Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-08
SPANISH DEMANDS REJECTED

sarded by the Spanish officials AZ ua.
pana as antagonistic TO them. had re.
ceived invitations and were nrosent
MS government had been Informed of
Doth occurrences. but Il was understood
IN washington that the feeling against
Lee mad been smoothed over.
Sl"Ce the Maine disaster report had
oeen circulated that General Lee held
the personal opinion that the explosion
was que 10 external causes. No official
report OF this character was ever sent "a
washington so far as is known. but the
mere circulation OF the report at Madrid
attrlbuting such Views to General Lee.
mas been the source of much feeling i'm
Spanish official circles.
THE MAIN CAUSE
There is little doubt. however. that the
main cause OF Spain's action was the SYM
pathy General Lee has shown for the
Cuban sufferers. There must be some
substantial or satisfactory reason for
such a demand in such cases. and as
those presented against General Lee pro-
bably were confined to the acts he has so
Tar performed with the full sanction and
approval Of President Mckinley. the de-
md1d was not entertained. as is clearly
shown in the formal statement given out
by MISUNDERSTANDING Day.
The action regarding the cruiser Mont
gomery and the gunboat Nashville was
looked upon by officials in Washington
as much less grave than that affecting
General Lee.
THE SENDING OF SUPPLIES.
The Cuban Relief Committee counted on
senolng seVenty-five tons to Key West.
Dut this has now been increased to 100
tons. 1t left New York on one of the
Mailory-Line boats Sunday and is due
at Key West tomorrow. The transfer
VIII take day. and the plan has been Ia
nave the government ship start Thursday
for Cuba.
The decision of the American Govern
ment TO send supplies TO the reconcen-
tradoes in Cuba was arrived at early i'm
the week. General Lee had represented
that he had been unable TO distribute the
goods that had been received I'm answer
TO the proclamation of the President TO
the American people. He reported that
many tons Of these supplies were stored
In Haoana, and could not be forwarded
TO the eastern end of the island The
United states consuls at Matanzas and
Sagua la Grande had come in person to
Habana to seek for relief after report
ing to the State Department the terrible
conditions existing in their respective
districts. The State Department imme-
diately instituted inquiries, and learning
that the original decree of the Spanish
Government, authorizing the free admis-
sion of supplies, applied only to the port
of Habana secured permission for the
free reception of these supplies at all
ports. The next obstacle met was the
difficulty Of trans-shpping the goods
from Habana eastward, there being only
semi-weekly service by steamer, and
that subject to many vexatious local re-
strictions
When the United States cruiser Mont
gOmery returned from her cruise. which
included the Cuban ports of Matanzas
and Santiago, the officers brought har-
rowing tales Of the distress existing
there. Captain Crowninshleld, the Chief
Of the Navigation Bureau of the Navy
Department, an officer of the soundest
discretion and Judgment was on the
ship, an accidental passenger. He told
President Mckinley directly what he had
learned.
The result was the immediate decision
of the Navy Department to accede to
the request Of the Relief Committee in
New York, to forward their supplies 10
the eastern ports Of Cuba. One Of the
American lines of steamships running TO
New York had offered to take the boun-
to Key West and the government gave
the order for its carriage to eastern
cuba by any of the available ships CT
the North Atlantic squadron.
SPANISH RESISTANCE.
The announcement by the Associated
Press of the purpose of the government
to send supplies to Cuba on naval YES
sells was made last Wednesday. Within
twenty-four hours there were signs Of
resistance on the part of the Spanish
Government. At first this took the shape
of a formal query by Spanish charge
d 'Affaires Senior Dubosc. as TO the cor
rectness of the report, the inquiry being
couched I'm an incredulOus tone; and
later, when the afiirmeation came, there
was lodged, not a formal protest, tut
rather an insinuation that the move
ment of the naval ships would not be
that IL would be construed
into an act Of active sympathy on the ,
part of the government of the United
States with the insurgents. But the
President had satisfied himself that the |
course he had chosen, that of sending |
Of supplies i'm the naval vessel was the |
only one that seemed TO promise prompt |
and efficient relief. There was no time
for diplomatic usages, as General Lees |
report stated that hundreds were dying |
daily. and Senior Dubosc was so informed. |
EXCITEMENT IN WASHINGTON.
The news concerning General Lee
aroused the deepest interest and no lit |
tie excitement. throughout Washington, |
and for the time being the usual quiet Of
Sunday evening was put aside. In hotel
corridors. at the clubs and in all public |
places it was the absorbing topic, and
not since the Maine disaster was such |
popular interest evinced in |