Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-03-09
RECALL OF LEE REFUSED
M'KINLEY'S REPLY TO SPAIN.
The President Does Not Appear to
Have Deemed the Subject Open to
Discussion ON the Part of the
Cabinet-Why Spanish Officials
Do Not Like the Consul General.


terday, when it became known that the
Spanish government had formally request
ed the recall of Consul General Lee from
his post at Havana, to which request the
United States had courteously but firmly
refused to comply, also that the Spanish
government has suggested the impropriety
of sending relief supplies to the Cuban
reconcentrados on the cruiser Montgom
cry and gunboat Nashville, to which sug
gestion the United States has given like
answer in the negative.
The first intimation of these steps came
in a brief and explicit cablegram from
Madrid. Prior to its receipt, however
the authorities here had been fully con
versant with the facts, although no inti
nation had been allowed to get to the
public on either subject.
| Came Through woodford.
The advices from Madrid, together with
the authoritative statement here, left nc
room for doubt as to what had occurred
The request for General Lees recall is
understood to have come within the last
few days, and doubtless since the last
cabinet meeting on Friday, as no refer
ence was made to it at that time. 1t
came through Minister Woodford, a
somewhat unusual procedure, as the com.
mon mode of requesting the withdrawal
of minister or a consul is through the
representative of the government making
the request, which, in this case, is Senior
Du Bose, the Spanish charge d'affaires.
| lG l.
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 warships did not come
through Minister Woodford, as the Ma
drid dispatches state, but was presented
by Senior Du Bose to the state depart
ment last Friday. The response in both
cases went direct to Minister WoOdford.
There was no loss of time. however, in
assembling special session of the cab
met or even in general conference be-
tween the president and his cabinet ad-
visers individually. In the protest against
the Montgomery and Nashville, Judge
Day conferred with Secretary Long, who
in turn called in Captain Crowninshield,
chief Of the bureau of navigation. There
appears to be no reason why a change
should be made in the plan for sending
these ships on the relief mission, and
without attaching significance to the re-
ques' VI 'no sp,nish so'e,nneh'' Inc a,''
s"e' "as ', l'aue ina, .ne P'ahe ~. VI. Up
W. W. 'o'et lp,s ~ "u nu,.s ". ~, III. say y. VI.
on.pe "uu.u oe 'e' anu Vi '"' ''''''
P"c'ho c"aiuc'e'
"e"' ''''e" ro"p
In responding 10 the request for General
Lees recall the president does not appear
10 nave deemed the SUBJECT open 10 such
discussion as would require the views OF
MS cabinet associates ana aiter briei ex'
change between the White house and the
state department the. negative answer
was dispatched TO Minister Woodiord.
one phase OF the incident that tends TO
snow the nrm STAND taken Dy the admih'
'stranon Is the exPedition with which the
action was accomplished. such a mat
ter ordinarily Is iaid peiore tne caDlnet'
the views OF all It's members personally
given, and the fullest opportunity ahord'
ed Tor discussion.
Grounds for Lees Recall.
The ground on which General Lees re-
call was asked is not officially disclosed.
II is known, however, that the Spanish
government has chafed for some time over
General Lees presence in Havana, al
though this had never taken the form of
definite protest prior to the present
time. II began to assume more serious
aspect shortly after the arrival of the
Maine at Havana.
At that time General Lee escorted Cap.
tain Sigsbee on his round of official calls.
These were made with due formality, but
the Spanish officials took offense when
the calls were restricted to General Blan.
co. Admiral Manterola and the represent.
service. and did not include Premier Gal
vez and his associates of the autonomist
cabinet, who represented the new civil re.
gime which Spain is seeking to enforce.
The matter came to the attention of Senior
de LONE. the Spanish minister at Wash.
ineton. and although there were no pro.
tests. the status of the situation doubtless
was learned at the state department, as
suitable amends were made by Captain
Siosbee', call ON DIR. Conposto. the civil
secre.arv general. Premier Calyez and his
ASSOCIATES,
There was like irritation over a dinner
given by General Lee to the officers Of the