Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-13

time of denial. still in Office and the con-
victien obtained, based not only on these
denials, but on certain expressions let fall
by Mr.. Williams during his visit in Wash
ington last year. that his resignation has
Eeen at the disposal of the President for
Scme time past.
1t is known that Mr.. Williams has been
cesirous Of surrendering his office, having
accumulated private fortune, being in
terested in private business ventures that
require much of his attention, and, more
than all else, being thoroughly tired of the
official duties Of the place. Touching the
manner in which he has discharged those
duties, the officials Of the State Depart
ment are full Of praise, and say that Mr..
Williams leaves the consular service with
officer of the United States. He has been
twenty-five years in this service, having
been appointed, in 1874. vice consul general
at Havana, and promoted to be consul gen.
District OF Columbia, and was appointed
f,onn. New York. His family lives in
Bl ooklyn. -'~
Significance of the Choice.
The selection Of Fitzhugh Lee to succeed
Gen. Williams as consul general at
Havana is regarded as indicating a deter
mination on the part of Mr.. Cleveland to
make an extra effort to ascertain the exact
state of affairs In Cuba. 1t appears that
the SelecllOn was mdue without reference
to either the Senators or Representatives
of Virginia, and was a personal appoint
ment of Mr.. Cleveland himself 1t is known
that Mr.. Cleveland is not satisfied with
the information the State Department has
thus far been able to get, and the impress
sion was that he intended to send secret
commissioner, properly accredited to the
Spanish government, to make COM
plete investigation of the situation. Gen.
Williams has been regarded as friendly to
the Spanish, and 1t has been complained
by the friends of Cuba that If the admin
fstration had no information which would
warrant the recognition of belligerency it
was because our consul general inclined too
much toward the Spanish side.
In appointing FitZnugh Lee to this posi-
ton the President places a man at the
tion and judgment he has the utmost conf
dence.
Gen. Lee to Investigate.
It is not thought that General Lee has
formed any fixed opinion on the general
subject, but it is believed that his natural
sympathies are with the Cubans It is
probable that his appointment will render
sicrer. and that the new consul will take
steps to ascertain exactly what is the
status of the revolution. It appears that
the State Department has not received any
have established civil government, such
as should entitle them to recognition It
is expected that on assuming the office
General Lees attention will be at once
directed to determining this question, and
upon the state of facts reported by him
will depend the action of the President.
Meanwhile no action on the resolutions
of Congress is expected.
It is believed that the Spanish minister
Will be given to understand that this gov
ernment will expect that no obstacles will
be thrown in the way of a mosts thorough
Investigation of the situation for the pri-
vate information Of the President. 1t is
expected access will be given to all desired
information on both sides of the contro-
versy 1t is probable that the Spanish will
be accommodating in return for the consid-
Grafton they receive in the delay of recog-
milton to the bellgerents.
II 1t is necessary to send a special agent
of the department to Cuba, this will prob
ably be done by use of the "secret fund" of
the State Department, without referring
the matter to Congress.
Fftn Lees Successor.
William H. Fowle. who was appointed to-
day as Gen. Lees successor as collector of
internal revenue for the sixth Virginia, or
Lynchburg, district, is a son-in-law of Gen.
Lee.