The herald., 1898-03-07


usually with diplomatic privileges and they
exist entirely by the sufferance of the ma
tions to which they are sent. In no case
is 1t 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are accredited, and this may be withdrawn
| at any moment.
MAY BE DISMISSED
So Consul General Lee may be dismissed
from his post at the pleasure Of the Span
| ish government, and this would not violate
any section of international law. But he 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
| therefore be regarded as tantamount to a
| demand for the recall of an Objectionable
| mlnister-such, for instance, as Senor Du-
| puy de LONE. There must be some sub
| stantial or satisfactory reason for such a
| demand In such cases. and those presented
| against Gen. Lee probably were confined o
the acts he has SO far performed with the
full sanction and approval of President
mckinley. The demand was not enter
tagged, as Is clearly shown in the formal
statement given out by Assistant Secretary
| Day. Under such circumstances the Incl
dent would close, unless Spain took the
recall. and this failing, giving him his exc
quatur This radical course is not expect
ed, however, and all the indications reach
ing officials here are that Spain will not
THE CRUISER QUESTION
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
tine question as to what ship should carry
the relief supplies as serious in any way,
or as likely to present any perplexing
issues.
The desire OF the navy department, Mr..
Long said, was merely to get the supplies
to Cuba on the most available vessel,
There were but three of these now at
Key West-the Montgomery, Nashville
and Fern-alike available for the service,
and one of these, Mr.. Long said, would be
designated for the trip. The Fern is a
dispatch boat, an unarmored vessel, and
her availability for this mission has not
previously been suggested. Her choice
would probably remove all ground for OBJ
lection, as she has none of the character
istics of war vessel.
Mr.. Long said, however, that the only
decision thus far reached was that one
OF the named Observation-Disclosures, Nash
Vile or Fern would make the trip.
AS this is the first time public mention
has been made of the Fern in connection
with the carrying of the supplies it might
be inferred that she will make the trip.
The official orders, however, continue to
stand as they were originally made, des-
ignating the Montgomery and Nashville
but these could be changed readily if the
Fern was felt best suited for the work
The naval officers have felt from the
first that the Montgomery and Nashville
were IL adapted for carrying supplies.
They are essentially fighting machines
and every inch of available room is taken
up with their own supplies of cordage,
canvas, coal, etc. This was SO apparent
that the plans contemplated putting the
relief supplies on deck, covering them with
tarpaulins, and trusting to the weather
and quick trip to keep the provisions
and clothing from damage. The Fern, not
being essentially fighting machine, but
more of the type of a yacht for the speedy
conveyance of naval dispatches, has con-
siderably more room for the slowing of
supplies, both below and on deck.
INCREASE OF SUPPLIES
The Cuban relief committee counted on
sending seventy-five tons to Key West,
but this has now been increased to one
hundred tons. 1t left New York on one
of the Mallory line boats yesterday, and
Is due in Key West next Wednesday. The
transfer will take day, and the plan has
been to have the government ship start
next Thursday for Cuba.
The decision of the administration to
send supplies to the reconcentrados was
arrived at early in the week. Gen. Lee
had represented that he had been unable
to distribute the goods that had been re-
ceived in answer to the proclamation of
the president to the American people, He
reported that many tons of these supplies
were stored in Havana and could not be
forwarded to the eastern end of the ISL
and. The United States consuls at Ma
tanzas and Sagua la Grande had come in
person to Havana to seek for relief, after
reporting to the state department the ter
r1ble conditions existing in their respect
i've districts.
The state department Immediately in
stituted inquiries, and learning that the
original decree of the Spanish govern
ment authorizing the free admission of
supplies applied only to the port of Ha-
vana. secured permission for the free re-
ception OF these supplies at all ports. The
net obstacle met was the difficulty of
transshipping the goods from Havana east
ward, there being only semi-weekly SER
vice by steamer, and that subject to many
vexatious local restrictions.
SAILORS STORIES
When the United States cruiser Mont
gomery returned from her cruise. which
Included the Cuban ports of Matanzas and
Santiago, the officers brought narrowing
tales OF the distress existing there. Capt.
Crowninshield, the chief Of the navigation
bureau or the navy department. an officer
Of the soundest discretion and Judgment.
was on the ship, an accidental passenger.
He told President Mckinley directly what
he had learned. The result was the imme-
date decision of the navy department to
accede to the request of the relief COM
mittee In New York to forward their sup
plies to the eastern ports of Cuba. One
Oh the American lines of steamships run
ming from New York had offered to take
the bounteous contributions of the Ameri-