Evening journal., 1898-03-07

that time General Lee escorted Cap
tain sigsbee on his round Of official
calls. These were made with due for
mality. but the Spanish officials took
offense when the calls were restricted
TO General Blanco, Admiral Mantero-
Ia and the representatives OF the MILF
tary arm OF spains service, and did not
include Premier Galvez and his assoc
cietes Of the autonomous cabinet. who
represent the new civil regime which
Spain is seeking to enforce.
The matter came 10 the attention of
Senor Dupuy de 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
the civil secretary general, and Premier
Galvez and his associates. There was
like Irritation over a dinner given by
Consul General Lee to the officers Of
the Maine The list Of the guests on
that occasion is said to have omitted
some OF the Spanish naval officers and
TO have included quite conspicuously
the names of q number of American
newspaper correspondents who were
regarded by Spanish officials at Ha-
vana as antagonIstic to them.
This also came to the attention OF
the officials here. but was not made the
basis OF any action. but rather Of unof-
fetal Spanish criticism of General Lees
mode Of procedure.
Within recent days 1t has been under
stood by officials here that the feeling
against General Lee had been smOOthed
over. and the request for his recall was
for that reason IN the nature of COM
plcte surprise. There are circumstances,
however which clearly disclose the
grounds for the recall, although it Is
not known that Spain has made any ex-
act specifications Of complaint Since
the Maine disaster a report has been
circulated that General Lee held the
personal opinion that the explosion was
due TO external cause No official re-
port of this character was ever sent to
Washington. so far as is known. But
the mere circulation of the report at
Madrid attributing such views TO Cen
eral Lee has been the source Of much
feeling in Spanish official circles.
The press dispatches from Madrid
also disclose that General Lee Is held
accountable at the Spanish capital for
the project OF the purchase Of Cuba by
the United States from Spain, as well
as for a general sentiment OF sympathy
toward the insurgents. The suggestion
Of The impartial. a leading govern
ment organ. that the next session of
the cortos viii consider the case Of Cen
eral Lee shows the strong influences
which induced the Sagasta cabinet to
ask his recall
In this connection the fact Is noted
that genor Dupuy de LONE Is due i'm
Spain at this time His enforced re-
tirement, on a demand by the United
States. is felt to have awakened
counter sentiment at Madrid which
finds expression against Consul General
Lee There Is little doubt also that such
advice as Senior Dupuy de LONE would
give to the government or to the press
in public in Madrid would not be con-
duclve toward the retention Of General
Lee There Is little doubt, however
that the main cause Of Spaln's action
Is the sympathy General Lee has
shown for the Cuban sufferers.
AS matter Of fact Spain required no
formal excuse for the dismissal OF a
consular officer, according TO lnterna-
tlonal law. These officers are not en-
dowed usually with diplomatic privi-
leges, and they exist entirely by the
sufferance OF the nations TO which they
| arc sent In their case 1t IS not neces-
| alry or usual 70 request their home
8overnment TO recall them. They live
| officially only through an exequatur
| granted by the government to which
they are accredited, and this may be
withdrawn at any moment.
So Consul General Lee may he dis
missed from his post at the pleasure OF
the Spanish government, and this would
not violate any section OF international
law. But he Is in one respect unique, in
that he is endowed with semldiplomatic
powers by the wish Of our government
and by the consent of the Spanish gov
ernment The request OF the Spanish
government for his recall may, there.
fore. be regarded as tantamount 70 q
demand for the recall OF an objectiona-
BILE mlnlster-such. for Instance. as
Senior Dupuy de LONE. There must bt
o some substantial or satisfactory reasor
for such a demand in such cases
and as those presented against Genera
Lee probably were confined TO acts h'
has so far performed with the full sane
tion and approval of President McISin
ley the demand was not entertained. al
Is clearly shown in the formal state
ment given out by Assistant Secretar,
Day
Under such circumstances the Incl
lent would close. unless Spain took tn
decisive step Of insisting on Genera
Lees recall and this failing giving hin
his exequatur. This radical course
not expected, however. and all the in
dications reaching officials here is tina
Spain viii not proceed further with tn
. Incident.
1T WAS NO ACCIDENT.
Conviction Naval Court VIII Thus Repor
Anlnri,nn Cnrrn.nnndnnt Arrnsinh.