Evening star., 1895-03-07
Surprise at the Reported Demand for
His Recall.
FIRST SENT TO HAVANA BY GRANT
What is Thought Here as to the
Cause of the Trouble.
NO OFFICIAL INFORMATION

A press dispatch from Madrid of yester-
day says that Captain General Calleja
of Cuba has demanded the recall of Mr..
Williams, United States consul general at
Cuba, and that the demand was supported
at a meeting of the Spanish cabinet last
night.
Surprised Mt the Announcements.
This announcement of the action of the
Spanish government in Mr.. Williams case
created great surprise in official circles
here. The consul general has the highest
reputation for efficiency in his duties, which
are more onerous than those of any other
consular post, and moreover he has always
been on the best Of terms with the Cuban
officials during the many years he has been
at Havana. Mr.. Williams is about sixty
years of age. He was born in this city near
the navy yard, and went to Cuba when a
mere boy to engage in mercantile pursuits.
He built up large business, and Is re-
puted to have accumulated fortune. His
residence while in the United States has
been in Brooklyn, and he is credited in his
appointment to the state Of New York.
irst Sent to Havana by Gen. Grant.
He was appointed vice consul at Havana
by President Grant in 1874, while Mr..
Henry Hall was the consul general When
Gen. Badeau became consul general In
1884 he resigned his place, but within a
few months Gen. Badeau having in turn
resigned; by request, Mr.. Williams was
made consul general in July, 1884 by Presi-
dent Arthur. He has held the place ever
since without regard to political changes in
the administration, owing, 1t is said, to
his high abilities as consular officer. In
addition to his consular duties Mr.. Will
liams has been charged, from time to
time, with duties of a diplomatic nature
such as the protection Of American citizens
in Cuba, there being no United States min
lister on the island, and the State Depart
ment has communicated directly with him
in such cases. instead of acting through
the United States minister resident at
Madrid.
Probable Cause of the Difficulty.
1t is surmised here that 1t was in the
discharge Of just such function that Mr..
Williams has become persona non grata,
as the diplomatic term Is, toward the
Spanish government. He was very recent
ly directed by Secretary Gresham to see
to it that the American citizen Aguirre.
charged with participation in the present
rebellion in Cuba, had fair trial. The
Spanish officials were about to try the man
by court-martial. but yielded so far to the
cCESul generals representations as to ac-
cord him a trial by civil process, as pro-
vided for by treaty. 1t Is possible that by
liams has made himself obnoxious to the
Spaniards.
No Real Diplomatic Standing.
AS he is a consular officer, and has no
real diplomatic standing, he exercises his
functions at Havana only by consent Of
the Spanish government, and, If SO dis
posed, the government could terminate his
connection at short notice by simply with
drawing his exequatur, or written recog-
milton Of his right to act as consul gen.
eral. If the Spanish government decided
to do this, they would be under no obliga-
ton to offer any reason for its action be-
Williams was persona non grata. But
such a course would be likely to leave a
feeling of irritation on the part Of the
United States government toward Spain,
and from the shape the matter has taken
at Madrid it is believed that the Spanish
government would be more likely to in
innate to our own government that 1t de-
sired the withdrawal of Mr.. Williams,
hint that would be promptly followed, pro-
vided the reason assigned did not concern
the action of the officer in the strict line Of
his Instructions.
Importance of the Office.
1t is said at the State Department that
the Havana corsular office is the busiest in
the entire service the correspondence be-
ing more voluminous and the cases arising
for adjudication being more numerous than
elsewhere. The salary of the cbnsul gen.
eral is fixed at 5000 per annum, but in ad-
dition there are many unofficial fees which
go to the consul general, bringing the total
compensation of the place to about $4,000
or 12,OOO yearly.
The Spanish minister Is out of the city,
and the officials at the legation said they
had no information touching the case of
Mr.. Williams. The State Department off,
cials said, also that they had no knowledge
whatever on the subject.