The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-07

Spanish minister at Washington, and al-
though there were no protests, the s1tua-
tion doubtlessly reached the state DEPART
ment as suitable amends were made by
Capt. Sigsbee calling on DR.. Congesto,
the civil secretary general and Premier
Galyez and is associates. There was like
irritation over dinner given by Consul
General Lee to the officers of the Maine.
The list Of guests on that accession IS
said to have omitted some of the Spanish
naval officers and to have included quite
conspicuously the names of number of
American newspaper men who were re-
garded by the Spanish officials at Havana
as antagonistic to them.
This also ca me 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's general
mode of procedure.
Within recent days it has been under
stood by officials here that the feeling
against Lee has been smoothed over and
that the request for his recall was for
that reason in the nature Of complete
surprise. There are circumstances. how
ever which clearly disclose the grounds
for the recall, although 1t is not known
that Spain has made any exact speoiaca-
tions of complaint Since the Maine
disaster, report has heeh circulated that
Gen. Lee held the personal opinion that
the explosion WIGS due to external cause.
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 attributing such views
to Gen. Lee, has been the source of much
feeling in Spain in official circles.
The press dispatches from Madrid also
disclose that Gen. 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 gener-
al sentiment of sympathy toward the in
surgents. The suggestion of the Impair
cial, leading government organ. that
the next session of the Cortes will con-
slider the case of Gen. Lee. shows the
strong influence which induced the
Sagasta 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 de-
mand by the United States, is felt to have
awakened counter sentiment at Madrid
which finds expression against Consul
General Lee. There is little doubt also
that such advice as Senior Depuy De
LONE would give to the government or
the press in Madrid would not be con-
ducive toward the retention of Gen. Lee.
There is little doubt, however, that the
main cause ofSpain's S action is the sympa-
thies Ger. Lee has shown for the Cuban
sufferers.
1t is known that his active and open
sympathy with the people who have
suffered so greatly during the present in
surrection- American citizens as well as
native Cubans, have not been accepted
by the Spanish officials in Cuba as an ex-
hibition of disinterested off1cialism, such
as is expected of consular officers. There
were complaints during Gen. Weyler's adj
ministration of his conduct, but never in
full official form. AS a matter of fact,
Spain required no formal excuse for the
dismission of asconsular officer according
to international law. These officers are
not endowed with diplomatic privileges,
and they exist entirely by the suffranos
of the nations to which they are sent. In
this case it is not necessary nor usual to
request their home governments to recall
them. They live officially only through
an exequatur granted by the government
to which they are accepted and this may
be withdrawn at any timc. So Lee may
be dismissed from his post at the pleasure
of the Spanish government and this
would not violate any section of interna-
tional law. But his is in one respect
unique, in that he is endowed with semi
diplomatic powers, by the wish Of our
government and by the consent of the
Spanish government. The request of the
Spanish government for his recall may
be regarded as an amount to demand
for the recall Of an objectionable minis
ter, such for instance as Senior d lpuy De
Lcme. There must be some substantial
or satisfactory reason for such demand
in such cases and as those presented
against Gen. Lee probably were confined
to acts he had SO far performed with the
full sanction and approval OF Presid Mt
Mckinley the demand was not enter
tanned as is clearly shown in the NAL
statement given out by Assistant Sec
retary Day Under such circumstances
the incident would close unless Spain
took the decisive step Of insisting on Gen.
Lees recall. and this failing, giving
him his exaquatur.
This radical course is not expected,
however, and all the information reach
ing officers here indicate that Spain vii!
not proceed further with the incident.
The action regarding the cruiser Mont
gomery and gunboat Nashville is looked
upon by officials here as much less grave
than that affecting Gen. Lee. Secretary
Long said tonight that he did not regard
the question as to what ship should carry
the relief supplies rs serious in any way
or as likely to present any perplexing
issues. The desire of the navy depart
ment, Mr. Long said, was merely to get
the supplies to Cuba on the most avail