Evening star., 1898-04-14
DECISION WAS FINAL
General Lee Reiterates His Refusal of Pm.
posed Reception.
Committee Notified THIS Morning.
His Friends Approve
HIS Course.

me proposed reception rendered him when
the committee waited upon him this NORM
ing at 1890 O'Clock in the banquet hall os
the Shoreham Hotel. As was stated In
The Star. when waited upon by the com.
mittee yesterday he asked until this morn.
ing to give his decision. as he wished to
consider II in all its phases
He rose about s o'clock this morning ana
looked over his mail, which. as may 10
imagined has grown to immense propor-
tions. The general does not care to have
private secretary. He prefers to look
at his mail himself. Sometimes his son,
f1tzhugh Lee, jr., assists him. but IL In
cnly on special occasions
Inc general picks out the letters which
seem 10 be OF an official nature first, ana
"Opens ana reads them He had partially
hnisned this task this morning and was at
breakfast when the committee headed Inv
Soi; ROBERT L. Fleming. called. The gen.
eIaI LOOK seat, and the members of ths
committee gathered about him. Ha
started MS speech of dcclination In q char
acteristic manner
Look here, boys" he said in a matter.
oi-iact tone. Il haven't done a thing that
either one Of you. or any American citizen.
would not have done. and don't see why
tEere should be any fuss made about it,
There was a lot of fuss about IL the
other night, general" one of the commit
die of it,
Il couldn't help that" said the general.
couldn't we'll get way from it, II was
urexpected and I appreciated il highly.
1 thlnk that once is enough, though. Now,
DON'T want you to think I'm ungrateful,
for am not. l know IL seems that wSv to
you gentlemen, but 1 have studied over
the matter and feel satisfied that # would
be better not TO have the reception. 1
cont want for an instant anybody TO
think that / wish to put myself forward,
and must decline your most kind offer"
Suggestion of Later Date.
1t was suggested to him that. IL war
should come and he should be appointed
tc COMMAND, it would be good thing
to give the reception after this appoint
ment had been made. and that there then
could be no reason for his imagining that
he was putting himself forward
One of Gen. Lees most intimate friends
said that one reason for his not wanting
the reception was that he recognized the
fact that he occupied an official position
and felt hesitancy in accepting any for
NAL demonstration on this account. An
other reason was that he regarded the one
which had taken place as more than suf-
ficient
Gen. Lee chatted with the members of
the committee for some minutes aid then
met several Virginia friends who had cali
ed al the hotel to see him. He finally went
up to his room. accompanied by Consul
Barker. with whom he remained closcted
some time. In the meantime Senator Dam
iel of Virginia had called at the hotel to
see the consul general. but, after waiting
a few minutes. left word that he would
meet him later. After some time the gen.
eral went up 10 the War Department.
Believes There VIII BE war.
Gen. Lee is strongly of the opinion that
there will be war.
''The Spanish in Cuba do not really want
to fight he said.
Then he told of an incident. in proof of
this, which had come under his personal
observation, at Sagua la Grande. Gen.
Gomez came into the town one day at the
head of about 100 insurgents, and finally
left for little village about six miles
away. An hour after Gen Gomez
had taken his departure, after having
stated explicitly where he was going, Gen.
Nelasquez of the Spanish army led regi-
ment into the town. He inquired IL Gen.
Gomez had been there: was told he had,
where he had gone and how he could be
intercepted. Though having several times
Gomez. the Spanish general did not follow
up his advantage. and left. These tactics
are pursued on all occasions.
Admires Consul Barker.
General Lee has a warm admiration for
Consul Barker. and told how. when he left
the isiand, he took the Winchester rifle
which was his constant companion when he
had any dealings with Spanish officials.
wrapped it in an American flag and sent IT
to General Gomez.
The members of the committee which
visited General Lee to ask him to approve
the proposition to have the reception are
not disappointed at his refusal. As a mat
ter of fact. severa, of them are of the same
opinion as the general on the subject. They
realize now that, as he thinks under the
circumstances it would be better not to
have 1t.