The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-08
DU Bose IN THE DARK.
Madrid Government Does Not Keep
Him Well Informed.

washington March S.-The conference
the Spanish Charge d'affaires, yesterday
attracted great interest, as it was
late dispatches which would serve to make
the situation definite. The talk was sur
rounded with the greatest secrecy and the
parties interested would not discuss the
situation. but it was learned that Mr.. Du
Bose brought no dispatches of any kind
nor had he received any instructions from
his gOvernment. The purpose of his call
was not to make represent tat ions on either
incident, but to ascertain what official
basis there was for the published report
that a request had been made for Cen
had not received word from his govern
ment. This led him to a belief that a
ject, and that any representa- ton which
had been made concerning General Lee
request for his withdrawal.
It was supposed that Mr.. Du Bose
call at the state department would clear
up this misrepresentation This was not
the case, however, and after the confer
ence he continued to have the strong i'm
preston that the representations concern
ing General Lee had not been in the ma
ture of a request for his recall Th1S
view was not the result OF any oLnclal
knowledge as to what had occurred, but
from the fact that neither the Madrid
ofhclalS nor those IN washington mao
made him aware of any act having that
sOlemnity and formality of a request for
the withdrawal OF consul general In
view of the doubt existing Mr.. Du Bose
took occasion to cable to his government
with a view of learning the exact status
of affairs. In the meantime, while not
being in the position to give an official de-
NAL to the reported request for General
Lees withdrawal, Spanish officials dis
cussed the possibilities of a misapprehen-
sion arising out of past Incidents
Some time ago the published report of
Gen. Lees sympathy with the Insurgents
came to the attention of the authorities
at Madrid. 1t resulted in considerable
animadverSiOn, more in the line OF Of
fetal criticism than direct action. It did
not, as far known result in any official
protest against General Lee
The sending of supplies by naval yes
"a urearaf oh "a
Mr.. Du Bosses call On this matter he
was fully informed, as it was through
him that the request had been made that
instead of Warships. Since making the re-
quest the Spanish government has added
nothing further to define it's attitude Mr..
Du Bose has felt from the hrSt that IL
would be far more desirable in the pres
ent condition of affairs to have the sup
plies go by transport or merchant yes
shared by the officials here. He still feels
that a satisfactory understanding on the
subject will be reached. He dismissed the
idea in speaking of the matter, that IN
and event there is any serious significance
in a request of this kind. He views II as
a suggestion which any government might
universal custom are regulated as to en-
trance and clearance of vessels by rules
of the home government. If a transport
or merchant vessel is finally SelecI6d LOT
the trim the incident will be entirely re-
lieVed of significance, and II the d1SpaUcn
boat Fern is selected, that, 1t is stated,
will also largely do away with the OBJ
lection which the Spanish government
raised a to the sending of armed cruisers
and gunboats for strictly relief work I'm
til the naval department DEFINITELY an
nounces what vessels will take the sup
niles it cannot be stated that the mel
dent is closed, although neither at the
navy department nor at the spanish Spans Ie-
cation is there any serious tension over
the negOtia tons.