Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-07

authorized statement comprised every
thing that would be given to any one.
The advices from Madrid, together
with the authoritative statement here,
left no room for doubt as to what had
occurred
The request for Gen. Lees recall is
understood to have come within the
last few days. and doubtless since the
last cabinet meeting on Friday, as no
reference was made to it at that time.
1t came through Minister Woodford,
somewhat unusual procedure, as the
common mode of requesting tine with
drawal of a minister or consul, is
through the representative of the gov
ernment, who in this case is Senior du
/ Bose, the Spanish charge d'affalres.
Senior du Bose had received no instruc-
! tions on the subject, and was in COM
| plete ignorance of the demands made
through Minister Woodford. The other
suggestion of the Spanish government
that relief supplies should not be sent
in war vessels, did not come through
Minister Woodford as the Madrid dis
patch stated, but was presented by
Senior du Bose to the state department
last Friday.
The responses in both cases went di-
rect to Minister Woodford. There was
no loss of time, however, in assembling
a special session of the cabinet, or even
in any general conference between the
president and his cabinet advisors in
dividually. In the protest against the
Montgomery and Nashville, Judge Day
conferred with Secretary Long, who, in
turn, called in Capt. Crowninshield,
chief of the bureau Of navigation. There
appeared to be no reason why change
should be made il the plan for sending
these ships on the relief mission; and,
without attaching grave significance to
the request of the spanish government,
the answer was made that plans for the
trip were completed and that the stay
Of the ships would be brief and of the
most pacific character.
In responding to the request for Gen.
Lees recall, the president does not ap
pear to have deemed the subject open
to such discussion as would require the
views Of his cabinet associates, and,
after brief exchange between the
White House and state department, the
negative answer was dispatched to Min
lister Woodford.
One Phase of the incident tlat tends
to show the firm stand taken by the ad-
ministration, is the expedition with
which the action was accomplished.
Such matter ordinarily is laid be-
fore the cabinet and the views of all its
members personally given.
AS matter of fact, Spain requires no
formal excuse for the dismissal of con-
sular officer, according to international
law, as consuls are not endowed with
diplomatic privileges. So Consul Gen
eral Lee may be dismissed from mis-
post at the pleasure of the Spanish gov
ernment, and this would not violate any
section of international law. But his
position is in one respect unique, in that
it is endowed with semi-diplomatic pow
ers, by the wish of our government and
by the consent of the Spanish govern
ment. The request of the Spanish gov
eminent for his recall, may, therefore,
be regarded as tantamount to a demand
for the recall of an Objectionable min
lister.
There must be some substantial or
satisfactory reason for such a demand
in SUCH cases, and as those presented
against Gen. Lee probab We're confined
to acts he has so far performed with
the full sanction and approval of Presi-
dent Mckinley. the demand was not en-
tertained, as is clearly shown in the
formal statement given out by Assistant
Secretary Day
Under such circumstances, the Incl
dent would close, unless Spain took the
decisive step of insisting on Gen. Lees
recall; and this failing, giving him his
exequatur. This radical course is not
expected, however. and all the indica-
tions reaching officials here are that
Spain will not proceed further with the
incident.
The action regarding the cruiser
Montgomery and gunboat Nashville is
looked upon by officials here as much
less grave than that affecting Gen. Lee.
Secretary Long said tonight that he did
not regard the question as to what ships
should carry the relief supplies as seri-
Gus in any way, or as likely to present
any perplexing issues. The desire of the
navy department, MIR. Long said, was
merely to get the supplies to Cuba on
the most available vessels. There were
three of these now at Key West-the
Montgomery. Nashville and Fern-alike
available for the service. and one of
these, Mr. Long said. would be de-
signated for the trip. The Fern is a dis
patch boat rather than an armed naval
vessel, and her availability for this mis-
sion had not previously been suggested.
Continued on third Page.)