The record-union., 1898-03-08
OFFICIALS CONSULT.
Regarding Our Present Relations
With Spain.

| WASHINGTON, March There was
a good deal Of consultation to-day be-
tween the President and Secretary Long
and Assistant Secretary Day without
doubt devoted to the consideration Of
cur relations with Spain Assistant
Secretary Day also had a half hours
! conference with Senior DuboSie the
Spanish Charge d'Afaires here, and
managed to find time to talk for a few
minutes with Colonel Judge McCook
whose interest in Cuban affairs is we'll
known. Ii was stated that the Admin
| istration has no statement TO make
further than that given out by Judge
Day yesterday. 1t is still maintained
that there has been no demand on the
part of the Spanish Government for the
recall of Consul Lee. but this
denial does not take the form of com
plete assertion that something like an in
timation has been given that the Span
ish Government would be pleased were
General Lee relieved at Havana SILL,
there is an official statement and an Of
fetal intimation, and therein a loop hole
for esca.oe.
Had the Spanish Government made
an unofficial demand for General Lees
recall it would have had no recourse in
| the event of our Government's refusal
TO comply but the Consul Generals exc
quatur, thus leaving him without odi-
cial standing. The matter not having
taken that official form. there is no tang
ihle excuse for Spain to look upon her
self as Inundated in this matter. II is
quite certain that the Administration
does not take the view, as hasty glance
ut ba cf4t -
that there may not be peaceful termina.
tion of this last incident, and such Off
GERS of the Cabinet as have felt free TO
discuss the situation at all have not
hesitated to declare that no rupture in
the relations between the United states
and Spain is likely to result.
AS to the matter Of sending supplies
to MatanZas and Sagua, which has
formed the basis of objection by the
Spanish Government. although not in
official form, ii is said a the State De-
partment and at the Navy Department
as well. that the programme laid down
in the statement given out by the Pres
ident is to be observed. The supplies are
tc so from Key West to these Cuban
posts in "a naval vessel"
Secretary Long calculates that the
supplies which left Saturday last by
steamer for Key West will reach the lat
ter sort Wednesday.
1t was realized that If 1t is conceded
that vessels Of the United States navy
may be in times of peace excluded from
Matanzas or Sagua. by the same rule
they likewise may be kept out of Ifa-
vana harbor. and the Administration.
would thereby not only be prevented
from redeemng its promise to send an
other warship to replace the Maine. put
would be obliged to leave American cit
liens resident in Havana entirely with
sibility was not contemplated with equa-
nimity by the Administration. hence the
officials stuck to their technical purpose
to use a naval vessel for the transporia-
tion of supplies.
The conference between Senor Du-
bosie. the Spanish Charge d'Affaires.
attracted great interest. as it was
thought that Senor Dubosie brought
| late dispatches which would serve TO
make the situation definite. The talk
was surrounded with the greatest Sc
crecy. and the parties interested would
not discuss the situation. but il was
learned that Senior Dubosie brought no
dispatches of any kind. nor had he re-
ceived any instructions from his Gov
ernment. The purpose of his call was
rot 10 make representation en- either
of the incidents. but to ascertain what
official basis there was for the pub