The evening times., 1902-07-08
GENERAL LEE ON THE
FUTURE OF CUBA
Doubtful If the Island viii Prosper
Under Independent Republican
Government.

situation ana cOndltlODS III Subd-
Unless confidence is restored in the
stability of their government, said
General Lee, and the financial situa-
tion Is improved, the result viii be an
archy and annexation, for one involves
the other"
General Lee could see nothing but hard
knocks for the Cuban government, with
the result Of internal trouble, which
would mean interference by the United
States. the hoisting Of the American fag,
which would stay put"
There IS no direct taxation IN the
island" said General Lee. 'Al the
revenues. he added. ARE derived from
customs receipts. During the occupancy
Of the island by the American forces
the revenue receipts were very large,
but since the withdrawal OF American
authority the customs receipts have
dwindled perceptibly. American mer-
chants, It seems, have little X any con-
ddence IN the new republic. They are
afraid to ship their goods into Cuban
ports. and It is this as much as any
thing else, that makes the future OF the
Cuban government look so black.
"Our merchants are not willing to risk
sending goods to Cuban merchants, said
General Lee. when domestic troubles
may break out az any moment and the
goods be seized by q mob. There is a
murmur OF discomfort among the ne
groes In the island The negroes, per
haps," ne added, have some tustifca-
tion for this complaint against the new
republic. They claim not to have been
treated fair by those In authority IN the
distribution Of the spoils. Maceo, the
negro, was one OF the very best OF the
Cuban generals, and rendered effective
/ service In the war for Cuban independ-
ence, and according 70 all accounts Ma
Geo and his followers have been ignored
by the Cuban government"
Just how soon trouble would break out
General Lee was not prepared to say,
/ but it might occur at any moment
/ II the Cuban government, General Lee
/ said. could ever establish confidence IN
1 Its stability and demonstrate that life
and property were safe there would be
no end TO American capital that would
/ seek investment in the island.
For" the general remarked, no
! country in the world can exceed Cuba
/ In the production Of sugar and tobacco.
/ Cuba is rich IA natural resources, and
only needs capital for its development ''
AS 10 the question OF annexation, Gen
/ eral Lee did not care to commit him
self beyond saying that It would be bet
ter IL the proposition were advanced by
the Cuban government Continuing.
General Lee said:
Another source Of trouble lies IN the
direction Of the claims Of the ex-soldiers
Of the Cuban army for pay for services
during the war against Spain. When /
/ was consul general there I was fre-
queEtly obliged to make estimates of
the number OF Cubans engaged in the
war, which l submitted to the authori-
ties IL Washington. and I was under the
impression at that time that, If all the
Cubans could be concentrated at one
point instead Of being scattered all over
the island from Santiago province 70
Pinar del Rio :beir number would not
exceed 3s. 900 OF 90. 000 I am Informed
there IS nearly double that number now
on the pay rolls. impatiently waiting for
their money from the Cuban treasury,
and as that treasury is becoming small
er and smaller their chances Of being
paid are becoming less and less.
Then, too, there seems TO be a deficit
! In the municipal budgets. making it more
difficult to compensate those who holl
Office. such as the school teachers, for
instance. All this may result before
6 IN, 4T-a Ill Of -,
and the charitable institutions OF the
island. which were so greatly encour-
aged and nOurished by the American
military government. Ali our good work
in that direction may be undone.
Again, If the money Is not forthcom-
ing the sanitation of the cities must in
evitably be neglected, and the great
work OF the United States Government
in that line may be lost entirely. I be-
lieve the Cuban President is an honest
conscientious. and kind-hearted official
but he does not necessarily know mucF
about government, not having had any
experience In that direction, and I no
tfce he is already charged with the exer-
else Of power which would legitlmatelJ
devolve upon military governor Of the
island. but should not be exercised by
, the President of 8 free and independent
republic
IF Cuba fails to find a market for he1
two great products, sugar and tobacco.
added General Lee ct means that nc
,Temunerative results will follow the sale
OF the sugar now on hand. and win NEAR
also that many persons viii be prevent
ed from planting another crop for an
other year. AS under the PIatt amend
ment We have guided the destiny of tbs
island thus far, it seems to me that il
is fair and proper for US to grant reci-
procity to the Cubans for, as is claimed
, it will enable the sugar producers tc
plant and sell at profitable figures Tr
my humble opinion if We do not grant
the Cubans reciprocity. the number o
unemployed Iaborers in the island vii
be greatly increased That means dis,
) content among a class of people which
can easily BE nodded into mobs 10 ere
ate trouble
The newspapers report that tbs
: largest line Of steamers doing business
between Cuba and the United States has
. Just placed three of It's most commo
dIous steamers out Of commission. OF
the ground that they carry nothing tC
: Cuba and bring nothing away. Thi:
, shows a very serious shrinkage Of corr
merce between the two countries, ana
In view Of these facts, It can readily be
seen that President Estrada Palma VII
have his hands fun in the next feE