The record-union., 1898-03-07
CONSUL GENERAL Lee
WILL NOT Be RECALLED.

,e request of the Spanish Govern
: ent, the answer was made that the
plans for the trip We're completed, and
that the stay of the ships would be
brief and Of the most pacific character.
In responding to the request for Gen
erat Lees recall, the President does not
seem to have deemed it a subject open
to such discussion as would require the
views of his Cabinet associates, and
after a brief exchange between the
White House and the State Department
a negative answer was dispatched TO
Minister Woodford.
One phase Of the incident that tends
to show the firm stand taken by the
administration is the expedition with
which the action was accomplished.
Such a matter ordinarily is laid before
the Cabinet, the views of all its MEM
bers personally given and the fullest
opportunity afforded for discussion. But
in this case the Associated Press bulletin
furnished TO some members Of the Cab
met the first information that General
Lee ; Sci iFicS dS open 10 QutStiO4i DE-
fore the Cabinet meeting no hint Or
complaint of any kind relating to Cen
eral Lee had been made
The ground on which General Lees
closed. 1t is known, however, that the
Spanish Government has chafed for
some time over General Lees presence
in Havana, although it had never taken
the form of definite protest prior to
the present time. 1t began to assume
a more serious aspect shortly after the
arrival of the Maine at Havana. At
that time General Lee escorted Captain
Sigsbee on his round of official calls.
These were made with due formalitX,
but the Spanish officials took offense
when the calls We're restricted to Cen
eral Blanco, Admiral Manterola and the
representatives of the military arm of
Spain's service, and did not include
Premier Galvez, and his associates of
the autonomist Cabinet, who represent
ed the new civil regime which Spain is
I
the attention of Senior Dupuy De Lone,
the Spanish Minister at Washington,
and although there was no protest, the
/ situation doubtless reached the State
! Department, as suitable amends We're
made by Captain Sigsbee's calling on
Dr. Congosto. the civil Secretary Cen
eral. Premier Galvez and his associates.
There was like irritation over dinner
given by Consul General Lee to the Of
/ ficers of the Maine. The list of guests
on that occasion is said to have omitted
some of the Spanish naval officers, and
to have included, quite conspicuously,
| the names of q number Of American
newspaper correspondents who were re-
garded by the Spanish officials at Ha-
vana 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 gem
eral mode Of procedure.
Within recent days it had 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 nature
Of d complete surprise. There are cir
| cumstances 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 report has been
personal opinion that the explosion was
| du TO external causes. No ofIieia! re-
port Of this character was ever sent TO
| Washington so far as is 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 official circles.
The press dispatches from Madrid
also disclose that General Lee is held
accountable al the Spanish capital for
the project Of the purchase of Cuba by
the United States from Spain, as well
as for a general sentiment of sympa-
thy toward the insurgents.
The suggestion OF the Impartial a
leading Government organ. that the
next session of the Cortes will consider
the case OF General Lee shows the
strong influences which induced the Sa-
/ gasta Cabinet to ask his recall. In
this connection the fact is noted that
T.
at this time. His enforced retirement
on demand by the United States is
felt to have awakened counter senti-
ment at Madrid, which finds expression
against Consul General Lee. There is
little doubt also that such advice as Sc
nor De Lone would give to The Gov
ernment or to the press and p.splc in
Madrid would not be conducive toward
the retention Of General Lee.
There is little doubt, however, that
the main cause OF SPANS action is the
! sympathies General Lee has shown for
the Cuban sufferers. II is known that
his active and open sympathy with the
! people who have suffered so greatly
during the present insurrection. Amer
ican citizens as we'll as native Cubans
has not been accepted by the Spanish
officials in Cuba as an exhibition of dis
Interested officialism, such as is ex-
pected OF Consular officers. There
were complaints during General wey.
. | ler's administration of his conduct. bui
never in fun official form, As mat.