The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-07
SPAIN ASKS LEES RECALL
ALSO THAT MERCHANT VESSELS RE-
PLACE RELIEF WARSHIPS.


Refuses to Comply and an Ohicial state-
inent to This Effect is Issued From the
State Department-The Administrations
Firm Stand-Oficial Grounds for Recall
Not Disclosed-Lee's Actions Have
Called the spaniards on Several Occa-
sions-His Sympathy for the Cubans-
Belief That Spain VIII Not Press the
Incident-Statement by Long.
Washington, March 6.-The Spanish
situation developed two new phases to-
day, when it became known that the
Spanish government had formally re-
quested the recall of Consul General Lee
from his post at Havana, to which re-
quest the United States had cour-
teousIy but firmly refused to comply;
also that the Spanish government has
suggested the impropriety of sending
relief supplies to the Cuban reconcen-
trados on the cruiser Montgomery and
gunboat Nashville, to which suggestion
the United States had given a like
answer in the negative.
An Official Statement.
The first intimation of these steps
came in a brief and explicit cable dis
patch from Madrid. Prior to it's re-
ceipt, however, the authorities here had
been fully conversant with the facts,
although no intimation had been al
lowed to get to the public on either
subject. The disclosures from Madrid
left no further ground for reticence in
Washington and after a conference at
the White house between the president,
Assistant Secretary Day of the state
department and Secretary Long, the
following authorized statement was is
sued by Judge Day as comprising ev-
erything that was to be said by the
administration on the subject: THE
president will not consider the recall of
General Lee. He has borne himself
throughout this crisis with judgment,
fidelity and courage, to the presidents
entire satisfaction. AS to the supplies
for the relief of the Cuban people all
arrangements have been made to carry
consignment this week from Key
West by one Of the naval vessels
whichever may be best adapted and
most available for the purpose, to Ma
tanzas and Saguaya." Although the
officials here are non-committal on the
subject it Is believed that the request
for General Lees recall was made at
lease a day or two ago and that the
Spanish government after receiving the
reply of the state department has not
insisted either upon Lees recall or
upon it's contention with regard to re-
lief supplies.
Cabinet Members Rettcent.
Beyond the foregoing, those who par
ticipated in the conference at the
White house would not discuss the sub
ject and 1t was stated positively that
the authorized statement comprised
everything that would be given to any
one The advices from Madrid. togeth-
Ell with the authoritative statement
here left no 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 Fri
|. day as no reference was made to it at
that time. 1t came through Minister
Woodford, a somewhat unusual proceed
ure, as the common mode of requesting
the withdrawal of a minister or a con-
sui is through the representative of the
government making the request, which
in this case is Senior Dubosc, the Span
ish charge d'affaires. Mr.. Dubosc hao
received no instructions on the subject
and was in complete ignorance of the
demands made through Minister Wood
ford. The other suggestion of the
Spanish government-that relief sup
plies should not be sent in war vessels
did not come through Minister Wood
ford as the Madrid dispatches state
but was presented by Senior Dubosc tc
the state department.
Administration Firm Stand.
The responses in both cases went d.
rect to Minister Woodford. There was
no loss Of time, however, in assembling
special session of the cabinet or even
in any general conferences between the
president and his cabinet advisers in
dividually. In responding to the re-
quest for General Lees recall the pres
ident does not appear to have deemed
the subject open to such discussion as
would require the views of his cabinet
associates and after a brief exchange
between the WnlUe mouse ana the state
department, the negative answer was
dispatched to Minister Woodford One
phase of the incident that tends to
show the firm stand taken by the ad-
rninistration is the expedition with
which the action was accomplished.
Such matter ordinarily is laid be-
fore the cabinet, the views of all it's
members personally given and the full
est opportunity afforded for discussion
4 But In this case the Associated Press
bulletin furnished to some members of
y the cabinet the first information they
had that General Lees services was
open to question. Before the cabinet
meeting no hint or complaint of any
s kind relating to Lee had been made.
Grounds for Recall Not Disclosed.
j The grounds upon which General
s Lees recall was asked are not official
j 1y disclosed. 1t is known, however
A that the Spanish government has chat
81 fed for some time over General Lees
8 presence in Havana, although this had
4 never taken the form of a definite pro-
test prior to the present time. 1t began
8 to assume a more serious aspect short
y ly after the arrival of the Maine al
q Havana. At that time General Lee
Il escorted Captain Sigsbee on his round
= of official calls. These were made with
y due formality, but the Spanish officials