything about it. The
employe OF the legation was urged to
use all means In his power to secure the
letter. although IL was considered prob
able that the letter was already in the
mails when the Cubans at the Hotel
Raleigh were informed OF it's existence.
THE clerk in the employ of Minister
De LONE saw no more OF the letter His
memory written abstracts were for
warded to New York. and IL was quickly
agreed that could possession OF the let
ter be obtained and his statements
proven to be true the letter would be of
incalculable value to the Cuban cause
rs substantiating what Cuban leaders
had maintained regarding autonomy
md the general Spanish policy in official
circles toward this country and IT'S Off
GERS. Immediately words of warning
and urging to be on the lookout were sent
to every Cuban who might be in posi-
tion to obtain track of OF intercept the
much sought for missive.
THE letter reached Havana five days
after it's postmark in Washington. An
agent OF the Cuban party who is an en-
rloye of the Spanish postoffice knew
that the letter was on the way. and when
It came into his hands IL was carried from
the postoflice and copy was made Of 1t.
Word to this effect was sent to the Gu
ban leaders in Jacksonville, Fla, who
ut once asked the secret Cuban junta in
that copy was not what was desired.
The Havana postofiice clerk was not
willing to do this at first, but after
ward consented. as he was obliged to ac-
count for q certain number OF letters
to other employees of the department
THE original was then taken several
blank sheets were substituted in place
of the paper upon which De Lone had
written, and the letter finally post
marked IN the Havana office and sent
on its routine way. Eight days from
its arrival in the Havana office the sealed
envelope, properly addressed 10 Mr..
Canalejas, was delivered at the Ingla-
terra hotel Mr.. Canalejas did not re-
gard the matter seriously at the time,
although the hotel boy who brought him
the letter and the postoffice employe who
had last charge OF it wete arrested. So,
also. was the hotel employe who went
several times daily TO the postoflice for
the mails. All three were discharged
after an examination. Mr.. Canalejas
communicated almost Immediately with
Minister De LONE and, for several weeks
letters and cablegrams passed between
the two. but no trace OF the letter could
be obtained. Canalejas shortly there
after left Havana. going to Madrid.
1T is not explained why the letter was
Jept by the Cubans for several weeks
Before Ii was given out for publication.
An informant, other than the person
who gave the foregoing, but who is OH
the inside i'm Cuban official circles. de-
plared that the delay was occasioned 10y
n desire on kpe part of the junta to be
assured absStely that the writing was
that of the Spanish minister, that he
might not have any chance to deny its
authorship ard thus cause a reaction
which undoubtedly would have been the
result OF the propagation OF a fake"
MIR. WoCpFoRDs DISPATCH.
WashlnEfnn. Feb. 1.-THE 300-Mord