The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-07


his Cabinet associates, and after a brief
exchange between the White House and the
State Department the negative answer was
dispatched to Minister Woodford. One
phase Of the incident that tends to show
the firm stand taken by the administration
is the expedition with which the action was
accomplished. Such a matter, ordinarily,
is laid before the Cabinet, the views of all
it's members personally given, and the full
est opportunity afforded for discussion. But
in this case the Associated Press bulletin
furnished to some members of the Cabinet
the first information they had that General
Lees service was open to question. Before
the Cabinet meeting no hint or complaint
of any kind relating to General Lee had
been made.
BASIS OF THE DEMAND.
The ground on which General Lees recall
vas asked is not officially disclosed. it is
known, however, that the Spanish govern
ment has chafed for some time over Gen.
Lees presence in Havana, although this
had never taken the form of a definite pro-
test prior to the present time. 1t began to
assume a more serious aspect shortly after
the arrival of the Maine at Havana. At
that time General Lee escorted Captain
Sigsbee on his round of official calls. These
were made with due formality, but the
Spanish officials took offense when the calls
were restricted to General Blanco, Admiral
Manterola and the representative of the
military arm of Spain's service, and did
not include Premier Galvez and his asso-
ciates of the autonomist Cabinet, who rep
resent the new civil regime which Spain is
seeking to enforce. The matter came to the
attention of Senor Dupuy de LONE, then
niSh mir 0iCfa Mt
though there were no protests, the situa-
ton doubtless reached the State Depart
mentA as suitable amends were made by
Captain Sigsbee's calling on DR.. Congosto,
the civil secretary general, Premier Galvez
and his associates.
There was like irritation over dinner
given by Consul General Lee to the officers
of the Maine. The list of guests on that oc-
caSion is said to have omitted some of the
Spanish naval officers and to have included,
quite conspicuously, the names of num-
Der of American newspaper correspondents
who were regarded by the Spanish officials
at Havana as antagonistic to them. This
also came to the attention of the officials
mere, but was not made the basis for any
action but rather of unofficial Spanish crit
icism Of General Lees general mode of pro-
cedure.
Within recent days it has been understood
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 complete surprise
There are circumstances, however, which
clearly disclose the grounds for the recall.
although 1t is not known that Spain has
made any exact specification of complaint.
since the Maine disaster report has been
circulated that General Lee held the per-
sonal opinion that the explosion was due to
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 General Lee has been the source
OF much feeling in Spanish official circles.
The press dispatches from Madrid also
disclose that General Lee is held account
able 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 towards the insur-
gents. The suggestion of the 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
Senor Dupuy de LONE is due in Spain at
this time His enforced retirement on de-
mand by the United States is felt to have
awakened a counter sentiment at Madrid
which finds expression against Consul Gen
eral Lee. There is little doubt also that
such advice as Senior Dupuy De LONE would
give to the government or to the press in
public in Madrid would not be conducive
toward the retention of General Lee
Ihere is little doubt, however that the
main cause of Spain's action is the sympa-
thy General Lee has shown for the Cuban
sunerers. 1t is known that his active and
open sympathy with the people who have
suHered SO greatly during the present in
surrection, American citizens as well as ma
tive Cubans, has not been accepted by the
Spanish officials in Cuba as an exhibition
OF disinterested officialism, such as is ex-
pected of consular officers. There were
complaints during General Weyler's admin
istration of his conduct, but never in full
official FORM AS matter of fact Spain
required formal excuse for the dismissal
of a consular officer according to interna-
tional law. These officers are not endowed
usually with diplomatic privileges, and they
exist entirely by the sufferance of the ma
tionS to which they are sent. In their case,
1t is not necessary nor usual to 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. So Consul General Lee
may be dismissed from his post at the
pleasure of the Spanish government, and
this would not violate any section of inter-
national law. But he is in one respect
unique, in that he is endowed with semi
diplomatic powers, by the wish of our gov
ernment and by the consent of the Spanish
government.
The request of the Spanish government
for General Lees recall may, therefore, be
| regarded as tantamount to a demand for
the recall of an Objectionable minister
such, for instance, as was Senor Dupuy De
Lone. There must be some substantial or
satisfactory reason for such a demand in
such cases, and as those presented against
General Lee probably were confined to the
acts he has so far performed, with the full
sanction and approval of President McKin-
ley, the demand was not entertained, as is
clearly shown in the formal statement Civ
en- out by Assistant Secretary Day. Under
such circumstances the incident would
close, unless Spain took the decisive step
of insisting on General Lees recall, and
this failing, giving him his exequatur. This
radical course Is not expected, however, and
all the indications reaching officials here is