The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-02
Why WILLIAMS RESIGNED.
HE INSISTED ON CIVIL TRIALS IN
CUBA FOR AMERICANS.
On This Account, He Became Persona
Non-Grata -Eie Tells Of Diff
CuIhes Encountered.

New York, Dee t--Ramon O. VIII
iams, formerly United States Consul
General at Havana, arrived to-day on the
steamer Werra, from Gibraltar Mr. VIII
Iiams said that his visit to Spain was not
in connection with any diplomatic mis-
sion, but purely for pleasure.
Mr. Williams consented to talk for the
first time concerning the circumstances
Of his resignation from Office last year,
which was surrounded by some mystery
and the reasons for which have not be-
fore been made public There was talk
at the time that Mr.. Williams and Sec
rotary Of State Gresham differed regard
inE the policy Of this government toward
American citizens, but General Williams
declined to discuss that point
lie said that his resignation was given
because his activity in the cases Of
American citizens under arrest made
him persona non grata to Spanish gov
eminent and made his residence In
Havana unpleasant The particular
episode in which Mr.. Williams incurred
the dislike of Spain, he says was his
LtlHl6tIUNt thNb totiIE ltilSg AA0AA1t anu
Garlic who were arrested February "a,
1895. as insurgents and court-martial-
ed should be tried in the civil courts un-
der article seven, Of the treaty Of 1895.
Mr. Williams said, "bOth the Captain
General and the Insuar Secretary of
State were entirely ignorant Of the ex-
istence of article seven. The Captain
General became offended because / de-
4
il Jurisdiction and the case was reported
in such a matter to the Madrid govern
ment as to almost provoke the revocation
of my exequator.
~ was guided in this by recollection
of former cases which had come under
my notice IN Cuba / was a young man
employed as clerk in Havana in 1851,
when the Critteuden men were shot, re-
gordless OF the treaty Of 1895. | was
merchant in Havana when the FTginius
men were shot in 1878, an almost similar
case
Again, while l was there Zeccanea,
an italian American citizen, who had
gone representing certain Spanish ele-
ments, to negotiate terms OF peace with
the insurgents in the Eastern department..
during the last insurrection in 1873,
was arrested by the Spanish forces,
tried by court martial, condemned to
death and shot in the fort at Cabanas.
where Sanguiily and the competitors are
now held, regardless of the safeguards of
| the trslty Of 1895 and the safe conduct
given to him by the Spanish Minister at
Washington. The recollection of these
| cases enabled me to make qpick and earn
est defence of these men, and il was this
action on my part that gave offence TO
the Spanish authorities at Cuba.
Il was then in Washington. Acting on
the rule that no man of self-respect would
want to return to, or enter any place
where he believes he is persona non grata,
| and, therefore, not welcome / resolved
not to continue longer in the position of
Consul General to the island, and signified
my desire to resign The circumstances,
however, were of such a character that
/ went back to Havana, resumed charge
OF the Office and continued the defence Of
Sanguilly until the case was transferred
to the civil courts
"A few weeks before this the case of
| the American citizen Jose Cepro, who had
been arrested and subjected to court mar
tial, and several other American citizens,
had been treated the same way, and in
consequence / was not able to present my
resignation III due form until February,
1896"
Mr. Villains said that he returned to
Havana only on the earnest solicitations
of President Cleveland himself. and add
ed that Secretary Gresham's sickness and
death occurred too soon to admit if his
presenting to the ex-Secretary his views
on the matter.