Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-07
M'KINLEY SAID NO
tCon.inuea from First Pagel

| ,
Her choice would probably remove all
| ground for objections, as she has none
| of the characteristics of a war vessel.
| The official orders, however, continue
| TO stand as they were originally made,
| designating the Montgomery and Nash
| Vile for the mission, but these could be
| changed readily if the Fern was felt to
! be the best suited for the work. The
| naval officials have felt from the first
| that the Montgomery and Nashville
I were i'll adapted for carrying supplies.
| The Fern being more of the type of
| yacht has considerable more room for
| slowing supplies, both below and on
| deck The Cuban relief committee
| counted on sending Is tons to Key West,
| but this has been increased to 100 tons.
| 1t left New York on one of the Mallory
| line of boats yesterday, and Is due at
| Key West next Wednesday. The transfer
will take day, and the plan has been
! to have the government ship start next
| Thursday for Cuba.
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
"a hours there We're signs of resistance
on the part of the Spanish government.
AT first this took the shape of formal
inquiry by the Spanish charge d'affaires,
Senior du Bose, as to the correctness of
the report, the inquiry being couched in
an incredulous tone, and later when the
Affirmation came, there was lodged, not
normal protest, but rather an inSinua-
ton that the movement of the naval
ships would not be acceptable; that it
would be construed into an active SYM
pathy 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 the supplies in a naval vessel,
was the only one that promised suffi-
| cient and prompt relief.
There was no time for polite diplo-
matte exchange of notes when, accord
ing to Gen. Lees advice, people were
perishing from hunger by hundreds
every day in Cuba, and the Spanish
charge d'affaires was so informed.
Senor du Bose, when seen at the
Spanish legation today, could add little
to the fund of information on the two
subjects which were attracting so much
official and public attention. He had re-
ceived no word from his government
concerning Gen. Lee, and he stated posi-
lively that no suggestions concerning
Gen. Lees retirement had been submit
ted by him to the state department.
AS to sending the relief supplies by the
Montgomery and Nashville, Senior du
Bose said he felt that merchant vessels
were much better equipped for such ser
vice. and their use was not open to that
misconstruction possible in sending sup
plies by vessels of the navy.
The news concerning Gen. Lee aroused
the deepest interest, and no little excite
ment throughout Washington, and for
the time being, the usual quiet of Sun
day evening was put aside. In hotel cor
ridors, at the clubs and in all public
places it was the absorbing topic, and
not since the Maine disaster was such
widespread popular interest eyinced in
the Spanish situation
The fullest opportunity ordinarily
would be allowed for discussion, but in
this case the Associated Press bulletin,
furnished to some members of the cabi-
net, was the first information they had
that Gen. Lees service was open to
question. Before the cabinet meeting no
hint or complaint of any kind relating
to, Lee had been made.
The grounds on which Gen. Lees re-
call was asked. are not officially dis
closed 1t is known, however. that the
Spanish government has chafed for
some time over Gen. Lees presence in
Havana.
1t began to assume a more serious as
pect shortly after the arrival OF the
Maine at Havana. At that time Gen.
of official calls These were made with
due formality but the Spanish officials
took offence when the calls We're re-
stricted to Gen. Blanco, Admiral Man
terola and the representatives OF the
military arm of Spain's service, and did
not include Premier Galvez and his as
sociates of the autonomous cabinet.
The matter came to the attention OF
Senior Dupuy de LONE, then Spanish
minister at Washington, and although
there were no protests, the situation
doubtless reached the state department,
as suitable amends were made by Capt.
Sigsbee, who called on DR.. Congosto, the
civil secretary general, and. Premier
Galvez and his associates
There was like irritation over din
ner given by Consul General Lee to the
officers of the Maine The list of guests
on that occasion is said to have omitted
some of the Spanish naval officers and
to have included, quite conspicuously,
the names of number Of American
newspaper correspondents who were re-
garded by the Spanish officials at Ha-
vana as antagonistic to them.
Within recent days it has been under
stood by officials here that the feeling
against Gen. Lee had been smoothed
over, and the request for his recall was
for that reason in the nature of a com-
plete surprise.
Since the Maine disaster report has
been circulated that Gen. Lee held the
personal opinion that the explosion was
due to an external cause. No official
report of this character was ever sent
to Washington, so far as Is known. But
the mere circulation of the report at
Madrid attributing such views to Gen.
Lee has been the source of much feel
ing In Spanish official circles. The press
dispatches from Madrid also disclose
that Gen. 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 a general
sentiment of sympathy toward the in
surgents,
In this connection the fact is noted
that Senior Dupuy de LONE is due in
Spain at this time His enforced retire-
ment, on a demand by the United
States is felt to have awakened a
counter-sentiment at Madrid which
finds expression against Consul General
Lee.
There is little doubt, however, that the
main cause of Spain's action is the
sympathies Gen. Lee has shown for the
Cuban sufferers.
1t is known that his active and open
sympathy has not been accepted by the
Spanish officials in Cuba as an exhibit
ton Of disinterested officialism. There