The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-03-11
LEE WILL NOT Be RECALLED
President Lost No Time in
Answering Spain.
HIS CONDUCT NOT IMPROPER
And Naval Vessels Will Carry the Sup
plies to Cuba as Was First Planne ID
Spain Backs Down.

plies to Cuba as Was First Planned
Spain Backs Down.
Washington, March 8.-The Spanish
situation developed two new phases to.
day, when it became known that the
Spanish government had formally re-
quested the recall of Consult General
Lee at Havana, with which request the
United States had courteously but firm
ly refused to comply; also that the
Spanish government had suggested the
impropriety of sending relief supplies
to the Cuban reconcentrados on the
cruiser Montgomery and gunboat Nash
vile, to which suggestion the United
States had given a like answer in the
negative.
The first intimation of these steps
came in brief and explicit telegram
from Madrid. Prior to its receipt,
however, the authoritioes 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 Wash
lngton, and after conference at the
White House between the president,
Assistant Secretary Day, of the state
department, and Secretary Long, of the
navy department, the following author
lied statement was handed to the press
by Judge Day, comprising everything
that was to be said by the administra-
tion 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 a consignment
from Key West by one of the naval
vessels, whichever may be best adapted
for the purpose, to Matanzas and
Sagua.
Beyond the foregoing there was no
particular change in the conference at
the White House. 1t did not discuss
other subjects, and it was stated posi-
lively that the authorized statement
comprised everything that would be
given to any one.
The ground on which General Lees
recall was asked was not officially dis
closed. 1t is known, however, that the
Spanish government has chafed for
some time over General Lees presence
in Havana, although this has never
taken the form of definite protest
prior to the present time. It began to
assume more serious aspect shortly
after the arrival of the Maine at Ha-
vana. At that time General Lee es-
corted Captain Sigsbee on his round of
official calls. These were made with
due formalitv, but the Spanish officials
took offense when the calls were re-
stricted to General Blanco, Admiral
and the representatives of
the military arm of Spain's service, and
did not include Premier Galvez and |
mis- associates of the autonomist cabinet,
who represented the new civil regime |
which Spain is seeking to enforce. |
The matter came to the attention of |
Senior de LONE, the Spanish minister
1t Washington, and, although there
was no protest, the situation, doubt
ess,. reached the state department, as
suitable amends were made by Captain
Sigsbee calling on DIR. Congosto, the
;ivil secretary-general of Cuba. Pre-
nier Galvez and his associates.
There was like irritation over din
Ter by sConsul-General Lee to the Off
;ers of the Maine. The list of guests
IN that occasion is said to have omitted
ome of the Spanish naval officers, and
o have included quite conspicuously
he names of a number of American
newspaper correspondents, who were
egarded by the Spanish officials at Ha-
ana as antagonistic to them. This
vas also brought to the attention of
he officials. but was not made the
'asis for any action, but rather of un-
raj mode of procedure. Within re-
ent days it had been understood by
ficials here that the feeling against
General Lee had been smoothed, and
he request of his recall was for that
eason in the nature of a complete sur
rise. --. ~ 1
There are NO circumstances which |
learly disclose the grounds for the re-
all, although it is not known that
pain has made any exact specification
complaint. Since the Maine dis
ster, report has been circulated that
+eneral Lee was of the personal opin-
IN that the explosion was due to ex.
ernal causes. No official report of
lis character was ever sent to Wash.
,gton, so far as known, but the mere
regulation of the report in Madrid, at
'ibuting such views to General Lee, !
as been the source of much feeling in !
panish official circles.