New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-18
SENATOR PROCTOR'S STATEMENT.
HIS PERSONAL. OBSERVATIONS IN CUBA
RELATED IN CALM AND DISPAs-
SIONATE LANGUAGE

HIS PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS IN CUBA
RELATED IN CALM AND DIsPAs-
sIoNATE LANGUAGE.
Washington. March 17.-Senstor Proctor's
statement was I'm full. as follows; .
"Nore importance seems TO he attached by
others to my recent visit 10 Cuba than / have
given IT, 1t has been suggested that | make
a public statement OF what | saw and how the
situation impressed me. This | do on account
Of the public interest In all that concerns Cuoa
and TO correct any inaccuracies that have, not
unnaturally. appeared in some Of the reported
interviews with me. My trip was entirely un-
official and Of my motion-not suggested
by any one The only mention / made or IT TO
the President was to say 10 him that contem-
plated such a trip, and 10 ask him II there was
any objection TO it. to which he replied tnat ne
could see none. No one but myself therefore.
Is responsible for anything in this statement
Judge Day gave me brief note or introduction
TO General Lee. and had letters Of introduction
from business friends at the North TO bankers
and other business men at Havana, and they In
turn gave me letters to their correspondents In
other cities These letters 10 business men were
very useful, one principal purpose of my visit
was to ascertain the Views Of practical men OK
affairs upon the situation.
GENERAL LEES CONDUCT PRAISED.
"Of General Lee l need say little. His valu-
able services to his country In his trying position
are too we'll known 10 all his countrymen 70
require mention Besides his ability. high char
acter and courage, he possesses the important
requisites OF unfailing tact and courtesy. and.
withal his military education and training and
his soldierly qualities are invaluable adjuncts
in the equipment Of our representative in
country so completely under military rule as is
Cuba General Lee kindly invited us to sit at
his table at the hotel during our stay In Ha-
yana and this opportunity for frequent infor-
NAL talks with him Of great help TO me- In
addition TO the information he voluntarily gave
me- 1t furnished convenient opportunity to
ask him the many questions that suggested
themselves in explanation OF things seen and
heard on our trips through the country.
'I also met and spent considerable time with
Consul Brice at Matanzas and with Captain
Barker a stanch ex-Confederate soldier. at Sa-
qua la Grande, a friend of the Senator from
Mississippi (Mr. Wal,halD None OF our repre-
sentatives whom met in Cuba are OF my po-
litical faith, but there Is a broader faith not
bounded by party lines. They all three true
Americans and have done excellent service.
AS TO THE MAINE DISASTER.
1T has been stated that said there was no
doubt the Maine was blown up from the outside
This is a mistake. | may have said that such
was the general impression among Americans
in Havana In fact, / have no opinion about IL
myself and carefully avoided forming one.
gave no attention TO these outside surmses. l
met the members Of the Court their hoat
but would as soon approach our Supreme Court
In regard to pending case as that Board. They
are as competent and trustworthy within the
lines Of their duty any court In the land, and
their report. when made will carry conviction
TO all the people that the exact truth has been
sta ed just far as is possible 10 ascertain II.
And until then surmise and conjecture are idle
and Improbable. Let Us calmly walt for the
report
IN THE WESTERN PROVINCES.
There are six provinces in Cuba, each. with
the exception II MatanEas. extending the whole
width Of the island, and having about an equal
sea front on the north and south borders
Matanzas touches the Caribbean Sea only at Its
southwest corner being separated from II else
where oy narrow peninsula Of Santa Clara
Province rhe provinces are named, beginning
at the west Pinar del Rio. Havana Matanzas.
Santa Clara. Puerto Principe and Santiago De
Cuba. My observations were confined TO the four
western provinces. which constitute about one
half the island. The two eastern ones are prac-
tically In the hands Of the insurgents. exceSs