Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-23
uNJUSTIFIABLE CRITICISM.
"o"er"' Lees Relations With wey-
lcr-IIis Special Service.

icr-ltis Special Service.
] WASHINGTON. d. c.. June 22.-There
has been some criticism OF Consul-Gone-
RAJ Lee because. Immediately after his
arrival at Habana. he accepted the invi-
.ation to a banquet at the palace. which
nc ItCeNed from Captain-General Wey-
itt' Inc criticism is uniustihable Gene
! RAJ Lee was not sent TO Cuba as an enemy
! or Spain. or for the purnoso Of ctr.
flhs up bad blood between the Govern
/ mcht OF spain and that OF the United
/ states. He was not sent there to find
."uit win Ncyler, or with his admins
/ uauNe policy. or with the conduct of
the war. When. therefore. the autbori-
tt'iNV representative Of Spain invited him
as neWiy-arrived American official 90
palace entertainment. II was bnt a
matter OF courtesy that he should honor
| lne invitation. SO long as the two conn
| uI's are at peace with each other A. &c
desirable that the officers OF both Of them
Snoiu maintain a good understanding
WIN one another II would have been
ulscourteous IN General Lee 10 act other
wise Than he acted He would have
been placed at n disadvantage durire, b,s
stay IN Cuba, and would have been loss
aDie TO perform his perplexing duties
HHd ne acted otherwise. lie might even
nave given offence to the imperious Span
/ lsh functonary who has been intrustod
WIN power IN cuba. IT may be said that
CUBAN aHalrs were not the subject OF
ueoale al me banquet. though It Is known
tN.l General Lee took occasion 10 present
"a request TO his host IN the interest Of
plant. ''
On June 9Th. the day upon which Gene
raj Lee took official charge Of the con-
Sulale al Habana. he called by appoint
ment al the palace where he had his
hrst interview with Weyler. who express
ca desire that all business between the
two officials might always be conducted
In an amicable spirit 1t Is possible that
tne compliments exchanged at this time
were more eifusiye than 1t was neces-
| sary they should be, and it Is true that
the American would have been more dis
Greet If he had refrained from laudation
Of Weylers military record in Cuba;
but II Is desirable that no particular
gravity should be attributed to the words
mat were uttered by either party at a
first meeting. II is also TO be under
stood that General Lee seized this oppor-
tunity for transacting a piece Of business
with Weyler
IN the formal instructions given 10 the
Consul-General before he left Washing
ton for Habana, he was more particularly
enjoined TO be regardful Of the lives. the
rights, and the interests Of American
citizens resident in Cuba: and Il must be
said that he has striven 10 perform his
duty in this respect. There are people in
this country who seem TO think that he
ought to have stormed the palace when
ever any one claiming American citizen
ship made complaint against the Spanish
authorities; but they can rest assured
that that would not be the way for him
70 gain his ends. In every case brought
before him he must first make full in
quiry; he must be careful TO ascertain
all the details associated with IL; and. If
he should ind that his services are re-
quired. he must make such a presenta-
tion Of the facts as shall enable him TO
secure the desired results. in accordance
with treaty provisions and the public
law.
CASE OF DAWLEY.
General Lee had but arrived at Habana
when he brought under Weyler's notice
the case of J. II. Dawley, an American
imprisoned In Moro Castle. under charge
Of having violated Spanish martial law
in holding communication with the in
surgents. He procured such evidence as
was available I'm the case. transmitted il
10 the palace, and speedily received a
promise that the prisoner would be re-
leased If the papers were found 10 be
satisfactory, and after certain formali-
ties had been compiled with. IN a few
days Dawley was at large, though held
under surveillance.
General Lee next took up the case Of
Captain LabOrde and the other men ar
rested ot the time of the capture of the
Competitor, an arms-bearing ship who
had complained OF their sufferings in
prison. He had an interview with Wey-
Ter about them, and procured their trans
fer to better quarters. He visited the
prisoners in Moro Castle
He took an interest in the case Of DR.
Delgardo. an American citizen who had
suffered grievOusly at the hands of the
Spanish tgoops. and advised him 10 pro-
coed Immediately 10 Washington for the
purpose of laying his complaint before
the American Government The advice
was taken. but Mr.. Cleveland has dlsre-
garded the wounded complainant.
General Lee. before the end Of the first
week OF his stay I'm Habana. learned that
a Spanish general had given orders that
an American citizen, one Alfred Herman
dez. should be expelled from his domicile.
He promptly addressed a note to Weyier
on the subject. and the order for expul-
sion was countermanded.
Subsequently he obtained from Weyler
promise OF delay in the enforcement
Of an order for the expulsion OF a news
paper correspondent who had been ac-
TO this country.
In short. General Lee has been kept
busy with the cases Of complainants ever
since he took up the duties Of the Habana
consulate In the first week i'm June lie
has proceeded with caution In every IN
stance, and has met with measure Of
success greater than might be expected.
when account is taken Of existing circum-
stances in Cuba and Of the character
OF the man with whom he has to deal.
Skilful work has been required OF MA.
and he has performed IL under difficult
ties His frequent interviews with Wey-
Ter have been marked with discretion.
All officials at Habana are particularly
interested in the policy and conduct Of
the American Consul-General. His move
ments are closely watched and his utter
ances are noted WheresOever he goes,
whatsoever he does and with whomso-
ever he holds communication. the mem
bers Of the Casino Espanol are daily made
aware His plan for inspecting the va
rious American consular offices In the
island of Cuba has been the cause of sus-
picion I'm some quarters. where II Is sup
posed that thus he desires 10 gain in
formation regarding the state of things
I'm the island. and the prospects Of the
var. He replied with a smile when asked
whether he would enter the lines OF the
insurgents.
xxrtNI I'm SsFIIr CnNEInENT