The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-20
CONSUL GENERAL BRAGG.
His Service in Cuba Likely to Be
Cut Short.

Washington Special to Chicago Tribune.
The Cuban authorities have taken cog
nizance of the private comments mace
by General Bragg. the United States
Consul General at Havana, concerning
their capacity for f-government,y ana,
while there has been no formal complaint.
II is clear to the mi 1ds of officials mere
that the days of General Bragg as con-
sular officer are numbered.
The action of the Government of CUBA
was confined to polite REQUEST from the
Minister Of Foreign Affairs to H. q.
Squie:s, the United States Minister at
Havan TO be informed whether General
Bragg was responsible for the remarks
printed n newsrapsr dispatches from
been contained In a letter from the Amer
iclfn Consul General to his wife. This
Vase done. and a telegraphic report en-
etha subject was, received by Secretary
Hay fl ON Minister'S EqHiers te day.
Mr.. SqtieTs acted p omptly BY referring
the request to General Bragg, who ex-
planned that the printed extracts from
the letter to Mrs Bragg were substan-
TALLY correct. He protested, however,
that the publication was entirely unau-
tEorizcd and that the letter was OF
private and confidential character which
did not concern the Cuban Government.
or anybody else except Mrs. Bragg and
himself. General Bragg intimated In eff
feet that what he had said In his letter
to his better half was none of anybody s
business. In his telegram to, Secretary
General Braag's answer and asked
fer instructions. Mr.. Hay referred the
matter to President Roosevelt at Oyster
Bay, and no action will be taken by the
State Department until the President is
heard from.
Although 1t Is regarded as within range
OF probability that President Roosevelt
will confine his part of the matter to d.
recting that General Bragg's explana-
ton be laid before. the Cuban Govern
ment. thus placing the responsibility Tor
action on President Palma and. his ad-
visers. there is no difference of opinion
as to the ultimate outcome of this I'M
fortunate incident No official here who
is concerned in the case believes that
General Bragg can remain accredited TO
the Cuban Government. That he will be
recalled or sent home Is accepted as a
certainty. The unanimfaIs view In ON
cial cifcles here is that while General
Bragg was entirely innocent In eonnec-
ton with the publication of the obJec-
tionable extracts from his letter, the fact
that the Cuban authorities and people
have Knowledge that he holds them in
contempt Is sufficient reason for making
1t Impossible for him to remain among
them any longer.
Two courses are open for the Cuban
Government to pursue. One Is the revo-
cation of General Braggs exequatur or
recognition as Consul General Without
this he cannot act az an agent OF the
United States, making his recall neces-
sary. TIE other course is to ask this
Government to recall him, and ii is BE-
lieved that this course will be pursued
IL the Cuban authorities are obliged 10
ts Ike the initiative
No explanation-in either case Is incum-
tent on CUBA. President Roosevelt has
the privilege of recalling General Bragg,
In which event the incident would end. Ii
is not likely that the Cuban authorities
will take any further action until they
are informed of the course deciled OF
by President Roosevelt