The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-14
GEN. LAToRRB's DECREE.
NethinE Has Been Received at the state De-
partment About II.

Nething Has been Received at the State De-
partment About II.
wAsH1NoToN, Dec. 13.-State Department
officials said to-day that nothing had been re.
ceived by them about the decree issued by
Don Agustin Latorre, commanding the Span.
fish forces in Puerto Principe. Cuba. forbidding.
under penalty of death, the display OF any flag
but that of Spain. Tho protest of the. con-
sular officers of tho United States, Great Brit
ain, France, and Germany has not reached the
department. One official. familiar with the
consular regulations and the rights accorded
consular officers in foreign countries. after
reading the translation Of the decree pub
lished in THE Sun this morning, said that II
the reference to tho death penalty was intend.
cd to apply to consular officers 1t would not
t nE,H Of foreign countries was Ridiculous, he said,
and would not, be tolerated.. he added, how
ever, that the display of q flag over a consular
accorded by treaty, and the flag could DO float
cd only through the courtesy of the Govern.
ment to which tho Consul was accredited. The
consular regulations are plain on that point.
They say that permission to display the ma
tional flag Is not . matter OF right. though II, is
usually accorded and il often provided for by
It has never been definitely settled whether
tho privilege Of displaying the flag or arms Of
their countries, even whom the right Is guar
anteed BY treaty; The opinion Of the State De- q;
R"A ~ -
the OFFICER is not a citizen Of tho Country which
he represents. A number Of the minor consul
lar representatives Of the United States in
Cuba arc Spanish subjects. They take the of.
foes, which pay. little or nothing, on account of
the social and business standing which they
Another official, an authority on diplomatic
the English copy of the decree whether the flag
prohibition was Intended to apply tosconsulates.
Spanish was capable of So many translatiOns,
he said, that he would not ike to express an
right of Gen. Latorre to issue such an order and
his reasons for action he was also r%eticent, al
though agreeing with the other official that the
display OF his national flag by q foreign Consul
was a privilege that could be forbidden IL not
There are occasions" he seid, when a Gov
eminent finds it eEpedient to forbid O foreign
Consul to fly the flag of his country in order to
protect his life and his property from harm.
Some years ago, after an assault on some Portu-
ment suggested to the Government of Portugal
that perhaps II the subjects of the latter coun-
try would not display their national flag on
their houses they would not be molested. as the
tiona'ity of the persons inhabiting the. places
over which it was flying. / would rather not
express any view on the matter until l know
more of it,"
Consul-General at Havana, has not communi-
Gated with the State Department. in regard to
Gen. Latorre's decree, created some surprise at
the department, because Gen. Lee has been &C.
ish authorities in Cuba with American CON
sular representative. The opinion was ex.
pressed that Gen.. Lee secured a revocation of
the decree, or o satisfactory explanation that
thespenalty of death did not apply to United
States Consuls, and will report the facts by
mail.