The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-13
Our Consul-GcneraI at Havana Mast
BE Accorded the same Privileges
as the German Consul.
A DIPLOMATIC CONTROVERSY
THAT MAY LEAD TO SERIOUS RE-
SUITS IF NOT SETTLED SOON.
Secretary OIney's Demand sasa 10 he
Peremptory-snanf. Pilot psax
Captured ~ Insursents.

NEW YORK. Oct IA dispatch % ths
World from Washington says: TIE rxcited
dispatches OF yesterday from Madifd are
explained by facts revealed here to-day.
What this government mas done has feen to
formally notify the spanish gover1.-ent that
action recently taken by IL in Hs y In
violation OF the treaty rights of s ,un-
try, and that for any damage 10 .Aiae rican
citizens or American dignity arsslng thsss~
from Spain will be held respon sible- The
circumstances are as follows:
Since Consul-general Williams compelled
Captain General Calleja, while Governor
General of Cuba. TO recognize the treaty OF
1877 in the case of Julio SangUilly. and by
so doing prevented the trial Of me latter by
a military court in Havana last February.
the Spanish government has been restive
over the question OF Mr.. williams's diplo-
matte authority. Senior Canovas. the Span
ish Prime Minister. after the subject WAS
fully considered at meeting or the Span
ish Ministry at which he presided in per-
son. decided to deprive Mr.. Williams Of all
diplomatic authority and confne him strict
ly to the purely commercial or' consular
privileges OF his Office. Accordingly. the
Spanish Minister of the Colonies instructed
Captain General Campos to inform Mr.. WI
ognized as possessing any authority TO
transact business with the Governor Gen
eral of Cuba upon other than commercial
matters. General Campos sent for Mr.. VIII
liams recently and communicated to him the
instructions from Spain.
Secretary Olney straightway prepared
State paper in which he disagreed entirely
with the conclusion of the Spanish Minis
ter. The action OF the latter was based
on the consular treaty existing beteween
Spain and the United States From this
treaty, signed I'm 1879, consular Offices did
not receive authority to cover any diplo-
matte questions The treaty with Spain.
however, specifies that United States con-
sular offices shall have all the rights and
privileges OF the most favored nation"
This affords the basis for Secretary Oh
ney's demand. The German govern<nent
has consular treaty with Spain by which
consuls and consuls-general may act as
diplomates IL circumstances demand. Sec
retary Olney informs Senior canovas- that
the United States demands that his gov
ernment concede the same privileges to
the United States consul-general that are
given to the consul-general OF Germany
The language OF Secretary Olney's dis
patch is said to be peremptory. Should an
American citizen be arrested at Havana
and subjected to trial by court-martial. or
should any case arise that calls for prompt
action by the consul-general. the refusal
of the local government TO recognize him
might lead TO DISASTROUS results.
A dispatch was sent from the ONCE Of
the World TO its staff correspondent In
Cuba directing him to call on Consul VII
lsams and obtain a statement from him
on the above subject. Mr.. Williams de-
chned to discuss the subject on the ground
that 1t was state matter. and that he
was not at liberty TO speak about II. He
admitted that General campos had informed
him he would not henceforth be recos-
nized by the government or the island on
any other than purely commercial and con-
sular matters.