Evening star., 1897-02-23
No Official Information of General
Lees Resignation.
TALK OF ADMINISTRATIONS FRIENDS
Waiting to Be Sure Before Max
ing Move.
AT THE CUBAN LEGATION

Friends Of the administration in Congress
ineist that Consul General Lee Will not Ice
permitted to resign account OF inaction
on the part OF the present administration az
to the alleged assassination of Dr. Ruiz
The statement that General lie, will res,r,,
II the murder Of j,r. is;l2 is permitted 10
pass along with The o.her outrayes aeai,s.
American citizens by the Spanish ir Cul,a
has gained general belief. hut frieu..s OF the
administration say that IT. Oln.y will not
permit the outrage TO pass unresented. 1t
Is insinuated that perhaps General Lee is a
little impatient. but that when this govern
ment Is fully informed AZ TO the facts in
the case, the action taken will be such as
to satisfy General Lee ami the American
people.
the policy of mot pulling a gun until you
are ready to shoot and that IL there Is
occasion 10 make use of the navy to pro-
tect American citizens in Cuba IL will not
De mere matter OF form.
As TO the Need OF Shup..
1t is suggested that if there is necessity
for the United States ships there will u.
need for more than one. Intending to 20
the full length If he moves at all, il is said
mat Mr. olney is simply cautious about
taking the initiative. desiring to be sure OF
a
There appears to be no doubt that NJ.
Cleveland feels that Gen Lee is disposed TO
be too impetuous. IL is a known fact that
Gen. Lee, when in Washington. reported q
state Of affairs in Cuba which. in his opin-
ion. warranted this government I'm inter-
fering
Mr. Cleveland did not agree with him
then. and the probability is that Mr. CIeve-
iaho now regards cur consul general as 100
sympathetic with the Cubans Mr. Cley.-
l2nd insists upon believing that American
citizens are tr! ing 10 provoke outrages so
as TO force this government TO interfere
reeilng this way about the matter he is
slow to accept reports of outrages which
are not verified beyond doubt
Inc belief here is that he may be forced
to act in the Ruiz case. The cabinet today
is said to have the question under advise
ment.
Denial Of the Resignation.
The State Department today authorized
the positive statement that SO far as the
department was informed. Consul General
Lee had not resigned, and, it was added,
had not Threatened TO resign. II any letter
of resignation was going TO be sent by Gen
Lee from Havana, as published. the de-
partment was absolutely without lew. on
the subject The other published sensa-
uonal statements regarding warships and
ike matters We're denied yesterday
Inquiry was made at the White House to-
Gay as TO the foLndation for the published
story. which has heen repeated I'm various
forms within the past few days, 10 the ef-
1ect that Gen. Lee, consul general at Ha-
vana, has resigr ed intends to resign il
he cannot secure certain demands ne has
made upon the State Department and also
that he has called for an American war
shio to support him. MIR. Thurber secr.-
tary to the President. stated positively that
there was not a scintilla OF truth In the
aifh hs,r.
call for a warship. The President was en-
gagged with his cabinet al the time and ii
is understood that he instructed Mr. Thur
Der to make the denial as specific and conf
prehensive as possible.
At the Cuban Legation.
The Cuban legation here has no informa-
ton regarding The stories that Consul
General Lee has threatened to resign il
he is not given full powers to protect Amer
lean citizens in Cuba, and that he has
called for warships to aid him in his
demands. The legation is. however, great
ly interested in the stories and the be-
lief Is expressed that there is something
in them. General Lee is thought TO he
growing tired of becoming a mere figure
head in affairs In Cuba. He cannot take
action on the most serious case without
communicating with the State Department.
The term OF office of General Lee is not
likely to last much lorger He may he
becoming impa tient IL Is said, at the man.
ner in which affairs are conducted, and
may have decided to bring things to n
climax before he leaves office.
The Virginia Members.
The Virginia members of Congress have
no information concerning the reported in
teation of Gen. Lee to resign.
Mr.. Otey said: Il place no credence in
the report. Gen. Lees friendship for the
President il very strong and 1 believe that
would restrain him from taking such a
step, even IL he felt disposed to do So
Mr.. Tyler said: II have no information
Of Gen. Lees opinions on the Cuban ques-
ton. but ii would be like him to resign if
he thought the administration was failing
to properly protect American citizens