Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-07
WHEELING, w. VA, MONDAY, MARCH I, 1896

4ulred no formal excuse for the DIS
mlssal OF a consular officer, according
10 international law These officers
are not endowed usually with diplo-
| matte privileges, and they exist entire
~ by the sufferance of the nations 70
which they are sent. In their case,
it is not necessary nor usual TO request
their home governments to recall them.
They live officially only through the
exequatur granted by the government
TO which they are accredited, and this
may be withdrawn at any moment. 30
Consul General Lee
MAY BE DISMISSED
from his post at the pleasure Of the Span
ish government and This would NOT violate
any section of international law. But he
is in one respect unique in that he is en-
dowed with seni-diplomatic powers by
the wish of our government. and by the
consent of the Spanish government The
request of the Spanish government for
his recall may therefore be regarded as
tantamount to q demand for a recall Of
an Objectionable minister-such for in
stance as was Senior Dupuy de Lone
There must be some substantial or salts
factory reason for such demand in such
cases and as those presented against Gen
Lee probably were confined TO the acts
he has 50 far performed with the full
sanction and approval of President Nc
kinney, the demand was not entertained
as is clearly Shown in the formal state
nent given out by Assistant Secretary
Day. Under such circumst ances, the in
cident would close unless Spain took the
decisive step of insisting on Gen. Lees
recall and this failing, give him his
exequatur This radical course is not ex-
pected, however and all the indications
reaching officials here is that Spain will
not proceed further with the incident.
The action regarding the cruiser Mont
gomery and gunboat Nashville is looked
upon by officials here as
MUCH LESS GRAVE
than that affecting Gen. Lee Secretary
Long said Tonight that he did not regard
the question as TO what ship should carry
the relief supplies as serious in any way,
or as likely TO present any perplexing
issues.
The desire of the navy department, Mr..
Long said, was merely to get the supplies
to Cuba on the most available vessel.
There We're three Of these now at Key
West, the Montgomery, Nashville and
Fern, alike available for the service, and
one of these, Mr.. Long said, would be
designated for the trip The Fern is a
despatch boat rather than an armed
naval vessel, and her availability for this
mission had not previously peen suggest
ed. Her choice would probably remove all
ground for objection, as she has none of
the characteristics of a war vessel. Mr..
Long said, however, that the only de-
cision thus far reached was that one of
the naval vessels should make the trip.
AS this is the first time public mention
has beerB made of the Fern in connection
with carrying the supplies, it might he
inferred that she will make the trip.
THE OFFICIAL ORDERS,
however, continue to stand as they origi-
nally made, designating the Montgomery
and Nashville, but these could be changed
readily if the Fern was felt to best suit
for the work The naval officials have
felt from the first that the Montgomery
and Nashville were lily adapted for carry
ing supplies. They are essentially fight
ing machines, and every inch of available
room is taken with their own supplies Of
cordage canvas. coal, etc This was 50
apparent that the plans contemplated
ing them with tarpaulins and trusting to
the weather and a quick trip TO keep the
provisions and clothing from damage.
The Fern, not being 50 essentially a fight
ing machine, but more of the type of a
yacht for the speedy conveyance of naval
dispatches, has considerable more room
for slowing supplies, both below and on
deck. The Cuban relief committee
but this has now 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 DECISION
of the administration to send supplies TO
the reconcentrados in Cuba was arrived
at early in the week. General Lee had
represented that he had been unable to
distribute the goods that had been re-
ceived in answer to the proclamation OF
the President to the American people. lie
reported that many tons of these sup
plies were stored in Havana and could not
be forwarded to the eastern end Of the
island. The United States consuls at
Matanzas ana Sagua Ia Grande had
come in person TO Havana to seek for re-
lief after reporting to the State De-
partment the terrible condition existing in
their respective districts.
The State Department imedately insti-
tuted inquiries and learning that the
original decree Of the Spanish govern
ment authorizing the free admission OF
supplies applied only to the port of
Havana. secured permission from the free
reception of these supplies at All ports.
THE NEXT OBSTACLE
met was the difficulty Of shipping
the goods from Havana eastward. there
being a semi weekly service by steamer
ana that subject to many veXatous local
restrictions. When the United States
cruiser Montgomery returned from her
cruise. which Included the Cuban ports
Of Matanzas and Santiago, the officers
brought narrowing tales Of the distress
existing there Captain CrOwinshleld, 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 imme-
diate decision of the Navy Department
to aecede to the request OF the reheI
committee in New York TO forward their
supplies to the eastern ports of Cuba.
one of the American lines of steamships
,unuine 10 New York had offered to take
the boupteous contributions OF the Amer
ican people 10 Key West ana the Presi-
dent himself gave the order for their