Page:Messages of the President of the United States on the Relations of the United States to Spain (1898).djvu/67

 38 That the Spanish Government has made a most energetic and thorough campaign to make autonomy successful there is no room for doubt. Personal appeals of provincial governors and other important officers have been made earnestly and often to the same individuals. * * * Wholesale removals of Spanish officers from civil positions are made by sweeping orders, with instructions to fill their places with Cuban autonomists. About a week since there came an order dismissing every employee of the custom-house in this city, to take effect as soon as proper autonomists could be found to fill their places.

As yet only two have been named, the collector and first deputy. Against these a strong remonstrance was at once sent in, so the entire old corps are still in place.

The newly appointed provincial governor, Lopez Chavez, has been here for several days, but as yet has not taken charge of the office.

In many cases where Cubans are anticipating the acceptance of an office they have sent to the field to ask permission from insurgent officers.

It will be seen that Cubans are moving very slow in accepting autonomy.

It is given out that sometime in the month of February there will be an election held for the purpose of electing sixty members of the Cuban assembly and eighteen members of the council of administration, while seventeen additional ones are to be appointed by the Governor-General. The lines are supposed to be drawn for or against autonomy. Cuban leaders declare they will neither make nominations nor go near the polls; so, if they adhere to their purpose, it will be no test of strength, and no recognition of the result will be taken by the men in the field.

Numerous dead bodies at the cemetery are carried over from day to day because the sexton is unable to bury them with his present corps of assistants as fast as they come.

Very respectfully,

United States Consul.

Santiago de Cuba, January 12, 1898.

I deem it a duty to lay before the honorable Department of State the situation here as affecting American interests, and to inclose herewith an order issued by command of Gen. Maximo Gomez, and a translation of the same, forbidding the grinding of the sugar crop for the years 1897 and 1898.

In this part of Cuba, so far as I can learn, all idea of making a sugar crop is entirely abandoned.

I regret to say that the stoppage of industries, from present appearances, will not halt at the sugar crop, but coffee and other agricultural crops fall under the same ban.

I had hoped that after the reconcentration order was revoked, through the energetic action of the present administration, we would find no trouble in reinstating American industries; but it appears that all of the benefits that should have accrued to our citizens are thwarted