Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1898-03-12
RECALL Of LEE REFUSED
M'KINLEY'S REPLY TO SPAIN.

MKINLEY's REPLY TO SPAIN.
The President Docs 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.
Washington, March THE Spanish
situation developed two new phases yes
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 inlpropriety
Of sending relief supplies to the Cuban
reconcentrados on the cruiser Montgom-
cry and gunboat Nashville, to which sug-
answer in the negative.
The first intimation of these steps came
in brief and explicit cablegram from
Madrid. Prior to its receipt, however,
the authorities here had been fully con
versant with the facts, although no init
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 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
ence was made to it at that time. It
came through Minister Wocdford, a
somewhat unusual procedure, as the com
mon mode of requesting the withdrawal
of a minister OF consul is through the
representative of the government making
the request, which, i'll this case, is Senior
Du Bose, the Spanish charge d'affaires.
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 Senor 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 a 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-
swer was made that the plans for the trip
We're completed and that the stay of the
ships would be brief and of the most
pacific character.
President Acted Promptly.
In responding to the request for General
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to have deemed the subject open to such
discussion as would require the views of
his cabinet associates and after brief ex-
change between the White house and 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 admin
istration is the expedition with which the
action was accomplished. Such mat
ter ordinarily is laid before the cabinet,
the views of all it's members personally
given, and the fullest opportunity afford
ed for discussion.
Grounds for Lees Recall.
The ground on which General Lees re
call was asked is not officially disclosed.
1t 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. 1t 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 otfense 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 Senor
de LONE, the Spanish minister at Wash
ington, 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
Sigsbee's call on Dr. Congosto, the civil
secretary general, Premier Galvez, and his
associates.
There was like irritation over dinner
given by General Lee to the officers of the
Maine The list of guests on that occasion
is said to have omitted some of the Span
ish naval officers and to nave included
quite conspicuously the names of a num-
Der of American newspaper correspond
ents who were regarded by the Spanish
officials at Havana as antagonlstic to
them. This was also brought to the at
tention of the officials but was not made
the basis for any action, but rather of un-
official Spanish criticism of General Lees
general mode Of procedure.
False Stories About Lee.
Within recent days it has been under
stood by officials here that the feeling
| ,uaipc+ Ganaral Loo has hoen smoothed
over, and the request for his recall was fol
that reason in the nature of complete
surprise. There are circumstances which
clearly disclose the grounds for the recall
although it is not known that Spain has
made any exact specification of complaint
Since the Maine disaster a report has beer
circulated that General Lee held the per