The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-11

| when the calls were restricted to Gen.
Blanco, Admiral Manterola and uhe
representative Of the military arm Of
Spaln's service, and did MT include
Premier Calvez and his associates Of
the autonomous cabinet, who repre-
sent the new civil regime which Spain
ID seeking to enforce. The matter
came to the attention OF Senior Dupuy
de LONE, han Spanish minister at
Washington, and although there were
no protests the situation doubtless
reached the state department, as suit
able amends were made by Capt. Sigs-
bees calling on DR.. Congosto, the civil
secretary general, Premier Galvez and
his associates. There was like irrita-
ton over a dinner given by Consul
Genera Lee to the officers Of the
Maine. The list Of guests on that &C
caSiGn is said to have omitted several
Spanish officers, and to have included
quite cOnspicuOusly the names Of a
number Of American newspaper cor
respondents who were regarded by the
Spanish officials at Habanla as antago-
nistic to them. This also came to the
attention of the officials here, but was
not made the basis for any action, but
rather of unofficial Spanish criticism
of Gen. Lees general mode of pro-
| edure
Within receGst days it has been I'M
derstood 10y ~officI2is here that the feel
ing against General Lee had been
smOobhed over, and tlEe request for his
recall was for that reason in the ma
ture Of a complete surprise. There are
| circumstances, however, which clearly
disclose the grounds for the recall, al
though il is not know that Spain has
made any specifications of COM
plant. Since the Maine disaster a re-
| port had been circulated that General
Lee held the personal opinion that the
explosion was due TO external causes.
No official report of this character was
ever sent to Washington SO far as is
| known. But the mere circulation Of the
| report at Madrid, a~ttributing such
views to Genera Lee has been the
source Of much feeling in Spanish OF
fetal circles. The press dispatches
from Madrid also disclose that General
Lee is held accountable at the Spanish
capital for the project of the purchase
of Cuba by the United States from
Spain, as we'll as for a general senti-
ment of sympathy toward h insur-
gents.
The suggestion of The Impartial, a
leading government organ. that the
next session of the cortes will consider
tine case of General Lee, shows the
strong influence whichGnducad the Sa-
gasta cabinet to ask his recall. In this
connection, the fact is noted that Senior
Dupuy de LONE is due in Spain at this
time. His enforced retirement, on a
demand by tine United States, is felt
to have awakened a counter sentiment
at Madrid which finds expression
against Consul General Lee. There is
little doubt also that such advice as
Senior Dupuy de LONE would give to
the government or to the press in Mad
rid would not be conducive toward the
retention of General Lee. There is lit
tie debut, however, that THE main
cause OF Spain's action is the SYM
pa;thies General Lee has shown for the
Cuban sufferers.
HIS SYMPATHY WITH THE Gu
BANS.
Tt is known that his active and open
sympathy with the people who have
! suffered SO greatly during the present
| insurreGtiOn, American citizens as we'll
as native CubanS, has mot been &C
| cepted by the Spanish officials in Cuba
| aus an exhibition of disinterested Of
! ficialism, such as is expected of consul
lar officers. There were complaints
| during Gen. Weyler's administration of
his conduct, but never in full official
form. AS a, matter Of fact, Spain re-
quired no formal excuse for the dis
missal of a consular officer, according
| Ito formations law. These officers are
not endowed usually with diplomatic
privileges, and they exist entirely by
the sufferance of the nations to which
they are sent. In their Case, it is not
necessary nor usual to request their
home to recall them.
They live officially only Through an ex-
equatur granted by the government to
which they are accredited, and this
-.lI o..
Consul General Lee may be dismissed
from his post at the pleasure of the
Spanish government and this would
not violate any section of International
law. But he is in one eSpec unique,
in that he is endowed with semi-diplO-
matte powers, by the wish Of our gov
eminent and by the consent of the
Spanish government. The request of
the Spanish government for his recell
may therefore be regarded as tanta-
mount to a demand for the recall of an
Objectionable minister-such for in
stance as was Senior Dupuy de LONE.
There must be some substantial or sat
isfactory reason for such a demand in
such cases. and as those presented
against Gen. Lee probably We're con-
fiHed to the acts he has so far per-
formed with the full sanction and ap-
prOval of President Mckinley, the de-
iASSAA wa ~ ~ ~ NA>NAN
shown in the formal statement given
out by Assistant Secretary Day. I'm
der such circumstances, the incident
would close unless Spain oCk the DE-
cisive steps of irsi-t 'ng on Gen. Lees
recall, and this failing, giving him his
eXequatur. This RADICAL course is not
expected, however. and all the indica-
ltiOnS reaching officials here is that
Spain will mot proceed further with the
incident.
THE RELIEF SUPPLIES.
The action regarding the cruiser
Montgomery n the gunboat ash
willie is looked upon by officials here as
much less grave than "a affecting
Gen. Lee. Secretary Long said tonight
that he did lot regard the question as
to what ship would carry the relief
supplies as serious in amy way, or as
likely to present any perplexing issues.
The desire of the navy department,
MIR. Long said, was merely to get tine
supplies to Cuba on the most available
vessel. There are three of these now