The news & observer., 1898-03-08
RESULT OF CONFERENCE
PRESIDENT AND LEADING CON
GRESSMEN AGREE TO IT.
Du B0sC's DIsAvoWAL OF LEES RECALL
Lees FriendIiness to Cubans Objected to-
Urged to Remain The Money is Wanted
for Emergency Fund--Discriminaton
in Buying War Vessels.

in Buying War vessels.
Washington, d. c., March There
were no less than five important events
to-day having Il bearing more or less.
direct upon the troubled relations be-
tween the United States and Spain.
viz: The introduction in Congress, by
Cannon, of u resolution carrying $780,
100000 for the public defense the with
drawal by the Spanish government of its
intiInated objection to the continuance
in office of Consul General Lee, the or
der TO the cruiser Montgomery to pro-
ceed to Havana in place of the Fern.
the passage of the bill through the
House, increasing the artillery arm by
two regiments, and the institution of
negotiations looking to the purchase of
war ships for our Navy.
Mr.. Cannon's resolution probably lead
all other topics in interest, particularly
when it became known that it was the
result of a conferences between the
author, the President, Senator Hale and
other leading spirits in Congress.
AS for General Lees case the news OF
the satisfactory ending of the incident
through the withdrawal of the sugges-
tien by Spain was expected as soon as
it was noted that "a loop hole llad been
left open through the failure to make
The complaint in anything like an Off
cial shape Some fear as expressed that
the Consul General viii not find his post
Very colgenial now that he knows he il
an nnwelcomo guest in Havana, but the
administration is relying upon his dcyo-
tio1i to the swelfafe of the AenlicanS
in Cuba and American interests gener-
aily 10 submit his own personal wishes
to restraint and remain at his post.
Late in the afternoon Senior Du Bose,
the Spanish Charge, received cipher
cable from the Minister of State ut Mad
rid, Senior Gullon. saying:
lou can disayow the q'unor that any
official application has been made for
the recall of General Lee"
This confirmed Mr.. Du Boscs view
taat II misapprehension had occurred,
aud that some intimation concernin;s
General Lee had been construed into a
request or demand for his recall, which
Mr.. Du Bore says with positiyeness
was never intended.
THE OBJECTIONS TO LEE.
1t is learned that the Spanish obiec-
ton to Consul General Lee is based
largely upon his sympathy for the Gu
bans and some of his utterances which
have found their way into print. 1t is
understood that the Spaniards also
take exceptions to the friendly relations
and companionship existing between
General Lee and correspondents of pa
Iers. which have been decidedly un-
friendly to Spain. 1T is believed that
Senior De LONE carried to Spain papers
and information calculated to make the
Spanish government request the recall of
Consul General Lee.
As there has been no explanation so
far of the purpose which prompted the
Introduction of Mr. Cannon's resolution.
it may be said that the money wanted
Is primarily as an emergency fund. II is
said by officials who will have the dis
position of this treasure that If Inv no
means follows because Congress- nlaces
such q sum Of money in the control
of the President that he will feel
bound ito spend all of it. Those who
look for wholesale purchase of war
ships from the bargain counters of Eli
ropean builders are likely TO be dis
appointed. The Navy Department at
present is inclined to make but one pur-
chase Of this kind, at first. at least. in
the shape of a substantial iron-cla0
1t does desire to get possession of several
Of the larger class of torpedo boat des-
troyers, such as the Sokul, Of the Rus
sian Navy, vessels of 300 tons able to
keep the sea in bad weather. a weak
point with our own boats, and capa-
Die Of enormous speed, such as 32 knots.
But such craft are not for sale at all
tlnies: they are built to order generally
ana could not be procured in this man
ner III less than six months from TIN"
date of contract even in Europe unless
speclal prices We're paid. There is no
disposition on the part Of the Navy
Department to humber the Navy with n
LOT OF unscryiceablc craft in n spasm Of
fear. but rather to get Il few of the
best vessels to be had.
OFFERS OF WAR SHIPS
The offers of ships to the Navy Dcpart-
mellt are now assuming definite and for
nal shape. During the day Secretary
Long received a call from A. II. Ionc
representing the Maxim NortlenfekIt
Company. and the agent for several
war vessels now nearing completion in
large foreign ship yards. These in
clude two cruisers of the type of H..
Cincinnati which are designed to be
20 knots vessels and two iron-clads OF
II knots. which would be called third
class battle ships under our rating. These
are now open TO purchase, and it is un-
deEstO0d that Mr. Lanes visit was in
tins connection. The two cruisers are