Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-10


fused Relief Vessels Sot Fighting ships.
Washington. March 7. The Spanisb
situation developed two nav phuses
yesterday. when 1t became known that
tho Spanish government had formally
requested the recall OF Consul General
Lee from his post nj Havana, to which
request tho United States had courts.
onsly, but firmly, refused TO comply
Rlsn that thu Spanish government had
Bugesstei the impropriaty OF sending
relief supplies 10 the Cuban rucuncen-
trados on the cruiser Montgomery ard
gunboaf Nashville, 10 which suggestion
the United StatoG had given like
answer in the negative.
The first intmltinn of theae steps
came in brief and explicit cahe dis
Tntch nom Madriu. Prior to its re-
cnint, huwcver, the ButhuritieH hero had
been fully cbnIcrsant with the facts,
although no intinaliGn hai heen al
lowell to ret 10 the public on either
subject The disclosures from Madrid
lett no further ground for reticcnCe in
washington. mud after q conference Mt
the While House between the Hreai-
dent, Assistant Secretary Day, of the
State Department, and Secretary Long,
Uf the Navy Department, the following
statement was mnde 10y Judge Day MS
comprising everything that was TO he
said by the administration on the sub.
iect
WILL NOT CoNsIDEn LEES RECALL.
"The President will not consider the
recall of Gen. Lee. lie has borne him
self throughout this crisis with iutlg-
ment, fidelity and courage, to the
Presidents entire satisfaction.
''As to the supplies for the relief of
the CubGn people, all arrangements
have hesn made 10 carry consignment
this wesk from Key West by ono OF the
naval vessels, whichever may he hest
Rdaptsd and most availahs for the
purpose, 10 Maianzas and Sagua.
i Beynnd the foregoing, thoHs who had
participated in tho conference at the
White House would not discuas the
subject, ard IL was stated positively
that the authorized statement comprised
everything that would he given to any
one.
The advices from Madrid, together
with the authoritative statement here,
lett nU room for doubt as to what had
occurred. Tho request for Gen. Lee'a
recall ia understood TO have come
within the last few dRye, and dOuhtleas
-sinca tho last cabinet meeting on Fri
DAY, as no reference WAS made TO il at
that time. ii came through Minister
WoudIord, somewhat unusual pro
cedurs, as the common mode OF re-
qucsting the Withdrawal of a minister
or consul is through the representa-
tive OF the government making the re.
guest, who in this case, is Senior du
bose, the Spanish charge d'atfaires.
Mr. du Bose had received no in
structions on tho Aubiect, and was in
complete ignorance OF the demands
made through Minister Wuodford.
The other suggestion of the Spanish
government. that relief supplies should
note be sent in war vessels, did not
come through Minister Woodiord, hut
was presented by Scnor du Bose to the
State Department last Friday. The
responses in both CASES went direct to
Minister Woodford. There was no loss
of time, however, in assembling
special SESSION of the cabinet, or even
in any general conference between the
PRESIDENT anu his cabinet advisors in
dividually.
In The protest against the Montgomery
ami Nashville, Judge Day conferred
with Secretary Lung, who, in turn,
called in Capt. Crowninshield, chief of
tue bureau Of navigation. There ap-
peared to be no reason why change
should be made in the plan for sending
these ships on tho relief mission, ami
without attaching grave Significance to
tho request OF the Spanish government,
the answer was made that tho plans for
the trip wero completed and that the
Stay of the shIps would be brief and
OF the most pacific character.
In responding 10 the request for Con.
Lees recall the President docs not ap.
pear to have deemed the subject open
to such discussion as would require the
views of mis- cabinet associates, and,
after a brief exchange hetween the
White House and the State Depart
ment, the negative answer was dis
patched 10 Minister WoudfoTd.
THE GROUND or sPAIN's INQUEST.
The ground on which Gen. Leo's re-
call was asked is not officially dis
closed. IL is known, however, that the
Spanish government has chafed for
some time over Gen. Lees presence in
Havana, although this had never taken
tho form of definite protest prior TO
tho present time. II began to assume
n mora serious aspect shortly after the
arrival of tho Maine AT Havana. At
that time Gen. Lee escorted Can't. Sige
bee on his round OF official calls. These
were made with due fnrmalty but
the Spanish officials took oil'ensa when
th9 calls were restricted TO Gen. Blanco,
Admiral MantarolR, and the representa-
tives of tne military arm OF Spnn's
Hervice, and did not include Premier
Galvez and his associates of the auto
nomous cabinet, who represent the new
civil regime which Spain is seeking to
enforce.
Tie matter came to the attention of
Senor Dupuy De LONE. then Spanish
minister at Washington, and although
there were no protests. tue situation
was doubtless communicated to the
State Department, as suitable amends
were mude by Capt. Sigsbee calling on
DIR. Congnsto, the civil secretary gen
eral, and Premier Galyez and his 1850
ciates. There was like irritation over
a dinner given by Consul General Lee
to the officers of tho Maine. The list
OF guests on that occasion is said to
have omitted aome of the Spanish naval
officers and tn have included quite con
spicuously the names of number OF
American newspaper correspondents,
who were regarded by the Spanish
officials at Havana aa antagonistic to
them. This alsu came TO the attention
Of thu officials nere, hut was not made
the Easia of any action, but rather OF