The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-16
VIEWS OF GENERAL LEE.
Outline of What Is Necessary to Be
Done in Cuba.

Outline of What Is Necessary to Be
Done in Cuba.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.-Major General
Fitzhugh Lee, in command of the Seventh
Army Corps, at Jacksonville, was in con-
ference to-day with the President and the
War Department. He came here on a, spe-
cial telegraphic summons from Secretary
Alger and it was with the latter he con-
ferred for an hour with the President. Gen.
Lees experience as consul general at Ha
vana has given him an intimate knowledge
OF Cuban conditions which will be ayailed
of by the administration. 1t is generally
expected that he will head the military
commission which will adjust affairs in
Cuba and also he has been strongly urged
for the governorship of that island after the
functions of that commission cease On
both these points General Lee asserts he
knows nothing. He would not speak of the
subjects discussed as to the result of his
hasty trip here, beyond saying he has been
talking over matters in Cuba generally.
Then he added:
THE first work which will have to be
done in Cuba will be to make arrangements
by which all the municipal machinery can
be put in operation in ali the towns and
governmental machinery throughout the ISL
and for districts. There will have to be
military control, 1 suppose. until such
time as the people interested can organize
and put into operation government which
should be stable and slrong enough to i'm
partially protect the interests of Spaniards,
Americans, Cubans and the people of all
other nationalities now on the island or
who hereafter go there"
is there a probability of Spanish inter-
pcfS 4lo
THE Spanish property holders, merchants
and all other classes of Spaniards naturally
would unite with all the rest of the con-
sentative inhabitants for the preservation
of the interests of all the citizens, and I
think they will help the natives and the
Americans to maintain a strong, safe gov
eminent. This would be natural because no
class of people would be more interested
than they are in maintaining property and
all other rights The most difficult problem
to solve is the first organization of a pre-
liminary form of government as later the
island will be very rapidly Americanized.
and all such questions will take care of
themselves. AS to the probability of the
Cubans attaining a stable government L
presume that as soon as possible a procla-
nation will be issued setting apart a date
for the holding OF a general election for a
chief executive of the island and for legis-
lative body to which all matters affecting
the future of the island will be referred.
This executive body probably will adopt
constitution and make the proper laws to
put into operation the political form of gov
eminent. AS to the army of occupation
which will be necessary to maintain our
position with respect to Cuba, $4,000 men
will be ample to garrison the whole island.
OF this number possibly $4,000 would be sta
toned in and about Havana. Matanzas
would be the next most important point for
a garrison Other points should be regu-
lated by the possibilities of disorder that
might take place there, and the number of
troops at the various points will naturally
be governed by circumstances. Properly di-
rected Cuba will have a great commercial
future. Its unbounded and great resources
will be very rapidly developed by American
push, vigor and capital.
General Lee says he has no plans beyond
going back to Jacksonville to resume COM
mand of the Seventh Army Corps. He will
leave for that point Wednesday.