Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-03-10
unofficial spanIsh criticism of Gen.

unofficial Spanish criticism of Gen.
Lea mode Of procedure.
| hecently IL haa been unnerBtood by
nticihls here that the feeling against
Gan. Lee had subsidized and the re-.
| quest for hia tucall was, for that reaeun,
~ the nature of complete surprise.
Inore are circumstances, howeypr,
| which clearly disclose the grounds for
tle recall, although ii 10 not known
TINT spain has made any exact spcci
nnations of complaint. Sjncu the Maine
disaster a report has hcen circulated
that Zen. Lee held the personal opinion
that the explosion was duo to external
cause. No official report Of this char,
nctsr was ever sent to Washington NO
FUR uH is known. hut tho mere eiscu,
lation OF the report at Madrid, attribut.
ing such viewH to Gen. Lea, mas been
tho source of much feeling in Spanish
official circles.
The press dispatches from Madrid
also disclose that Gen. Lac il held
accountable at tho Spanish capital for
the project OF the purchase of Cuba by
the United States from Spain as vol
as for a general sentiment OF sympathy
toward the insurgents. Tho suggest ion
oil tho Impartial u leading government
organ that tho next session of the
Cortes win consider the case of Cen
Lac shows tho strong influences which
induced tho SagaBta cabinet to ask his
recall. In this cnunection the fact il
noted that Senior Dupuy De Lome is
duo in Spain at this time. His enforced
retirement on demand by the United
States 10 felt to have awakened II
counter sentiment at Madrid which
tntls expression against Consul General
l-oe. Such advice as Senior Dupuy lie
Lome would give TO the government or
the press in Public iu Madrid would
not he conducive toward the retention
of Gen. Lee. There is little doubt, how.
evar. that tue main cause of Spain q
action is tue sympathy Gen. Lee has
shown for the Cuban sufferers.
SYMPATHY WITH SUFFERERS IN cuBA.
II 10 known that his active and oppn
Eympathy with the people who have
suffered &c greatly during the present
insurrection, American citizens al we'll
as native Cubsns, has not been accepted
by the Spunsh cllieinis in Cuba as an
exhibition OF disintarested otlinialism
euch as is oxpeGted of consular officers.
There were complaints during Gen.
Woylor's administration OF his conduct
but never in full official form. Asa
matter of fact Spain required no formal
excuse for the dismissal of a consular
officer, according to international law.
These officers are not endowed usually
with diplomatic privileges, and they
exist entirely by the Rutferance OF the
nations to which they are sont. In
their case it is not necessary or usual
to requeat their hons governments 10
recall them. They live officially only
through an exequatur granted hy the
government TO which they arc ac-
credited, and this may he withdrawn at
any moment So Consul General I.ee
may be dismi6sed from his post at the
pleasure of the Spanish government,
and this would cot violate any aection
of international law.
But he ia in one respect UNIQUE in
that he is endowed with semi diiplo
matte powers by tho wish of our
government and by the consent of the
Spanish government. The request of
the Spanish government for his recall
may, therefore. he regarded as tanta-
mount to domanu for the recall of an
Objectionable mir istor--such for iu-
stance as Senur Dupuy DE Lomo. There
must be some substantial or satisfactory
reason for such demand in such cases
and as those presented against Con.
Les probably we're confined to acts he
has sn far performed with the full
sanction and approval of President Nc
Kinley the demand was not entertained,
as is clearly shown in the formal state
ment given out by Asaietant Secretary
Day. Under such circumstances the
incident would close unless Spain took
the decisive step of insisting on Gen.
Lee's recall, and this failing, giving
him his ezequatur. This radical courae
10 not expected, however, and all the
indications reaching officials here is
that Spain will not proceed further
With the incident.