The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-07

prior to the present time. 1t began to
assume u more serious aspect shortly
after the arrival OF the Maine at Hava-
ma. At that time General Lee escorted
Captain Slgsnee on his round OF official
calls. These were made with due for
mal!ty. but the Spanish officials took
offense when the calls were restricted to
General Blanco. admiral Manterola and
the representatives. OF the military arm
OF Spain's service and did NOT include
Premier Gnlvez and his associates OF the
autonomous cabinet. who represent the
new civil regime which Spain Is seeking
TO enforce. 6,f IS Is
Tho matter came ~ the attention OF
Senior Dupuy DC Lone. then Spanish
minister at Washington, and although
there were no protests, the situation
doubtless reached the state department,
as suitable amends were made by Cap
tain Sigsbee's calling on Dr.. Congosto,
theclvil secretary general. Premier CAL
vez and his associates. There was like
Irritation over a dinner given by Consul
General Lee to the officers OF tthe Maine.
The list OF guestd On that occasion Is
said TO have omitted some OF the Spanish
naval officers and to have Included.
quite consp.cuously, the names of q
number OF American newspaper cores
pondents who were regarded by the
Spanish officials at Havana as antagon-
istic to them. This aisu came TO the at
tention OF the officials here, but was not
made the basis OF any action, but rather
OF unofficial Spanish criticism OF Cen
eral Lees general mode OF procedure.
Within recent days It has been under
stood by officials here that the feeling
against General Lee has been smoIthed
over, and the request for his recall was
for that reason in the nature OF 4 COM
plete surprise. There are circumstances,
grounds for the recall, although 1t is not
known that Spain has made any exact
specification OF complaint. Since the
Maine disaster q report has been circu-
lated that General Lee held the personal
opinion that the explosion was due to
external causes. No official report Of
this character was ever sent 10 Wash
'ington so far as Is known. But tho
mere circulation Of the report at Madrid
attribut!ng such views to General Lee
has been the source OF much feeling In
Spanish official circles.
The press dispatches from Madrid also
disclose that General Lee Is held ac-
countable at the Spanish capital for the
project of the purchase Of Cuba by the
United States from Spain as well as for
general sentiment of sympathy toward
the insurgents. The suggestion OF the
Impartial, a leading government organ.
that the next session Of the Cortes will
consider the case OF General Lee. shows
the strong Influences which induced the
Sagasta cabinet to ask his recall. In
this connection, the fact is noted that Sc
nor Dupuy de Lone Is due In Spain at
this time. His enforced retirement, on
demand by the United States. is felt
to have awakened counter sentiment
at Madrid which finds expression
against Consul Lee. There Is little doubt
also that such advice as Senor Dupuy de
LONE would give 10 the government or
to the press in public In Madrid would
not be conducive toward the retention
of General Lee. There is little doubt,
however, that the main cause OF Spain's
action Is the sympathles General Lee
mas shown for the Cuban sufferers.
It Is known that his active and open
sympathy with the people who have SUI
fered SO greatly during the present in
eurrection, American citizens as well as
native Cubans, has not been accepted by
the Spanish officials in Cuba as an ex-
hibttion OF disinterested offlcialism, such
as Is expected OF consular officers. There
were complaints during General Wey-
ler's administration OF his conduct, but
never in full official form.
As a matter of fact, Spain required
no formal excuse for the dismissal OF q
consular officer, according TO in:erna-
tional law. These officers are not en-
dowed usually with diplomatic privi-
leges and they exist entirely by the suf-
ferance OF the nation to which they are
sent. In their case, It is not necessary
nor usual 70 request their home govern
ments to recall them. They live Official
ly only through an e1equatur granted by
the government to which they are ac-
credited, and this may be Withdrawn at
any moment. So Consul General Lee may
be dismissed from his post at the pleas
ure OF the Spanish government and this
would not violate any 6ec:ion OF the in
ternatlonal law. But he Is in one re-
spect unique, in that he IS endowed with
sem-diplomltio 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 tanta-
mount to n demand for n recall OF m
objectlonal minister-such for instance
us was Seror Dupuy de Lone. There
must be some substantial or satisfactory
reason for such demand In such cases
and as those presented against General
Lee probably were confined to the acts
he has so far performed with the full
sanction and approval Of President Nc
Kiniey. the demand was not entertained.
as IS clearly shown In the formal state
ment given out by Assistant Secretary
Day. Under such circumstances, the In
cident would close unless Spain took the
decisive step OF insisting on General
Lees recall, and his failing. give him
his exequatur. This radical course is
not expected, however. and all the indi-
cations reaching officials here is that
Spain will not proceed further with the
incident. Is
The action regarding the cruiser
Montgomery and gunboat Nashville Ia
looked upon by officials here as much
less grave than that affecting Gen. Lee.
Secretary Long said Tonight that he
did not regard the question rs to what
ship should carry the relief supplies as
serious in any way, or as likely to pre-.
sent any perplexing issues.
The desire OF the navy department,
Mr.. Long said, was merely 10 get the
supplies to Cuba on the most available
vessel. There were three OF these now
ut Key West, the Montgomery, Nash
vile and Fern, alike available for the
service, and one OF these, Mr.. Long said
would be designated for the trip. The
Fern Is q despatch boat rather than m
n ,,aeoat ND how iI,l l,lI :,