The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-23
HASN'T CALLED ron A wARsHIp.
A Demand For the Release OF scott
to he Made.

Havana, Feb. 22.-The report that United
States Consul General Fitzhugh Lee has
requested his government to send a war
ship TO enforce his demands In regard to
the killing of DR.. Ruiz and the arrest of
Scott, both American citizens Is denied
by Cen Lee himself, The case of Scott
will be the subject of an interview between
Consul General Lee and the Marquis of
Ahumada, acting captain general, to-day,
when Gen. Lee win demand Scotts release
or at least that he be freed from the state
of incommunicando In which he is now
placed.
Washington, Feb. 22-It is said at the
state department that Consul General
Lee. who is investigating the Ruiz Of
fair, at Guanabacoa, Cuba. under orders
of the department, has not yet reported
the results of his inquiry; also that there
is no truth in the report that Gen. Lee
had notified the department that he would
resign unless the administration should
support him with a naval demonstration
In Cuban waters.
There has an along been some friction
between the Spanish officials in Cuba and
Consul General Lee whenever the latter
Is obliged to Intervene in favor of arrest
ed American citizens. This has grown
out of radical difference in construc-
The state department has instructed
the consul general to insist upon his
right to have arrested Americans released
at the end of a period of detention OF
seventy-two hours, or else that they be
confronted with formal charges. But
on occasions when the consul general
claims this privilege for an imprisoned
American citizen, the Spanish officials
from the captain general down, set up
the plea that In times of strife like this,
the civil code was suspended, and With
a. a
The state department has consistently
| disputed this plea, because to concede the
soundness of it would be to renounce all
right to protect American citizens In a
| disturbed country.
It is said that the Spanish officials are
| at no pains to take notice OF an appeal
based on American citizenship, nor TO re-
| port the fact that they have arrested ar
| American citizen to the consular officers.
High officials of the administration sag
| that II is not at all likely that the cast
| of DR.. Ruiz will lead TO international com
| plcations. The matter was brought to the
attention of the state department In the
latter part of the past week through com
| plant of some of the friends OF the doc
| tor in this country. The allegation was
! that the man had been imprisoned beyond
| the period allowed by the treaty for al
/ American citizen to be kept in Jail withou
the lodgment of charges and that he hal
been murdered by his jailers.
Consul General Lee was Immediately di
rected by cable to Investigate the affair
| although IL appeared from his dispatche
| that he had Already had his attention di
/ rected to the case The official reports o
| the Spanish officers are said TO show tina
| Ruiz committed suicide while in jail bu
/ this has not yet been communicated (
the department Of state. Meanwhile Con
| sui General Lee Is Investigating the mat
ter and the state department Is awaiting
| his report
in the absence of this. the department
| officials feel no apprehension OF any com
| plieations. and all stories that warship
| have been caleld for by Gen. Lee or tina
| this government is making ready TO TAX
| foundation.