The times., 1898-04-13
HAVANA PRESS INSULTS LEE.
accused of Unnecessary Haste in
Leaving His Post.

Havana, April l2-La Lucha publishes
an editorial under the head of Mr.. Lees
Escape" The paper expresses surprise
at General Lee, and says:
What he did is not in keeping with the
bellicose spirit of his Government. With
out diplomatic relations being broken
General Lee leaves, in Il hurry with his
clerks, after alarming many American
citizens. both legitimate and false ones.
His departure has the nature of an eS-
cape. since he did not only not run any
risk. but in case relations had been
broken off the authorities would nave
been the first to answer for the life OF
the consul and citizens who would nave
embarked without danger. 1t Is SHOWN
that it was an escape. by General Blanco
giving the exequatur to the British consul
so that the latter may represent the
United States, which means that the
United States has not recalled her rep
resentatives either from Spain or CUBA.
"At the last moment terror took pos
session of General Lee. which does not be-
come a military man. When the situation
is cleared it will be seen that General
Lee is guilty of alarming his Government
and is responsible for the Maine affair,
because he asked for the ship under the
pretext that American citizens were in
danger here. which was absolutely false
In conclusion the paper says that Cen
eral Lee did not act in the interest of the
people of his country, but demoraliZed the
policy of his Government to such an ex-
tent that it is threatening to occupy the
territory of a neighbOring people.
La Lucha with regard to the edict suS-
pending hostili les, also says: diploma
cy has absolutely triumphed, though 1t
is impossible to appreciate up to now.
which side is the victor Many Amerl-
cans and Spaniards think that the VIC
| tory has been won by Mckinley. in
Madrid the triumph is given to Spain,
| because she yields not to the demands
| of Mckinley but to the petitions of the
| great powers and the Pope III the reb-
| els do not accept the armistice. and re-
| gard it as an imposition by Americans.
| Mckinley will be the defeated one, since
| he arrogated to himself the role of
| protector but has been shown in his true
| light as a master with selfish motives.
| 1T is unknown whether the rebels will
! accent the armistice 1t is evident that
/ Spain, for her part has fulfilled all that
| has been sought by the United States
| Under the circumstances it will be an
| immense advantage if the rebels refuse
| an armistice, for the Mckinley Govern
| ment will be defeated because it desired
| peace and not war
Lieut.. Lucian Prieto, Granada Battal-
| ion, has left Arroyo Blanco Sancti Spir-
| titus and has joined the rebels. He had
| charge of furnishing goods to the hospi-
| tai and barracks of Arroyo Blanco
Virgilio Lopez, under secretary of the
general government returned yesterday
| to Manzanillo. He, accompanied by Ra-
mirez. made proposals for the surrender
| of Parditas, in the east. They will go
| back to repeat their proposals.
| Secretary of the Government Gown,
| Secretary of Communication DolZ. Civil
| ian Governor Bruzon, and the secretary
| of the general government were assem-
| bled up to / o'clock Monday morning at
the palace, preparing the decree for the
| suspension of hostilities.
The decree reads: "Edict of Don Ramon
| Blanco y Erenas, Marquis of Pena Plata,
Governor General, Captain General, and
Commander in Chief of the Army of the
Island. The government of Her Majesty,
complying with the wishes expressed by
the Holy Father and recommended by
the ambassadors of the six great powers,
has resolved for the purpose of facilitat-
ing peace in this island to decree a sus-
pension of hostilties, which is hereby
published:
article !. It is decreed that the sus-
pension of hostilities in all the territory
of the island of Cuba shall begin from
the day following that on which the
present edlct Is received IN each locality.
article 2. The details for the execution
of what is ordered in the previous article,
as well as the determination of the lapse
of time during which hostilities will be
suspended, will be the aim of particular
instructions. which will be communicate
ed TO the different commanders in chief
of corps of the army for it's easier and
quicker fulfiIlment according to the situa-
ton and circumstances of each one
RAMON BLANCO.
Havana. April 10, 1885,
Gen. Blanco was indsposed on Satur-
day morning with a slight fever The
doctors advised him to keep TO his bed,
and warned the adjutant not to disturb
him. At 6 O'Clock in the evening he learn
ed that Consul General Lee had been to
visit him. jt