The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1898-03-12

stood by officials here that the feeling |
against General Lee has been smoothed |
over, and the request for his recall was for
that reason in the nature of a complete
surprise. There are circumstances which
clearly disclose the grounds for the recall,
although it is not known that Spain has
made any exact specification of complaint. !
Since the Maine disaster a report has been
circulated that General Lee held the per
sonal opinion that the explosion was due
to external causes. No official report of
this character was ever sent to Washing
ton 80 far as known, but the mere circu-
la ton of the report at Madrid attributing
such views to General Lee has been the
source of much feeling in Spanish official
circles The press dispatches from Mad
rid also disclose that General Lee is held
accountable at the Spanish capital for the
project of the purchase of Cuba by the
United States from Spain as well as for
general sentiment of sympathy toward
the insurgents.
In the Nature of Retaliation.
The suggestion of impartial, a leading
government organ, that the next session
of the cortes will consider the case of
General Lee shows the strong influences
which induced the Sagasta cabinet to ask
his recall. In this connection the fact is
noted that Senior Dupuy de LONE is due
in Spain at this time. His enforced retire
lnent on a demand by the United States is
felt to have awakened a counter sentiment
at Madrid which finds expression against
! ~ L rbora 10 Ettlo bn,.ht
also that such advice as Senior de LONE
would give to the government or to the
press and public in Madrid would not be
conducive toward the retention of General
Lee. There is little doubt however, that
the main cause of SPANS action is the
sympathy General Lee has shown for the
Cuban sufferers. 1t is known that his ac-
tive and open sympathy with the people
who have suffered 80 greatly during the
present surrection-American citizens as
well as native Cubans-has not been ac-
cepted by the Spanish officials in Cuba as
an exhibition of disinterested officialism
such as is expected of consular officers.
There were complaints during General
Weyler's administration of his conduct,
but never in full official form.
As matter of fact, Spain required no
formal excuse for the dismissal of a con
sular official, according to international
law. These officers are not endowed usual
ly with diplomatic privileges and they Elk
list entirely by the suffeIance of the ma
tions to which they are sent. In this con
nection it is not necessary nor usual te
, request their home governments to recall
them. They live officially only through
an exequatur granted by the government
to which they are accredited, and this
may be withdrawn at any moment. 81
= Consul General Lee may be dismissed
. from his post at the pleasure of the Span
ish government, and this would not vic
. late any section of international law.
. But he is in one respect unique, in tina
:, he is endowed with semi-diplomatic pow
! ers by the wish of our government and b.
the consent of the Spanish government
The request of the Spanish government
:, for his recall may therefore be regarde'
= as tantamount to a demand for the REGAL
: of Objectionable ministers, such, for in
stance, as was Senior Dupuy de LONE.
No Substantial Reasons.
=, There must be some substantial or sal
isfactoi'y reason for such a demand i
h such cases, and those presented agains
s General Lee probably were confined to tn
acts he has so far performed with the flu
~ sanction and approval of President No
!, Kinley. The demand was not entertained
as is clearly shown in the formal stat,
- ment given out by Assistant Secretar
Day. Under such circumstances the inc
70 dent would close unless Spain took til
: decisive step of insisting on General Lee
= recall, and this failing, giving him h
y, exequatur.
! This radical course is not expecte,
however, and all the indications reachin
officials here are that Spain will not pr
coed further with the incident.
y, As ia the Cruisers.
\ The action regarding the cruiser Mon
49, gomery and the gunboat Nashville
= looked upon by officials here as niue
IS less grave than that affecting Gener
- Lee. Secretary Long said tonight he d
Ne not regard the question as TO what sh
b. should carry the relief supplies as seriol
in any way, or as likely to present an
-. perplexing issues.
+ The desire of the navy department, NJ
- Long said, was merely to get the SUI
~, plies to Cuba on the most available We
sci. There were three of these now
- Key West, the Montgomery Nashvil
:, and Fern, alike available for the serviC
=, and one of these, Mr.. Long said, won
= be designated for the trip. The Fern
u