An exequatur is the written official recognition of a consul or minister, which is issued by the government to which he is accredited, authorizing him to exercise his powers in the place to which he is sent. We have already explained, in connection with the De Lome incident, how a country may dismiss a diplomatic representative.
If Spain had demanded Lee's recall, or dismissed him for any reason which she considered sufficient, there would have been no just ground for offence. It would not even have been necessary for her to explain her reasons.
Spain's action in intimating that she desired the recall was a courteous way of putting the matter. President McKinley, in refusing to consider it, took a wise course, for the recall of General Lee at this critical time might have added to the strained relations existing between the countries; besides, General Lee is so thoroughly acquainted with the situation in Cuba that it is to the best interest of this country to retain him.
Reports from Cuba as to the insurgents' cause have this week been perceptibly fewer. It is known that a number of filibustering expeditions have landed, and the Cubans feel very much elated. They say that the Maine disaster has helped them in this country, for it has increased the feeling against Spain.
The condition of the reconcentrados is terrible. You will remember that General Weyler issued a decree that the farmers with their families, and the people who lived out in the country, should leave their homes and come into the towns. This was done because it was believed that these people were supplying the insurgents with food and aiding them in other ways. Of course, when these poor people were herded together in and around the cities and towns, a great many of them had no possible way of making a living. Starvation has resulted, and thousands of these reconcentrados, as they are called, are dying. It is estimated that there are very nearly 300,000 of them, and what food and clothing they need must be given to them. The Spaniards, as can be imagined, have not been very charitably disposed toward these poor people, and the United States has generously come to the rescue. Tons of food and clothing have already been sent to the island, and almost every day we read of some vessel starting for Cuba with supplies for these unfortunate people.
The United States Government has deemed the matter important enough to despatch two gunboats, the Montgomery and Nashville, with provisions to Matanzas and Sagua la Grande, Cuba.
The supplies have been sent to Key West, to be forwarded from there in the vessels selected.
Spain, through her representative at Washington, Señor du Bosc, objected to the use of war-vessels for this purpose, and it was at first decided to send the supplies in the despatch-boat Fern, in many respects better fitted for such a purpose. Finally, however, orders were sent to Key West to carry out the original plan.
That Spain objects to the visits of our war-ships to these Cuban ports may lead to further complications, for with equal reason she can exclude our ships from Havana harbor, and this would prevent us from protecting our own citizens who are in Havana.