The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-08
ANOTHER SHIP FOR HAVANA
CRUISER MONTGOMERY TO BE SENT
TO THE CUBAN CAPITAL,
And the Naval Dispatch Vessel Fern
plies to Starving RecOncentradOs.


WASHINGTON, March 7.-Spain has
backed down, and Fitzffugh Lee will remain
at Havana as consul general of the United
States Spain has withdrawn her request
for the recall Of General Lee, and it is now
believed that the incident is practically
closed. The withdrawal came to-day in the
shape of an official communication from
Minister Woodford. 1t is now stated that
the request was never put in the shape OF
a demand, but that it was merely sug-
gestion on the part of Spain, and when she
found that it would not be pleasantly re-
ceived by this country, she promptly re-
ceded.
The news Of the satisfactory ending of the
incident was expected as soon as 1t was
noted that loophole had been left open
through the failure to make the complaint
against General Lee in anything like an Off
cial shape. Some fear is expressed that the
consul general will not find his post very
congenial, now that he knows he is an un-
welcome guest in Havana, but the admin
istration is relying upon his devotion to the
welfare of the Americans in Cuba and
American interests generally to submit his
own personal wishes to restraint and re-
main at his post.
Late in the afternoon Senor Du Bose, the
Spanish charge d'affaires. received cipher
cable from the minister Of state at Madrid.
Senior Gullon, saying: You can disavow
the rumor that any official application has
been made for the recall of General Lee"
This confirmed Mr.. Du Bosc's view that
misapprehension had occurred, and that
some intimation concerning General Lee
had been construed into request or de-
mand for his recall, which Mr.. Du Bose
says with positiveness was never intended.
1t was learned that the intimation that
Spain was dissatisfied with General Lee,
and might ask the President to recall him,
came to the secretary OF state last Satlir-
day through a cablegram from Minister
Woodford, and that in response to the Pres
ident's refusal to consider General Lees re-
call, the Madrid authorities signifed their
acquiescence, and this fact was duly cabled
to the secretary of state. 1t, therefore, ap-
pears that the status is the same as before
the incident. The correspondence, as under
stood here, did not show that Spain had
made demand for General Lees recall, or
that the Madrid government had gone SO
far as to request his recall. The extent of
it's displeasure was expressed in an intima-
ton simply that his presence in Havana as
the representative Of the United States gov
eminent was not agreeable to them.
The Spanish objection to Consul General
Lee is based largely upon his sympathy for
the Cubans and some Of his utterances
which have found their way into print 1t
is understood that the Spaniards also take
exceptions to the friendly relations and
companionship existing between General
Lee and correspondents Of papers, which
have been decidedly unfriendly to Spain.
1t is believed that Senior De LONE carried TO
Spain papers and information calculated to
make the Spanish government request the
recall of Consul General Lee.
Had the Spanish government made an
official demand for General Lees recall, it
would have had no recourse in the event of
refusal by our government to accede to the
demand, but must have withdrawn the con-
sui generals exequatur, thus leaving him
without official status in Havana. The mat
ter not having taken that official form,
however, there is no tangible excuse for
Spain to look upon herself as Inundated in
this matter. It is quite certain that the ad-
ministration does not take the view, as a
hasty glance at the situation would seem
to indicate, that there may not be peace
full termination of this last incident, and
such officers of the Cabinet as have felt
Tree 10 DISCUSS tIc SiludllOu DIT dli nave
not hesitated to declare that no rupture in
the relations between the United States and
Spain is likely to result.
It was learned tonight that Spain's sug-
gestion was made originally upon a misap-
prehension, which was due to a newspaper
report. This report was to the effect that
General Lee had expressed the opinion to
a newspaper correspondent that the Span
ish authorities were responsible for the dis
aster to the Maine. Accepting this report
as to Lees expressions as accurate the
Spanish prime minister brought the m.etter
to Minister Woodford's attention, making.
at the same time, the suggestion that Gen.
Lees recall would be gratifying TO Spain.
1t did not require a great while for Spain
to discover that General Lee had been, ac-
cording to the United States authorities, in
correctly represented. Before this dscov-
cry was made, however, the reply of Presi-
dent Mckinley, refusing to heed the sug-
gestion and expressing a determination to
keep Lee at his post, was received. Spain
then retired from her position, baslng her
retirement on the ground that the original
suggestion had been founded on a misap-
of facts