The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-04
Mr.. WILLIAMS RESIGNS.
Report that the United States Consul eaa.s
ks sral at Havana Has Tired Of Office. III VI
IN ACTIVE SERVICE FOR rs YEARS.
Astonishment Expressed at HIS.
Course ut This Criticai nomeass
with spnin-Tae secret Carefully
Guarded mt tiae state Depnrtmens--
Various Reasons Assigned.

Washington, D. c.. March 3-The re-
port thDt Ramon o. Williams had ten-s
uered his resignation as United States;
Consul General at Havana cannot be
confirmed officially, but it Is understood
on excellent authority that 1t is true
and that the letter Of resignation yaa
delivered at the State Department. with
IN the past three days. The desire OF
Mr. Williams to withdraw from the
consular service at this critical aspect
OF the relations Of Spain and the United
states Is somewhat surprising, particu-S
larly as he returned to Cuba not many
months ago with the UNDERSTANDING an
1t was supposed here. that he would re-. !
main until the insurrection reached
some definite settlement. 1t was under-
$1,000 at that time that he had become
persona non grata to the Spanish au-
thorities In Cuba. 1t was said that
while this was put forward unofficfally
as q reason for Mr.. Williams desired re-
tirement, another potent factor In his u
unpopularity was his insistence uponE
the rights Of American citizens to fair
trial and treatment in Cuba On this
latter question az to the rights Of the
United States Consul General to act
I'm quasi diplomatic capacity and pre-
sent remonstrances to the Captain Gen-i
eral of Cubn when the liberties Of Amer-y
lean citizens were involved. some very,
pointed correspondence took place be-
tween Secretary Olney and the Spanish
Minister at Washington.
In letter dated September 26. 1896, 4
and laid before Congress by the Presl-
dent February 11th, Secretary O1ney dis. .
tinctly asserted the right OF the Consul 4
General to make representations where
the rights Of his countrymen were In
volved simply as the local depository
and delegate Of the sovereign power for
the purposes and to the extent of the
usages affected by treaty" and he said /
TO the Spanish Minister; IT address thissl
not TO you In the expectation that the y
direct, relations known to exist between;S Ii
yourself and the superior authority ila
Cuba Will enable you to set the GoYernoTE
General right upon this important S
point" r-"i. s. .sl2
The Governor-General was set right
and Consul-General Williams, who
awaited a decision on Nils matter at, hisH
home In Brooklyn, NJ Y. returned TO hiss
posi- OF duty with n distinct recognitionS
OF his powers of remonstrance In fhs&
name OF the United States.
Mr.. Williams came on to Washinefonj 4
in response to request and at the solisSi
citation. as 1t Is understood, of the Presi-sSS
dent and the Secretary OF State, decided
to return to his post Y3Sssali5g
Mr.. Williams has been In continuousiS
service In a consular capacity at EIassSt
Vana since 1874. He, of course speakffa
Spanish and has discharged the dut;asS
OF his position with marked abhityA
though alternately charged with fayof-5
Ing first one side and then the other IfIis
the insurrectlonary trouble on the Island siS
The precise reason for his resienatfona
III this time is a secret carefully guarded
at the State Department