Evening star., 1898-03-07
SPAIN RECEDED
Did Not Press for Gen. Lees S
Recall.
PRESIDENTS STAND IS FIRM
Conference at the White House This
Morning.
Congress WILL STAND BY HIM
CONGRESS- WILL STAND BY Him
Program for Sending Supplies to
Be Carried Out.
SENIOR DU BOSC'S CALL

President Mckinley was astir early at
the White House today. At o o'clock in
the morning, just as he had finished break
fast, Judge Day, assistant secretary of
State. called. This call was SO brief as TO
preclude the possibility that there had been
an important conference between the two
Men. A little later the President went to
his office.
Shortly after 10 o'clock Secretary Long
was ushered through the private apart
meEts to the Presidents office He had not
been there long when Senators Allison and
Hale and Representatives Dingley, Grosve-
nor and Cannon came. apparently by ap-
polntment, and then began the most i'm
portant conference held at the White
House since President Mckinley came in
1t is believed that the plans discussed
were of greater importance than ever yet
talked over even at a cabinet session.
Will Not Insist ON Lees Recall.
The conference lasted nearly an hour. At
Its conclusion those 5ngaged were reticent
10 an unusual degree.
1t can be stated on indisputable authori-
y, however, that the President told the
men engaged in the conference over which,
he presided that Spain had sent assurances
'4Adt SAe "Ou4u not Insist upon the recall
OF Gen. Lee This put new phase on the
situation and made the leaders present
more hopeful that there would not be an
immediate rupture; that there was a pros
pect that friendly relations would go on.
The same assurance was not given that
Spain was satisfied with our insistence
upon carrying relief In war vessel. but
the belief was expressed that she would
also not insist upon change of that plan.
The members of the conference also re-
ceived assurances that Spain did not feel
aSgrieved al the decisive reply of the Pres
ident- While this regarded as reassur-
Ing, 1t is safe to say that the parties to the
conference We're somewhat suspicious of
this apparent submission. Some say that
the Madrid government is simply playing
for time and waiting for a good opportuni-
ty to strike an effective blow at the United
States, possibly the getting of additional
war ships to Havana.
The foregoing are some of the suspicious
that were hiDted at when the news was
first impaired For public consumption the
Presidents advisers said the situation
locks much better today"
Who Gave Out the News.
The curious phase of this latest dispatch
= from Madrid. which has caused SO mucn
excitement. is that the intimation of the
desire of the Spanish government for tbs
recall of General Lee was made several
days ago, ana all the correspondence was
completed last Tuesday. when Minister
Noodford sent communication that Spain
would not insist upon Lees recall. 1t was
supposed by the officials of this government
who were familiar with the facts that the
incident was entirely closed, and that no
publicity whatever would be given to the
matter 1t was therefore source of con-
siderable surprise when the dispatch from
Madrid was published. as it appeared to in
olcate that it must either have been given
out by the Spanish government for some
Interior purpose or that the Weylerite party
bad made 1t public in order to embarrass
the Sagasta ministry.
The circum stances seemed to render IL
impossible that the publication came from
the Sagasta government, inasmuch as the
result involved defeat of its purpose in
opening the correspondence
1t is learned that the Spanish objection tn
Consul General Lee is based largely upon
his sympathy for the Cubans and some of
his utterances which have found their way
irto print 1t is understood that the Span
iards also take exceptions to the friendly
relations and companionship existing be-
tween General Lee and correspondents of
papers which have been decidedly unfriend-
ly to Spain. 1t is believed that Senior de
l-cme carried to Spain papers and informa-
ton calculated to make the Spanish gov
ernment request the recall of Consul Cen
eral Lee.
The Supplies to BE Sent.
The President insists that the supplies
20 Sagua n Grande or Matanzas shall be
carried in war vessel and so informs his
friends 1t Is not thought that anything
definite was arrived at as to which vessel
will do this duty. Secretary Long himself
has not decided. He is understood to hold
the view that 1t will not be best to decide
this question until Wednesday
The information impaired as to Spain's 8
position was not by any means the sum
of what was said in this mornings con-
ference or the sum of wnat was agreed
upon.
The men assembled. representing as they
did TIE republican party In the House and
Senate. were of incalculable benefit to the
President IN suggesting what should be
done to prevent preciptate action In either
house 1t Ii believed that the President
feared that Congress would get excited
and destroy the plans he has In view by
action or words. 1t Ii known that the
President regards the situation az the
gravest possible and that he In trying to