Omaha daily bee., 1895-10-13
TO NE HE'LL TO A STRICT ACCOUNT.
spain Must Observe Treaty Rights or
suffer the Conscnncnccs.

~ ~
NEW YORK, oct. IA special 10 the
World from Washington says; "The excited
dispatches Of yesterday from Madrid are ex-
planned by facts revealed here today. What
this government has done has been to for
mally notify the Spanish government that
action recently taken by it In Havana is in
violation of the treaty rights OF this coun-
try, and that for any damage to American
citizens or American dignitaries therefrom
Spain will be held responsible. Since General
Williams compelled Captain C%alleJa. while
governor general of Cuba, to recognize the
treaty Of 1877 in the case Of Julio Sanguil,y.
and by so doing prevented the trial OF the
latter by a military court in Havana last Feb
ruary, the Spanish government has been
FESTIVE over the question Of Mr.. Williams
diplomatic authority.
"Senor Canovas. the Spanish prime min
lister, after the subject was fully considered
at a meeting of the Spanish ministry, at
which he presided in person, decided to de-
prive Mr.. Williams Of all diplomatic au-
thority and conine him strictly to the purely
commercial or consular privileges of his of
flee. Accordingly the Spanish minister OF
colonies instructed General Campos to inform
Mr.. Williams that henceforth he would not
be recognized as possessing any authority to
transact business with the governor general
OF Cuba upon other than commercial matters.
General Campos recently sent for Mr.. Will
lams ana communicated 10 MN the lnstruC-
lions from Spain.
Secretary Olney straightway prepared a
state paper in which he disagreed entirely
with the conclusion Of the Spanish minister.
The action Of the latter was based on the con-
sular treaty existing between Spain and the
United States. From this treaty, signed in
1893, consular officers did not receive au-
thorlty to cover any diplomatic missions. The
treaty with Spain, however, specifies that
United States consular officers shall have all
the rights and privileges of the most favored
nations This affords the basis for Secretary
Olney's demand. The German government
has a consular treaty with Spain in wnich the
consuls and the consul general may act as
diplomats II the circumstances demand. Sec
rotary Olney informs Senior Canovas that the
United States demands that his gov
eminent concede the same privileges to
the United States consul general that are
given to the consul general of Germany. The
language of Secretary O,ney's dispatch is said
to be peremptory. Should an American citi-
zen be arrested at Havana and subjected to
trial by court martial, or should any case
arise that calls for prompt action by the con-
sui general. the refusal of the local govern
ment to recognize him might lead to disas-
trous results"
stan correspondent In Cuba, directing him to
call on Consul General Williams and obtain
a statement from him on the above subject.
The following reply was received:
Matter was submitted 10 Mr.. Williams
He declined to discuss the subject on the
ground that 1t was a state secret and that he
was not at liberty to speak about 1t. He ad-
mitted that General Campos had informed
him that ne would not henceforth be recog-
nized by the government of the island in any
other than purely commercial and consular
matters"