The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-09
LEE WILL LEAVE TODAY
HIS WITHDRAWAL IS NOT AN
OVERT ACT OF WAR
State Department officials Explain
That the Recall of the Consul
General Is Simply an Act of Pre-
caution, and Not n Step Prelim-
mary to Armed COnflict-Safety
for All American Citizens.

WASHINGTON, April 8.-The expec-
tation of the state department officials
is that Consul General Lee will be out
of Havana before another sun sets in
that CITY, This statement is based on
the opinion of Assistant Secretary Day,
who said this afternoon that the consul
general would leave his post Of duty
probably tomorrow on the Olivette.
A dispatch was received at the de-
partment today from Gen. Lee, but 1t
was said 1t related to simply matter
Of detail of no great Importance. From
the fact that he made no reference to
any disturbance or i'll feeling the Off
cials take it for granted that the day
in Havana passed by without anything
of moment happening.
BY Sunday at the very latest, 1t is
now believed, all the consular officers
of the United States in Cuba and all
American citizens who desire to do so
will have left the cities where they
are loca ted and be either in the United
States or aboard vessels bound thlther.
The effects of the cOnsulates consisting
of unimportant papers. furniture, ETC.,
will be placed under the charge of the
consular representatives of the British
government now in the island, where
they will be kept pending the develop
ments of the issue between Spain and
the United States.
The important papers of the offices
will be brought to the United States.
Officials of the state department in
discussing the withdrawals of the con-
suls at this time, say it presents many
phases of interest. They point out that
such withdrawal must not be consider
ed as in any manner a belligerent act.
but simply one of precaution based on
humanitarian motives, designed to pro-
tect them from any trouble which
might result from the strained feelings
between Spain and this country. In a
week, suggested one official today, they
may all have returned to their posi-
tions if trouble between the two coun-
tries should be averted
AS to the consul at Porto Rico. he
will use his own good pleasure In with
dra wal from the island, but the prob
ability is he will either come home or
go to some other place where he will
feel secure from hostile demonstrations.
NEW YORK, April S.-Intense en-
thusiasm reigns among officers and
men alike The movement upon Hava-
ma is eagerly looked forward to and Is
thought to be certain to occur, begin
ming next week, unless Spain backs
down completely. In spirit and in
preparation, Capt. SIMPSONS squad
ron is ready to fight, and on all sides
the complaint is heard that the ex-
pected opposition is of such poor cali
Der. While it may be truthfully said
that there is very little sympathy for
the Cubans themselves among the Of
ficers, this long period of suspense and
uncertainty following the Maine dis
aster has wrought them up to an un-
equaled pitch of excitement.
The steamer Olivette, from Tampa,
with her passengers, lay to eight miles
from shore this afternoon. There was
considerable excitement over the re-
port that she was aground. The
agents here said that she was at an
chor, awaiting high tide, and would
soon proceed to Havana on her regular
trip. Up to midnight she still lay off
shore and had not landed mail or pas
sengers.
TAMPA, Fla, April 8. = President
Plant today issued notice that, upon
the return Of the steamer Olivette from
Havana and the steamer Florida from
Mobile, these lines would cease until
further notice.
The Olivette will arrive from Havana