The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-11
SPAIN'S DEMANDS.
SHE ASKS CONSUL GENERAL
LEES RECALL.
She Objects to Relief Supplies Being Sent
to Cuba I'm warships-Both Demands Re-
fused by Our Government-Her Grounds
of Objection tn Consul General Lee

GuFlon, Spanish minister Of foreign at
fairs, recently intimated to United
States Minister Woodford that the
Spanish government desired the recall
from Havana of Consul General Lee
and tina the American WarShipS which
have been designated to convey sup
plies to Cuba for the relief Of the suf-
ferers there should be replaced by mer-
chant vessels in order to deprive the
assistance sent to the recOncentradOs
of an official character.
Minister Woodford cabled the requests
no the Washington government, which
replied, refusing to recall General Lee
On the present circumstances or to
countermand the orders for the deS-
patch of the wal vessels, making the
representation that the relief vessels
are not fighting ships.
Washington-Sunday-March 6.-The
Spanish situation developed two new
phases today, when il became known
that the Spanish government had for
mally requested the recall of Consul
General Lee at his post at Habana, to
which request the United States a
cOunteOusly but firmly refused to COM
HIy. also UIldl CIlc spanish 6ONCI III
had suggested the improperly Of send
ling relief supplies to the Cuban recon-
c~entrados ON the cruiser Montgomery
and %gunbOat Nashville, to which Sug-
gestiOn the United States had given a
like answer i'm the negative.
The first intimdtion of these steps
came i'm a brief and explicit cable dis
patch from Madrid. Prior to it's re
ceipt, however, the authorities here had
been fully cOnVersant with the f2cts,
although no fntimatiCn had been al
lowed ITO get to the public on either
subject. The disclosures from Madrid
deft no further ground for reticence in
Washington, and after a conference at
the White house the presi-
dent, Assistant Secretary Day, of the
s*aste department, and Secretary Long
of the navy department, the following
authorized statement was handed to
the Associated Press by Judge Day, as
comprising everything that was to be
said by the administration o1 the sub
ject.
WILL NOT CONSIDER LEES RE
CALL.
The president will mot consider the
recall of General Lee. He has borne
himself Throughout this crisis with
Judgment, fidelity and courage, to the
presidents entire satisfaction AS ITO
the supplies Ger the relief of the Cuban
people all arrangements have been
made to carry a consignment this week
from Key West by m of the naval
vessels, whichever may be y st adapted
and most available for the / urpOse, no
MatanZaS and Sagua.'
Though the officials here are nom
cOmmittal On the subject, it is gen
orally believed that the request for
Genera Lees recall was made at
feast a, day or two ago, and the Spar
ish government, after receiving the re-
ply of the state department, has not
insisted either upon Lees recall or
upon it's contention THAT the relief sup
plies should not be sent to Cuba in
naval vessels.
Beyond the foregoing. o who had
participated in the conference at the
White house would mot discuss the
subject, and it was stated positively
that the authorized statement COM
prised everything that would be given
to any one.
The advices from Madrid, together
with the authoritative statement here,
left no room for doubt as to what had
occurred. The request for General
Lees recall is understood to have come
Within the last few days, and doubt
less since the last cabinet meeting on
L l bSN H. ItC
it at that time. 1t came Through MINI
lister WOOdfOrd. a somewhat unusual
procedure, as the common mode OF re-
uuesting the withdrawal of a minister
or a consul is through the representa-
tive of the government making the re-
quest, which in this cas- is Senior du
Bose. the Spanish charge d'affaires.
Mr.. du Bose had received no instruc-
,tions ON the subject and was in COM
pIete ignorance OF the demands made
through Minister WoOdfOrd. The other
suggestion of the Spanish government
that relief supplies should not be sent
in war vessels-did not come through
Minister WCOdfOrd, as the Madrid dis
patches state. but was presented by
Senior du Bose to the state department
last Friday.
The responses in both cases went
direct to Minister WOOdford. There
was no loss of time, however, in as
Sembling a special session of the cabl-
ndt. or even in any general conference
between the president and his cabinet
advisors individually. In the protest
against the Montgomery and Nash
willie Judge Day conferred with Secre-
dary Long, who IN turn called in Capt.
Crowninshield, chief of the bureau of
navigation. There appeared to be no
reason why a change should he made
in the plan for sending these ships on
the Relief mission and without attach
ing grave significance to the request of
the Spanish government, the answer
was made that the plans for the trip
were completed and that the stay OF
the ships would be as brief and CT the
most pacific character.
In responding to the request for Gen.
Lees rcall, 1.-THE president does not ap-
pear to have deemed the subject open
to such discussion as would require
the views of his cabinet associates, and
after a brief exchange between the
White house and the state department
the negative answer was dispatched to
Minister Woodford. One phase Of the
incident that tends to show the firm
stand taken by the administration is
the expedition with which the action
was accomplished. Such a matter is
ordinarily aid before the cabinet, the
views of all it's member personally.
given and the fullest opportunity af-
eordei for discussion. But in this case
the Associated Press bulletin fur
nished ITO some members of the cabinet