The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-04-14

Washington, April ia synopsis of the
consular correspondence with regard to the
situation In Cuba was transmitted to congress
eo-oay. 1t was prepared in response to resolu-
lions OF inquiry by both house and senate.
Lees First Report.
1t was on Nov. ed that Consul General
Lee made his first report to the department OF
state on the condition of affairs in Cuba 1t
is folows
NOV: Both. United States consulate gen.
honor to briefly submit a statement of what
appears to be the present condition of affairs
"First-The insurgents will not accept auton-
ony.
''second-A large majority of the Spanish
subjects who have commercial interests and
own property will not accept autonomy but
prefer annexation to the United States, rather
under the Spanish flag.
Ihird-The Spanish authorities are doing
al In their power encourage, protect and pro-
Ing season commences in December
fourth-The insurgent leaders have given
instructions to prevent grinding wherever it
can De done, because by preventing the export
OF sugar the Spanish revenues are decreased.
1t will be very difficult for the Spanish au-
man at night can start fire which will burn
hundreds of acres just a single Individual
could ignite prairie by throwing match
"Fifth-I am confident that Gen. Blanco and
Pando. his chief of staff, we'll as DR..
Conosto the secretary general, with all whom
I have had conversations, are perfectly con-
scientious in their desire to relieve the dis
tress of those suffering from the effects Of
Weylers RECOMMENDATION order, but unfortu-
natey they have not the to carry out
euch benevolent purposes.
In this vicinity matters are assuming bet
Ter shape under charitable committees, ETC.
Aarge numbers are now cared for and fed by
private subscriptions I witnessed
many terrible scenes, and some died while I
was present 1 am told Gen. Blanco will give
'$lOo,OOO to the relief fund.
Testimony of 1, spaniard.
On December Gen. Lee sends another
communication containing the statements Of
Cen Canalejas. the editor of the Madrid HI
HeraIdo, who had jus, returned from Pi1.ar
aer Rio latte after the conflict of the Spanish
FORCES under Gen. Felasco and the Cuban
forces under Diaz in which Canalejas was
quoted as saving that the Spanish forces had
"dlspiayed their usual valor, but that the prov
lnce was pacifed that out of 1900 Spanish
troops only between three and four thousand
q, s were ape TO operate, the remainder being
SICK at hospitals or in prisons and towns:
that ne Deheved autonomy premature and was
inclined to the adoption OF energetic military
action for the purpose Of pacifying the prov
ance; that the truth should be known in
spain where public opinion and the press
taao 1een deceived regarding the war and the
'so-called pacificaton of the Western provinces
Ohuer Dec. Ith Gen. Lee sent a communi-
cation to the department regarding the meas
ures Tor the relief of the reconcentrados much
= OF which is not made public. In the portion
given out Gen. Lee says
~ sec 10 e4lects or the governmental dis
.NS1rloution to the reconcentrados. I am in
Mformed that only $4,000 in Spanish silver has
beeE delivered to the Havana province out of
the 100000 said to have been set aside for
the purpose Of relieving those On the island
Reports from all parts of the province show
f that fifty per cent have already died and
many these of them left will die and many
OF these are women and children.
AS to Autonomy.
The condition of these people is simply ter
Tine; hear Of much suffering in the Spanish
ant of n,I
the island, am told there is a scarcity of
1000 for soldiers and citizens and that even
cats are used for food purposes. 1t is fair
inference to draw from existing conditions that
At is not possible for the governor general to
IeheVe the present situation with the means
at his disposal
p On Dec. 18th came the following:
me contest for and against autonomy is a
most unequal one. For it there are five or six
mead officers at the palace and twenty or
thirty persons here in the city against it,
flrst are the insurgents with without
arms, ana the Cuban noncombatants second
the great mass OF the Spaniards, bearing or
nonbearing arms-the latter desiring, if there
must must be change, annexation to the United
states; indeed, there is the freest apathy con-
corning autonomy in any form, no one asks
what it will be or how it will come
Dec. 18th, Gen. Lee sends another COM
munication saying that the total number Of
reconcentrados in Havana province will reach
100000 and that the death rate from starya-
tlon Will be over ten per cent. For the relief
or these people he said $4,000 in silver have
been set apart,
cation about the new scheme of autonomy
He says that he has been informed that the
authorltles are engaged in forcing autono-
MYSTIC cabinet and arranging for the mem
bers TO take the required oath June l. and
fave an election thirty days thereafter.
FROM my present information most of the
Spaniards will refrain from voting and near
~ all the Cubans, the Cubans desiring an
independent republic, and the Soaniards RE-
ferring annexation to the United states r;,ther
than autonomy. On the night of the 14th
inst there seems to have been concerte1 Nav
tn jfIyt he
the people to the proposed autoncmlstic plan
of the Spanish government
He goes to describe how it culmnates
about two o'clock the mo..nn, of the 25th
when mob assembled in the principal square
"Death to Autonomyn
and viva Weyler." He says the men in the
MOB had stones in their pockets, and some of
them armed with weapons They made
demonstration, too, against the office of the
Diaro De Larmarin. paper published in this
TOW favorng autonomy. but were disposed by
the military police and soldiers
me same day Gen. Lee acknowledges the
receipt of President McKinley's proclamation
to make charitable contributions for the relief
Of the sufferinGs. Then Gen. Lee makes the
following statement: = ! r.. =
!, nave the honor to state a matter Of
public interest that the reconcentrado order
Of Gen. Weyler, former governor general of
this island transformed about 400, 600 self-sup-
porting people, principally women and children
into a multitude, to be sustained by the con-
tributions of others or die of starvation, or of
81 fevers resulting from a low physical condition
and being massed in large bodies without
change Of clothing and without food Their
homes were burned. their fields and plant beds
destroyed, and their livestock driven away or
killed. The estimate that probably 200. 900 of
the rural population in the province of Pinar
Del Rio and Matanzas and Santa Clara have
died of starvation or from resultant causes
and the deaths of whole families almost SIM
ultaneously or within a few. days of each other
and of mothers praying for their children to
be relieved of the horrible surroundings by
death are not the least of the many pitable
scenes which are ever present. In the provinces
OF Puerto Principe and Santiago de Ctba
where the "reconcentrado order could not be
enforced the great mass Of the people are self
sustaining. ~, y. .-.e. -" ts.. IT.
"a daily average Of ten cents worth Of food
8 to 10000 people would be an expenditure Of
COO pa- day. and Of course the most hui
name efforts on the par tot cur citizens cannot
hi to accomplish such gigantic relief and
a grt at portion of these people will have to be-
The Recent Riots.
abaIlGoned to tt cir fate"
Gen. Lee enclosed in this communication an
editorial to the Dfsrro Marina, which Vigorous
~ denounced the '.seditious tlmut'' of the day
before as victory for Gomez and the enemies
of Spain On the sa me day he also sent to- the