Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-07
BECOMING DISCUSSED.
cubans and Spanish in Cuba Despair Of
Speedy Relief from Spanish Rule.

Havana, via Key West, Fla, Nov. 5.
delayed in Transmision).-The in
terregnum between Spain's virtual loss
of sovereignty in Cuba and the as
sumption of full military control by the
United States seems indefinitely pro-
longed. with no immediate hope of re-
lief to a country which daily grows
poorer and more depOpulated. On all
sides the question is asked: How
much nearer is the final solution of the
problem than it was on the day the
protocol was signed?" The feeling
among the better class of intelligent
and influential Cubans may be pretty
accurately summed up in the follow
ing observations made, today, by a rep
resentative Cuban merchant of Havana
to the correspondent of The Associated
Press:
TT seems to me-and 1 think my
views are shared by many-that the
United States government is dilly dali
lying too long with Spain over this
evacuation question. OF course the
problem is difficult one but the delay
is surely unnecessary. The United
States have sent here an assortment IF
commissioners, each more self-import-
ant and mysterious than it's predeces-
sor and each yelling it's operations with
a cloud of secrecy, which, so far as my
own experience goes, really serves the
purpose of obscuring issues and con-
eealing very small achievements.
Almost nothing has been accom-
plished. The spirit of jealousy fills not
only the individual members of al the
commissions, but also exists between
the different commissions collectively.
The rivalries seem to engross the at
tention of the commissioners much
more than the serious questions af-
fecting the welfare of Cuba and the
dignity and good faith of the United
| States.
First we are told that the date of
occupation of the United States troops
would be Nov. l; then Dec. l was fixed
upon, and later, we were informed that
the date of occupation would be left
indefinite. So far as evacuation is
concerned Jan. was named as an ul-
| innate date: but now ii is rumored
that February has been agreed upon.
| The fact is the country at large, es-
pecially commerce, whether Cuban or
Spanish, is getting Disguised. The
| pSOIiC AiS IOoiAS Adltn dHu COlluuCAGc
owing to the lack of formality display
ed by the American representatives..
To all questions asking information on
the points, the American commission
ers. with a superior smile and an as
sumption of gravity to cover their ig-
norance. reply vaguely and unsatis-
| factorily.
UNLESS the Washington government
forces it's lethargic commissions into
greater activity, Cuba will be an i'm
mense graveyard and it's fields barren
before the United States takes possess
sion. The daily records of mortality
show that the population in all parts
of the island is dwindling steadily.
Entire villages are dying of starvation.
On all sides the Spaniards continue
robbing and plundering. In the mean
time these sage, gossiping commission
ers of the United States sit slipping
cool drinks by day and seeking shelter
by night with mortal dread of fever,
yet absolutely impervious to the de-
mands of humanity.
''The situation created by this uncer-
/ tainty. is still further aggravated by the
fact that no one dares SOW crops or Gull
tivate lands until the present chaotic
condition shows some rays of light to