Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-03-09
WILL NOT RECALL LEE.
What One Correspondent Says
About the Request for
Change In Cuba.

Chicago, ILL.,, March Tt is true"
says w. f. Curtis. writing from Wash
ington to the Chicago Record, that the
Spanish government recently animated
desire for the recall of Gen. Lee, and
suggested that Il merchant ship instead
OF man-of-war be employed to convey
the relief supplies to the reconcentradOs
at Matanzas and Sagua lie Grande, but
was met with such a firm and emphatic
negative from President Mckinley that
the subject was dropped, and probably
will not again be referred to. The re-
fusal was made in the same spirit that
is expressed in the bulletin given out by
Judge Day Sunday afternoon. The in
cident occurred some days ago. but moth
ing was known about it in Washington
outside the white house and the depart
ment of state until it leaked out at Mad
rid and was cabled over.
The action Of the Spanish government
seems to have been prompted by the wide
Unpublished and frequentlyde report
that Gen. Lee had informed the secre-
tary Of state that the destruction of the
Maine was due to external causes and
was the result of a conspiracy; but the
President does not consider that the
Spaniards have any good reason to object
ed to advise them to that effect. He was
also instructed to inform them that the
President has complete confidence in Gen.
Lees integrity and discretion, and in
tends to retain him at Havana as long as
his services are necessary. There have
been two other attempts by the Spanish
government to secure a change IN the
American consulate there-once when
Gen Williams took prompt action con-
corning the crew of the hllbuster steam
er Competitor and again since Lee has
been in office.
The reasons for objecting to the use of a
gunboat to carry the relief supplies are
not so clear, but there are two eXplana-
lions. One is that it gave the relief
movement an official character. and was
equivalent to intervention. 1t is sup
posed that the Spanish government fears
that the distribution of food and medicines
By official agencies of the United States
among its subjects may be construed as
interference in its domestic affairs. On
this point it is exceedingly sensitive.
There was no objection to our furnishing
food and medicines to American citizens
in Cuba through official channels. nor to
the general relief of the distressed
through the Red Cross society, which is
an international organization. but when
the government sends a man-ofwar laden
with supplies for distribution by the
United Staes consuls to sick and hungry
people whom the Spanish authorities
should themselves provide for, it is re
Election upou their disposition and their
ability to do so. The use of a merchant
vessel would partially relieve the trans
action of its official character, but Presi-
dent Mckinley is not disposed to split
hairs while the people of Cuba are dying
of starvation and the men-of-war may go.
1t is suspected also that the Spaniards
fear that some of the supplies may reach
the insurgents, which may possibly occur,
as they are in great need of medicines.
There will be no change in the Presi-
dents policy of inactiOn until the verdict
of the Maine board of inquiry is received,
and he will then be governed by circum
stances. If he has a plan of procedure
it is unknown to his advisers. He has
considered the situation in all it's bear
ings, and while he is anxious to do some
thing, he does not know what to do. He
realizes that present conditions cannot be
tolerated much longer, and fully appre-
ciates his responsibilities: but he does not
yet see his duty. He hopes that after
the board of inquiry has made its report
some way of peaceable intervention may
be offered. A great many of his visitors
urge him to do something. His invariabl
reply is: What do you suggest?"