The Springfield herald., 1898-03-11
SPAIN'S BOLD MOVE.
AsksFoR consuLLEE's RECALL
Also Objects to War ships Carrying Food
to Cubans-President Mckinley Refuses
Both Requests.


day, when 1t became known that the
Spanish government had formerly re
quested the recall of Consul Genera
Lee at his post in Havana, with which
request the United States had courteous
ly but firmly refused to comply also
that the Spanish government had sug
gestcd the impropriety of sending relief
supplies to the Cuban rcconcentrados
on the cruiser Nashville. to which sug
gestion the United States gave like
answer in the negative.
The first intimation of these steps
came in IL brief and explicit cablegram
from Madrid. Prior to Its receipt. how
ever, the authorities here had been full
ly conversant with the facts, although
no intimation had been allowed to get
TO the public on either subject. The
disclosures from Madrid left no further
ground for reticence in Washington,
and, after Il conference at the White
House between the President, Assistant
Secretary Day of the State Depart
ment and Secretary Long of the Navy
Department. the following authorized
statement was handed to the Associat-
ed Press by Judge Day. rs compris-
ing everything that was to be said by
the administration on the subject:
"The President will not consider the
recall of General Lee. He has borne
himself throughout this crisis with
Judgment. fidelity and courage. 10 the
Presidents entire satisfaction.
"As to the supplies for the relief of
the Cuban people, all arrangements
have been made to carry consign-
mcnt from Key West by one of our
naval vessels. whichever may he most
adapted TO the purpose. to MantanZas
and Sagua."
Although the officials here are non
commiltal on the subject. IL is believed
the request of General Lees recall was
made at least day or two ago. and
that the Spanish government, after re-
cciving the reply of the State Depart
ment. has not insisted either upon
Lees recall or upon its contention that
the relief supplies should not be sent
10 Cuba in naval vessels. Those who
had participated in the conference AT
the White House would not discuss the
subject. and ii was stated positively
that the authorized statement com
priscd everything that would be given
to any one.
The adviccs from Madrid. together
with the authoritative statement here
left no room for doubt as to what had
occurred. The request for General
Lees recall is understood to have
come within the last few days, and
doubtless since the last Cabinet meet
ing on Friday. as no reference was
made to it nj that time. l, came through
Minister W0odford, Il somewhat un-
usual procedure. rs the common mode
of requesting the withdrawal of n min
lister or n consul is through the repre-
sentative of the government making
the request. which. in this case. is Sen
or Dubosc. the Spanish charge daft
flares. Senor Dubosc had received no
instructions on the subject. and was in
complete ignorance of the demands
made through Minister WOodford.
The other suggestion of the Spanish
government, that relief supplies should
not he sent in warships. did not come
through Minister Woodford. as the Ma
drld dispa tches state. but was presented
mcnt last Friday.
The responses in both cases went di-
rect to Minister WoOdford. There was
no loss Of time, however. in assembling
n special session of the Cabinet. or even
in any general conference between the
President and his Cabinet advisers in
dividually. In the protest against the
Montgomery and Nashville. Judge Day
conferred with Secretary Long. who in
turn called in Captain Crowninshield.
chief of The Bureau of Navigation.
There appears to be no reason why n
change should be made in the plan
for sending these ships on the relief
mission. and without attaching signiti-
cance to the request of the Spanish
government the answer was made that
the stay of the ships would be brief
and of the most pacific character.
The grounds on which General Lees
recall was asked are not officially dis
closed 1t is known. however, that the
Spanish government has chafed for
some time over General Lees presence
in Havana. although this had never
taken the form of n definite protest
prior to the present time. 1t began Ia
assume more serious aspect shortly
after the arrival of the Maine at Ha-
vana. At that time General Lee es-
corted Captain Sigsbee on his round OF
official calls. These We're made with
due formnlity. but the Spanish officials
took offense when the calls We're re-
stricted to General Blanco. Admiral
Manteroln and the representatives of
the military arm of Spain's service
and did not include Premier Galve2
and his associates of the autonomous
cabinet. who represent the new civil
regime which Spain is seeking to en-
force The matter came to the atten
tion of Senor Dupuy De LONE, th'
Spanish minister at Washington, and
although there was no protest. the sit
uation doubtless reached the state De
partment, rs suitable amends wer,
made by Captain Sigsbees calling oil
DIR. Congosto. the civil secretary gen
eral. Premier GalveZ and his associ
ates.
Within recent days il has been un
dcrstood by officials here that the feel
ing against General Lee has beer
smoothed over and the request for hi!
recall was for that reason in the ma
ture of n complete surprise. There ar,
circumstances which clearly disclos,
the grounds for the recall. although i
is not known that Spain has made an,
exact specification of complaint. Sine,
the Maine disaster. report has becl
circulated that General Lee held til,
personal opinion that the explosion
was due to external causes. No Off
cial report of this character was eve
sent to Washington so far as is known
But the mere circulation of the repor
at Madrid attributing such views t,