Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-24
HAS NOT RESIGNED.
GEN. LEE WILL DO so, HOWEVER,
If NOT PROPERLY SUPPORTED.
MANY RESERVATIONS ARRIVING.
That of the ConsuI-GeneraI at Ha-
bana May BE on the Way to WASH
INSTRUMENTATION with state De-
partment.
partment.

HABANA. February 23.-LCharles Fran
els Scott. the American citizen who was
arrested in Regla on the morning Of
February 9Th. and MAS since been de-
tained in a Spanish Jail. was to-day re-
leased from the state OF "lncommuni-
cado." as the result Of representations
made to the acting captain-G General, the
Marquis of Ahumada, by United States
Consil-General Lee.
1t is understood here that General Lee
Is disposed to resign, II support OF his
action is withheld by the American Gov
eminent: but nothing positive is known
as to what is thought OF the matter in
Washington.
Americans here are free in their criti-
cism OF the weakness OF the Washing
ton Government in the matter OF back
ing up Consul-General Lee, and the re-
port that the Spanish navy is concen-
trating is at present impossible OF con-
firmation, no positive information regard
ing the statement being obtainable. Num-
bers of Spanish war-vessels are continu-
ally arriving and departing.
RESIGNATION PROBABLY COMING.
WASHINGTON. d. c.. February B.
The incoming mails OF the past few days.
received at the State Department, have
been burdened with designations of dipio-
matte and high consular officers abroad.
Ii Is a custom which has developed the
force of an unwritten law for all dipio-
matte officers TO place their designations
in the hands OF the Secretary of state oil
the outgoing administration, when the
change of rulers, as I'm this case. Involves
a change OF political parties. MIR. Bay
ards resignation as Ambassador TO Eng
land, ii Is understood, was received some
time since, as was also Mr.. Eustis's as
Ambassador TO France, and Mr.. uhPs as
Ambassador to Germany. The consuls-
General at London, Paris. and Liverpool
these being regarded as positions more
important than, many OF the minor diplo-
matte posts, have also intimated that they
await the nomination and qualification or
their successors.
The resisnation OF Consul-Gener Leo
at Habana has not reached the State De-
partment as yet. Presumably II Is on
thes way. and much-discussed question
is whether IL Is of the ordinary. perfume
tory kind, or whether II Is a fact, an has
been stated (and denied. that the Gene-
raj has pressed it's acceptance. upon the
ground OF dissatisfaction wiki the admin
stration.
CABINET CONSIDERATION.
There are reasons for believing that tho
matter was to-day brought pp In the
Cabinet meeting. Emerging from tho
Cabinet chamber. Private-Secretary Thur
ber said: "You may deny cmphatically on
my authority that General Lee has re-
signed"
Nevertheless, as the published state
ments are not that General Lee has re-
signed. but that his resignation Will bo
received by the next mail. some doubts
| as to whether serious friction bad not
arisen between the State Department ana
the Consul General still remained unset
tied. This feeling was somewhat IN
creased by guarded remarks made by
well-infurmed officials that General Leo
was a little inclined to be "hot-headed."
| There was a general undercurrent OF sug-
| gestion rather than OF statement. thtt
when our Minister at Madrid and the
| sul-General at Habana were directed
TO make "peremptory demands upon
| Spain. and those demands were not COM
piled with by the Spanish authorities, tho
United States did not appear In a very
| dignihed light when IL had no force az
hand TO back up it's requirements. This.
| at least, was said to be the view enter
tained by both Minister Hanpis Taylor
| and Consul-General Lee