Evening journal., 1896-11-03
WHY LEE LEFT HAVANA.
Rumor Of Strained Relations
Over Competitor Case.
IS A CRISIS IN CUBA IMMINENTq

Cubans Declare rhas Grave Notes Passed
Between WeyIer ana tho Consul GEN
erai-Lee Reported to Have said lie
Might Return 60 Cubn on a warship.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Nov. 3-Cuban
leaders horo and IN Key Wost doolore thot
thoy have rollabla information that tho
relations of the United statos and snnin
haSe reached crisis and that develop
ments of great International importance
In regard 60 Cuba may be expected within
tho next month.
Adyicos received here from Havana arc
TO The oiiccs that The departure OF Consul
General Leo for Washington was caused
by this crisis and chat his report to presi-
dent Cleveland will he of such character
that it viii almost certainly result in ao-
tlon being taken by the United states Il
Is understood that the case Of the Com
petitor prisoners was She Immediate cause
Of the departure Of General Lee.
The Spanish authorities have been dis
posed to proceed in high handed way I'm
regard TO these prisoners and without re-
gard to treaty rights After the court at
Madrid set aside the sentence OF death inn
posed ON these prisoners by the FIRST court
martial It was understood that they would
be given O civil trial. Instead OF this, how
ever. Captain Labordo, tho American cor
respondent Melton; and the othor Com.
pettor prisoners were reoontly summoned
before % naval court nc Havana and re-
quired TO file written declarations as pre-
lminary TO now court martial The
prisoners, however refused to make any
statement save in the presence Of General
Lee.
General Lee had not been advised by
Captain General Weyler that tho prisoners
would be retired, but as soon as the con-
sui learned unoiicially what was going on
and that the case had been called for mill
tary and not for civil consideration ho
sent an energetic note TO Captain General
Moylcr protesting against any retrial not
In acoordancSwith treaty stipulations and
entering exceptions TO the proceedings as
inaugurated. Captain General Weyler
eyadod making any direct response, plead
ing lack Of authority TO treat on diplomat
ic matters and questioning General Lees
right TO discuss matters which it had been
the custom TO submit to Madrid for settle
ment by the American minister and tho
Spanish foreign Office.
Lees Second Note to weyler.
General Leo then sent Captain General
Weyler a second note, more energetic than
the first in which he reiterated his pre-
vious objections and in addition strongly
hinted that the Irregular proceeding if
not remedied, would prevent the United
States from recognizing in any way the
validity of tho new trial. Captain General
Weyler did not answer this note but short
ly aftorward the court martial proceedings,
which had been instituted in the Cabanas
fortress were suspended
Captain General Weyler then requested
General Lee TO furnish proof that Melton
and the other Competitor prisoners wero
American citizens Before replying, Gem
eral Lee oahled TO Secretary Olney As
soon as Secretary Olney, answered General
Leo sent note to Captain General Weyler
stating that tho prisoners having beon
captured at sea on board of a vessel flying
the American flag. no must consider them
all under American protection. even in
the absence of specific individual certih-
Gates, and, no arms having been found in
their possession, all were equally entitled
to civil trial
Again and again Captain General Wey-
Ter requested General Lee TO furnish proof
that tho prisoners were American citizens,
and as often the consul replied, ''They
were all captured under the American
flag and they are all under the protection
Of that flag" Captain General Weyler
then proposed to allow the correspondent,
Melton, to go free, but to punish the 9TH
ers. General Lee again replied that he
could make no distinction, as the Ameri-
can flag was over them all
In the meanwhile General Leo and Sec.
retary Olney were in constant cable CORE
spondence about the matter, and the con-
sui general was finally ordered to Wash
ington.
For diplomatic reasons Consul General
Lee would probably deny it, but it is a
fact nevertheless that be said to an inti-
mate friend before leaving for the United
States, 1T would not surprise me II I
should return TO Havana on a warship."
The Cuban leaders here are jubilant, as
they say that the result win be either in
tervention by the United States or an ig-
nominious baokdown on the part Of Spain,
which would destroy what little prestige
she has left