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

ussuNe u more .bttlOuhE u.ptCt tHOTtly
after the arrival OF the Maine ut Hava-
ma. At that time General Lee escorted
Captain Slgsbee 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 tho military arm
OF SPANS service and did NOT include
Premier 0alVex and his associates OF the
autonomous cabinet. who represent the
new civil regime which Spain IS seeking
TO enforce. .r.te
Tho matter came ~ the attention OF
Senior Dupuy 10 LONE. then Spanish
minister at Washington, and although
there were no protcs.s, the situation
doubtless reached the state department,
as suitable amends were made by Cap
tain Sigsbee's calling on DR.. CongostD,
thnclyil secretary general. Premier CAL
vez and his associates. There was like
Irritation over dinner given By Consul
General Lee to the officers OF the Maine.
The list OF gucsis on that occasion Is
said TO have omitted some OF the Spanish
naval officers and to have included.
quite consp!cuously, the names OF
number OF American newspaper cores
pondents who were regarded by tho
Spanish officials at Havana as antagon-
issfc to them. This also came 10 the at
tention OF the officials here. but was not
made the basls OF any action. but rather
OF unofficial Spanish criticism Of Cen
eral Lees general mode Of procedure.
Within recent days 1t has been UNDER
stood by officials here that the feeling
against General Lee has been smouthed
over. and the request for his recall was
for that reason in the nature OF 4 COM
plete surprise. There are circumstances.
however, which clearly disclose the
grounds for the recall, although 1t Is not
known that Spain has made any exact
specification Of complaint. Since the
Maine disaster O 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 20 Wash
'ington 50 far Us Is known. But the
mere circulation OF the report ut Madrid
attributinS such views 10 General Lee
has been the source OF much feeling In
Spanish official circles.
The press dispatches from Madrid also
countable at the Spanish capital for the
project of the purchase OF Cuba by the
United States from Spain as we'll as for
a 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
Sagus.a 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
q demand by the United States, is felt
to have awakened q counter sentiment
at Madrid which finds expression
against Consul Lee. There is little doubt
also that such advice us Senior Dupuy de
LONE would give TO the government or
tn 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 SPANS
action 10 the sympathies General Lee
has shown for the Cuban sufferers.
1t Is known that his active and open
sympathy with the people who have SUI
fered so greatly during the present in
surrecton, American citizens as well as
native Cubans, has not been accepted by
the Spanish officials in Cuba as an eN-
hibition Of dlsinterested oif1ciallsm, 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 matter OF fact, Spain required
no formal excuse for the dismissal OF q
consular officer. according 10 fn:erna-
tlonal 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 20 request their home govern
ments to recall them. They live Official
~ only through an e1equatur granted by
the government to which they are ac-
credited, and this may be withdrawn at
anymoment. So Consul General Lee may
be dismissed from his post at the pleas
ure Of the Spanish government and this
would not violate any section OF the IN
ternauonal law. But he Is In one re-
spect 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 tnnta-
mount to n demand for a recall OF nm
objectional ministcr-such for instance
ms was Seror Dupuy de Lone. There
must be some substantial or satisfactory
reason for such a 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
kinley, 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 cxequatur. This radical course Is
not expected, however. and all the indi-
Spain will not proceed further with the
incident.
The action regarding the cruiser
Montgomery and gunboat Nashville Is
looked upon by officials here as much
less grave than that affecting Gen. Lee.
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 to get the
supplies TO Cuba on the most available
vessel. There were three OF these now
at 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 despatch boat rather than an
armed naval vessel and her availability
for this mission had not previously been
suggested. Her choice would probably
remove all ground for objection. as she
has none OF the characteristics Of a war
vessel. Mr.. Long said, however, that