The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-07

| diloIusd LOT discussion. But in this
| case, the associated press bulletin fur
nished to some members of the cabinet
| the first intimation that General Lees
| service was open to question. Before
the cabinet meeting no hint or COM
plant or any kind relating to General
| Lee had been made
The ground on which General Lees
recall was asked is not officially dis
| closed. 1t Is known, however, that the
Spanish government has chafed for
| some time over General Lees presence
| In Havana, although this had never
| taken the form of a definite protest
| prior to the present time. 1t began to
assume a more serious aspect shortly
i after the arrival of the Maine at Ha-
i Vana. At that time General Lee escort
/ captain Sigsbee on his round of off,
| ctal calls. These were made with due
| formality but the Spanish officials took
| offense when the call was restricted to
General Blanco, Admiral ManteroIa
and the representatives of the military
| arm of Spain's service, and did not in
elude Premier Galvez and his asso-
| ciates of the autonomist cabinet, who
| represented the new civil regime which
Spain is seeking to enforce. The mat
| ter came to the attention of Senior De
LONE, the Spanish minister at Wash
ington, and although there was no pro-
test, the situation doubtless reached the
state department, as suitable amends
| were made by Captain Sigsbee calling
on Dr. Congosto the civil secretary
general; Premier Galvez, and his asso-
ciates. There was like irritation over
a dinner given by Consul General Lee
to the officers of the Maine. The list
| of guests on that occasion is said to
nave omitted some of the Spanish ma
val officers and TO have included quite
conspicuously the names of a number
OF American newspaper correspondents,
who were regarded by the Spanish Off
ctals at Havana as antagonistic to
them This was also brought to the
attention of the officials, but was not
made the basis for any action but
rather of unofficial Spanish criticism of
General Lees general mode of pro-
cedure.
The Feeling Against Lee.
Within recent days it has been un-
derstood by officials here that the feel
ing against General Lee has been
smoothed over and the request for his
recall was for that reason in the ma
ture of complete surprise. These are
circumstances which clearly disclose
the grounds for the recall although it
is not known that Spain has made any
exact specification of complaint Since
the Maine disaster a report has been
circulated that General Lee held the
personal opinion that the explosion was
due to external causes. No official re-
port of this character was ever sent to
Washington, so far as known but the
mere circulation of the report at Mad +
rid attributing such views to General
Lee has been the source of much feel /
ing in Spanish circles. The press dis /
patches from Madrid also disclose that /
General Lee is held accountable at the
Spanish capitai-fur the project cf the
purchase of Cuba by the United States T
from Spain. as well as for general
sentiment of sympathy toward the in
surgents. The suggestion of Impartial +
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 Ii
this connection the fact is noted that
Senor Dupuy de LONE is due in Spain
at this time. His enforced retirement
en- a demand by the United States is
felt to have awakened a counter senti-
ment at Madrid which finds expression
against Consul General Lee. There is
little doubt also that such advice as
Senor De LONE would give to the gov
ernment or to the press in public in
Madrid would not be conducive toward
the retention of General Lee. There is
little doubt, however, that the main
cause of Spain's action is the sympath-
les General Lee has shown for the Gu
ban sufferers. 1t is known that his ac-
tive and open sympathy with the peo-
pie who have suffered so greatly dur
ing the present insurrection, American
citizens as we'll as native Cnbans, has
not been accepted by the Spanish Off
clals in Cuba as an exhibition of disin-
terested officialsm such as is expected
OF consular officers. There We're COM
plants during General Weyler's ad-
of his conduct. but never
in full official form. As a matter of
fact, Spain required no formal excuse
for the dismissal of n consular officer
according to international law These
officers are not endowed usually with
diplomatic privileges and they exist
by the suffrance of the nations
TO which they are sent In this connec-
ton it is not necessary nor usual to re-
quest their home governments to recall
them. They live officially only through
an exequator granted by the govern
ment to which they are accredited and
this may be Withdrawn al any moment. /
So Consul General Lee may be dis
missed from his post at the pleasure of
the Spanish government and this would
not violate any section of international
law. But he is in one respect unique
In that he is endowed with semi -diplo-
matte powers by the wish of our gov
and by the consent of the
Spanish government.
Demand Not Entertained.
The request of the Spanish govern
ment for his recall may therefore be
as tantamount to a demand
for the recall of Objectionable minis
ters-such, for instance. as was Senior
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
and approval of President
Me kiney, the demand was not en-
tertained. as is clearly shown in the
formal statement given out by Assist
ant Secretary Day. Under such cir
the incident would close
unless Spain took the decisive step of
on General Lees recall and
this failing, giving him his exequator
This radical course is not expected