Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-03-04
GEN. LEES CASE.
Officials Declare That the Consul
General Has Not Resigned.
A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF The FRICTION.
Gen. Lee Sympathixed Strongly with the
Cubans and Did Not Take Kindly
to the Policy Of the Ad-
ministratl0n.

WARRINGTON, req. 20. = NOtWlun-
standing the repeated statements from
outside sources to the contrary, the
state department officials are firm in
the denial OF the reported resignation
of United States Consul-General Lee,
and the impression is given out that
any trouble that threatened between
the department and the consul-general
has been composed, and that there is
no danger of rupture. 1t is now
known there has been some trouble
growing out of the cases Of Americans
arrested in Cuba, but the officials re-
fuse to admit or deny this.
From reliable official source, how
ever, the facts appear to be as follows:
The consul-general, while in Washing
ton last autumn, did not conceal his be-
lief that much credit might be gained
for the administration about to con-
clude its term by making a bold stroke
for Cuban freedom, at least going to
the length of recognizing the bellig-
erency of the insurgents. He did not
take issue openly with the administra-
ton in it's policy, but it was realized
here that his sympathy was strongly
with the Cubans. Possibly feeling that
he was under suspicion of lack of sym
pathy with the departments policy.
Gen. Lee, upon his return to his post,
was particular to stick closely to IN
structions, and to insist in every case
concerning an American captive upon
explicit orders from the department.
This finally led to friction with the
department, which was most serious
in the Ruiz case. The consul-general
knew Of Ruiz's capture and reported it
to the department, but, tits intimated,
stopped at that and waited for further
instructions. The department felt that
the regular instructions in the consul
lar regulation imposing upon con-
sular officer the duty OF moving
promptly for the relief Of an American
citizen in such cases should have been
sufficient to guide Gen. Lee to proper
course. However, without losing time,
the department, upon being informed Of
the facts, promptly referred the case
to the attention of the authorities at
Madrid. 1t can scarcely be regarded
as case justifying an ultimatum, at
this point at least, the opinion being
held that there is reasonable doubt
whether or not Ruiz lost his American
citizenship by voluntarily staying in
Cuba for IS years in the pursuit of his
business, and without keeping up his
registration regularly. OF course, the
department has not yet conceded this
point, but the fact that such conten
ton has been made is sufficient to show
that it is case requiring deliberate
treatment
Following the death of Ruiz in Jail,
Gen. Lee recommended that demand
be made upon the Spanish authorities
for the release Of all American prison
ers held in Cuban prisons. This, it
was felt, was step too radical to be
taken out Of hand. The safety of the
prisoners, assumed to be the object |
of such demand, it is said, in many
cases would be jeopardized by the very
means taken to secure their release.
His demand would have to be put in
the form of one for an immediate trial
of the prisoners or their immediate re-
lease. In case the Spanish officials
elected to adopt the first-named course,
some of the prisoners would have lost
their lives for they were taken with
arms in hand and so are subject to the
extreme penalty that may be imposed
by a military cOurt-martial. For such
prisoners the hope Of their lives lies in
the delay of trial as long as possible,
taking the chance that meantime cen;
eral amnesty would be proclaimed and
they thereby be saved. |