The Meeker herald., 1898-03-12
SPANS BOLD MOVE.
AsksF FOR CONSUL LEES RECALL
to Cabans-Fresidont Mckinley Refuses
i Both Requests.

day, when II became known that the
Spanish government had formerly re-
quested the recall OF Consul General
Lee atflis post in Havana, with which
request the Unit d States lad courteous
~ but firmly refused TO comply also
that the Spanish government had sug-
gested the impropriety OF sending relief
supplies 10 the Cuban reconcentrados
on the cruiser Nashville, TO which sug-
gestion the United States gave like
answer in the negative.
The first intimation OF these steps
came In brief and explicit cnblegram
from Madrid. Prior to its receipt, how
ever, The authorities here had been full
ly cOnversant with the facts, although
no fntimation had been allowed 10 get
to the public on either subject. The
disclosures from Madrid left no further
ground for reticence in Washington,
and, after a conference at the White
House between the President. Assistant
Secretary Day of -ihe State Depart
ment and Secretary Long OF the Navy
Department, the following authorized
statement was handed to the Ass0ciat-
ed Press by Judge Day. as compris-
ing everything that was 10 be said by
the administration on the subject:
THE President will not consider the
recall Of General Lee. He las borne
himself throughout this crisis with
Judgment, fidelity and courage, to the
Presidents entire satisfaction.
''As to the supplies for the relief Of
the Cuban people. all arrangements
have been made to carry consign-
ment from Key West by one OF our
naval vessels. whichever may I've most
adapted to the purpose, to Mantanzas
and Sagua."
Although the officials here are nom
comInittal on the subject. 1t is believed
the request OF General Lees recall WAS
made at least u day or two ago. and
that the Spanish government. after re-
ceiving the reply of the Sin;e Depart
mcni, has not insisted either upon
Lees recall or upon its contention that
the relief supplies should not be sent
10 Cuba in naval vessels. Those who
had participated in the conference at
the White House would not discuss the
subject. and 1t was stated positively
thar the authorized statement COM
prised everything that would be given
to any one.
The adviccs from Madrid. together
with the authoritative statement here.
left no room for doubt ms to what had
occurred. The request for General
Lees recall is understood to have
come within The last few days. and
doubtless since the last Cabinet meet
ing on Friday. as no reference was
made to it at that time. II came through
Minister Woodford, somewhat un-
usual procedure. as the common mode
of requesting the withdrawal of min
lister or a consul is through the repre-
sentative of the government making
f., t.,S Syx~.p
or DubO*c, he Spanish charge d'af-
faires Senior Dubosc had received no
Instructions on the subject, and was in
complete ignorance OF the demands
made. through Minister WoodsOrd.
The other suggestion of the Spanish
government, that relief suppliea should
not be sent In war,shile. did not come
through Minister WoOdfor,1. as the Ma
1rid dispatches s;atc. but was presented
by Senior Dubosc TO the State Depart
ment last Friday. s
The responses in both cases went di-
rect to Minister Woodford. There was
no loss of time. however. in assembling
4 special session of the Cabinet. or even
in any general conference between the
President and his Cabinet advisers in
dividually. In the protest against the
Montgomery and Nashville, Judge Day
conferred with Secretary Long. who in
turn called in Captain Crowninshield,
chief of The Bureau of Navigation.
There appears to be no reason why a
change should be made in the plan
for sending these ships on the relief
mission. and without attaching signifi-
canoe TO the request of the Spanish
government, the answer was made that
the stay of the ships would be brief
a<,f ,1,.. ,n,,tt, nj u.fa
The grounds on which General Lees
recall was asked are 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 n definite protest
prior to the present time. 1t began to
assume n more serious aspect shortly
after the arrival of the Maine ut Ha-
vana. Al that time General Lee es
cOrted Captain Sigsbce Oh his round of
official calls. These were made with
due formality, hut the Spanish officials
took offense when the calls were re
stricted to General Blanco. Admiral
Manterola and the representatives of
the military arm of Spnin's service.
and did not include Premier Galvez
and his associates OF the autonomous
CABINET. VINO represent the new civil
regime which Spain is seeking to en-
force. The matter came to the atten-
tion of Senior Dupuy De LONE, the
Spanish minister at Washington. and.
although there was no protest. the sit
uation doubtless reached the State De-
partment, as suitable amends were
made by Captain Sigsbee's calling on
DIR. CongostO. the civil secretary gen
eral. Premier Galvez and his associ-
ates. =
Within recent days II 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 a complete surprise. There 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
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