The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-07

act as transports the Navy Department undor-
stood from the Relief Committee that they
would be called on to carry only about seventy
four tons. This amount could be conveniently
divided between tho two ships and takon as q
deckload on each. It was subsequently asccr-
tained, however. that the supplies would
aggregate 200 tons. and as the Montgomery
and the Nashville had no room for storing such
q great quantity, the Fern. which 10 well
adapted for the purpose, was suggested. Now
that the Fern cannot DO used. unless tho
administrator 10 willing to TO contrary
to tho advice of Admiral Sicard, and
perhaps delay tho work on the wreck
of the Maine, It will DO necessary for the
Montgomery and tho Nashville to make at
least two trips each. How the Spanish Govern
mcnt will view this disregard OF its wishes 10
not now apparent, but Its action in taking the
chance of offending the United States at this
critical ~juncture by requesting tho withdrawal
of Consul.General Lee indicates that 1t may DO
disposed to make n point Of tho matter. and
thus strain the already delicate relations be-
tween the two countries.
At last Tuesdays cabinet meeting the Presi-
dent and the members of his official family were
very hopeful that hostilitios with Spain would
DO avoided. Later In the week, however. there
was a change in this opinion. and the prepare
tions for putting the country In condition to
al CihSiBChSy iCho"oo "AsA ohoe
vigor. That the Administration is doubtful
whether war cannot DO avoided was plainly
shown to-day by tho despatch of orders to
the commandment of the League Island
Navy Yard to put tho de-
stroyers Minneapolis and Columbia In
commission Immediately. When this has heen
accomplished every vessel on tho Atlantic
coast will BIO in condition for active service.
The real significance of these orders may BIO
fuzn. n fook ~ - n orrv thn,n nut
1t will be necessary for the Government to en-
list several hundred men without the author
ity of Congress. Secretary Long had de-
termined last week that tho Minneapolis
! and the Columbia should DO put in COM
mission just as soon as no could get
the men. but as enlistmonts had been
made up to the limit authorized by law. he did
not see his way clear to carry out his desire I'M
til Congress had passed the Naval Appropria-
ton bill, which contains authority for increas-
ing the enlisted force by about 1,400 men and
boys. II it had not been for the opposition
Of Senator Hale and Representative Boutelle.
Chairmen respectively of the Senate and House
Committees on Naval Affairs. to the request of
the Navy Department that authority be given
for the enlistment Of 1900 additional men.
there would not have been any necessity for the
Government to wait until this time to put the
two fleet cruisers into serviceabie condition, and
even then doing SO without the certainty that
its action would BIO approved by the legislative
branch.
From what source the information came to
this Government that Spain desired the with
drawal OF Consul.General Lee cannot be ascer-
tanned. All that officials Of the Government will
say is that there was no formal request or de-
mand to that effect. 1t has been known to tho
President for some time. however, that Gen.
Lee has been Objectionable to the Madrid Minis
try and to the colonial Government at Havana
on account OF his statement In an Off
cial report to tho State Department that
the policy of autonomy had failed. DR..
Congosto. the Secretary.General Of Cuba.
recently asked Gen. Lee to make ar official dis
claimer that he had predicted the failure OF au-
tonomy or had said that 1t had already failed.
This Gen. Lee declined to do. and since then tho
Spanish Government has only refrained from
cancellinR his cxeouatur by the fear Of offending
the United States and perhaps forcing positive
action on the Cuban question. 1t Is under.
stood that the information which Gen. Leo
sent to President Mckinley that the Maine
was undoubtedly destroyed by some external
means has offended the Spanish Government
extremely and, coming on top of his refusal to
deny that he has reported to his Government
that autonomy was not a success, IL probably
caused the Spanish Ministry to decide that pos
tive measures we're necessary to get Gen. Lee
away from Havana. and to determine. whatever
the result, that It would convey to the United
States its desire that he should BIO no longer al
lowed to represent this country In an official
capacity at the Cuban capital.
When Assistant Secretary Day learned that
the newspapers were in possession Of tho In
formation which the Government had been
guardinglso carefully. he went Immediately to
the White House, where he left five hours later.
J,lu. na~ - N IN tho nayyana mara fha forrna I
statement which told OF the firm stand taken by
tho President regarding the intimation that
Gen. Loo was persona non 0ratd, and that Spain
viewed with concern the assignment Of Amcri-
can naval vessels to transport relief supplies to
Cuba.
As the desire OF the Spanish Government that
Gen. Leo be recalled has not been conveyed
officially to the United States. tho matter may
not proceed any further. President McKinley's
formal statemen was undoubtedly intended as
notice to Spain that this Government proposed
to retain Gen. Lee as its consular representative
in Havana, and that, unless Spain robbed him
of his official usefulness by the cancellation of
his exequatur, no change In his status would DO
made.
1t IL q rather unusual procedure for one Gov
eminent to request another to recall q consular
agent. Passports are sometimes handed Am
bassadors and Ministers whom they are persona
non grata to the Government to which they arc
accredited. but the customary mode Of
procedure Is for the authorities TO whom
a diplomatic officer is Objectionable to
politely ask his own Government to with
draw him. Such consideration 10 seldom
shown In connection with Objectionable Con.
suls. They have no diplomatic standing. and
the usual method Of dispensing with their SER
vices is the revocation Of the authority given
them to conduct oficial business at the places
where they are stationed.
Sometimes reasons are given for tho canoella-
ton OF exequaturs. and the United States Gov
eminent has made It q practice to ascertain.
wherever possible. why 1t was that one Of its
Consular officers was not allowed to continue
the transaction of Official business at
the post to which he was acoredit-
cd. A state Department official said to.
night that while he did not know Of any
request that Gen. Lee should DO recalled. no