Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-24
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rrE.s POSITION IN CUBA.

The overshadowing question at wash
inston yesterday was. Has Geherai flVz-
hugh Leo resigned the consul-generaiship
al Habana? The New YORK heralo
Habana correspondent asserted POSITIVE
". under date OF February 22d, that ne
had, explaining that he took the step
because the state Department refused
TO grant his request that ne be author
lied TO demand the release OF citizens OF
the United States confined In CUBAN
prisons under the same Illegal condl-
lions as was the Inflated Ruiz. Ihe
same correspondent also iterated his de-
clarations that General Lee asked that
warships be sent to Habana. to enable
him to enforce protection OF American
citizens in their rights in Cuba ana said
he was confident that he could secure
a copy Of the telegram emDodying that
request. Moreover. IT was given out III
Washington that. while General Lees
resignation had not been received there
II was believed in circles that ought TO
be posted that It had been rendered. ana
was in the mails; and the Heralds wash
ington CORE ondent produced what
semeed pretty trong circumstantial evil
dence TO sustain its Habana correspond
ent throughout.
on the other hand. however. as we saw
yesterday morning. the Heraid's war
ship story was denied upon what was
said to be no less authority than that OF
General Lee himself. Lee is also said
to have denied emphatically that he has
resigned.
These denlals ought to dispose effectu-
ally Of both reports; and, II they are
authentic, do dispose OF them. As TO the
mere questions whether General Lee ten
dered his resignation. and whether he
asked for naval force. there will then
be nothing more TO be said. But, none
the less. the matter has revived acute
interest in the Cuban question that VIII
not abate until the public has received
good deal more light. Indeed 1t has
revived interest in the question, that may
increase with light.
And for this reason: 1t has not been
denied that General Lee has asked per-
mission to make peremptory demands
upon the Spanish authorities in the cases
of citizens Of the United States impris-
oned on the island; and It appears to be
an open secret that Secretary Olney and
the American Minister at Madrid have
been in the last few days exchanging
kilograms regarding these prisoners.
The presumption in the public mind,
therefore. is that, after all, there must
be behind the resignation and warship
smoke. fire. and a good deal of it. In
other words the presumption Is that
some correspondence respecting the slow
process Of the Spanish authorities in deal
ing with American prisoners has taken
place between General Lee and the State
Department. and that that correspond
ence is likely to precipitate crisis on the
Cuban question. 1t does not follow
however that there is ground for the
supposition, advanced by some Of the
Washington correspondents, that Gene
raj Lee may have been little hot-head-
ed. So far he has certainly proved, as
Consul-General at Habana, the right man
in the right place He has been diplo-
matte, where diplomacy met the require
ments of the situation. without involving
a compromise Of the dignity OF the ma
ton he represents but has never hest
tated TO be bold and outspoken when
such a course was necessary to maintain
the prestige Of his government.