The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-12

olCU6C1Ou On the lSiaQQ.
Washington, April 1.-THE consul
correspondence with regard to the sit
uation in Cuba, which was transmitted
today. was prepared in response to
resolutions of inquiry adopted by both
the house and senate. The correspond
ence was prepared for the transmission
to congress just before the blowing up
of the Maine. and being held back since
then, now includes communications of
General Lee at Havana, Consul McGars
at Cienfuegos. Consul Brice at Matan-
zas. Consul Hyatt at Santiago de Cuba
and Consul Barker at Sagua ia Grande.
The communications made about
$4,000 words. They deal largely with
distress and suffering. which exists in
all the districts. but General Lee re-
ports quite fully upon the DEGREES of
the government with regard to auton-
omy and other political phases of the
situation. In preparing the CORE
spondence for transmission to congress
considerable portions of the important
communications, and especially those
marked confidential. are omitted. The
resolutions to which they are the re-
Spouse, asked only for such CORE
spondence as it was not deemed incOm-
patible with the public interest to make
public. General Lees correspondence
runs over the period from Nov. II. 1891.
to April, 1898.
Much of the correspondence is of a
confidential nature. and of some of the
important communications excerpts
only are given.
NO REFERENCE TO MAINE.
The period of the correspondence from
the blowing up of the Maine contains
no reference to that event, such COM
munications probably being deemed ir-
relevant to the purpose of the resolu-
ton calling for the consular correspond
ence in the possession of the govern
ment as to the situation of affairs in
Cuba
The first dispatch from General Lee
contains General Blanco's order and
date of Nov. 10, repeating, or rather
modifying, General Weyler's order Of
concentration. which has heretofore
been published by the press.
This order was made shortly after
General Lee returned TO Havana from
the United States last fall. General Lee,
in this communication, also enclosed
the proclamation of ]. NJ. Rodriguez,
major general in charge Of the western
department of eae Cuban military oper-
atoms, addressed to the Cuban people,
and informing them of the firm reso-
luton" of the insurgent army to con-
tinue fighting until the attainment of
absolute independence. 1t was on Nov.
% that Consul General Lee made his
first report to the department of state
on the condition of affairs in Cuba. 1t
was as follows:
United States Consulate General, Ha-
vana, Nov. 13, 1897:
"Sir-I have the honor to briefly SUBJ
nit a statement of what appears to be
the present condition OF affairs in this
island:
'First-The insurgents will not ac-
cept autonomy.
''Second-A large majority of the
Spanish subjects, who have commercial
and business interests and own prop
erty here, will not accept autonomy:
prefer annexation to the United States
rather than an independent republic or
genuine autonomy and the Spanish flag.
"Third-The Spanish authorities are
sincere in doing all in their rover to
protect and promote the
grinding Of sugar; the grinding season
commences in December.
'Fourti-The insurgent leaders have
given instructions to prevent grinding
wherever it can be done, because by d.
the export of sugar the
Spanish revenues are decreased. 1t
would be very difficult for the Spanish
to prevent cane burning. be-
cause one man at night can start a
fire, which will burn hundreds of acres.
Just as a single individual could light
a prairie by throwing a match into the
dry grass.
"Fifth-I am confident that General
Blanco and General Pando. his chief of
staff, as well as DR.. Congosto, the sec
rotary general. with all of whom have
had conversations, are perfectly con-
scientious in their desire to relieve the
distress of those suffering from the eff
fects of Weyler's Recommendation order.
but. unfortunately, they have not the
means to carry cut such benevolent
purposes. : In. this city matters
are assuming better shape under char
table committees, etc, large numbers
being now cared for and fed by private
/ witnessed many terrible scenes and
saw some die while i was present.
am told General Blanco will give $780,
300 to the relief fund.
HAVANA'S LIVING GRAVES.
Nov 81 General Lee sent to the de-
partment the communications of two
gentlemen whose names, he says, are
for obvious reasons, but
whom he knows personally, as stand
ing high in the community, concerning
the condition in Los Fosos (the ditches)
in Havana. The communication says,
among other things:
-Four hundred and sixty women and
children thrown on the ground, heaped 4
as animals, some in dying
condition. others sick, others dead, !
the slightest cleanliness or the |
east help, not able to give water to /
he thirsty, without religious or social |
help, each one dying wherever chance /
aid him."
The communication goes on to state
hat the deaths among these reconcen-
radios averaged 40 or so daily, and that |
IN an average there were but ten days |
# life for each person. 1t says that |
hese unhappy creatures received food !
,nly after having been eight days in |
he bitches, during which time they /
we're obliged to suksist upon the bad |
God which the dying had refused. !
some horrible instances OF distress wit |
lessed are given.
HORRIBLE INSTANCES.
Among the many we saw" says the /
there was seen one |
impossible to forget. There is still alive |
he only witness, a young girl of IS, l
whom we found. seemingly lifeless on |
he ground On her right side was the I