New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-13
A TALK WITH MR.. SARGENT
WHAT HE THOUGHT HE COULD EXPECT.

AVOIDANCE OF INTIMACY WITH GERMAN LIB
ERALS.
lFRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE Il'ibOh'I
WASHINGTON. April l2-There is still much com
rnent especially in diplomatic circles, upon 'no
course of the Government in regard to Mr. Sargent
As some inaccurate statements have been mado
concerning his administration of the Berlin Missiop'
and rs if has been intimated that he wilfully eA-
posed himself TO Prince Bismarcks hostility
through an ostentatous cultivation OF tho
friendship Of German Liberals. The lkib.
UNE may like to have some account VI
a recent interview with him, obtained throngh 'no
diplomatic channels above referred to. 1t must nc
promised that tins interview was had just before
the Senate was asked to confirm Mr.. Sargents ap-
poIntment 10 st. Petersburg, mission which ne diu
not want and his wishes concerning which were
never consulted.
Mr. Sargent was asked if there was any inside his
tory to the quarrel in which he was involved with
Prince Bismarck He replied that there was no in
side history to the affair. Everything hinged upon
the publication of his dispatch of June II. 1888 by
the State Department. The offence taken at TINS
dispatch arose from its liberal quotations from the
opposition press, and its reference to "a leading
member of the Rechstag." which created the sus-
pcion in official minds that the Minister was III
intimate communication with the Liberals. Inc
assertion that George Won Bennen was the person
referred to- however Is the suggestion OF the oucial
imagination. There is no evidence TO base 1t upon'
In Berlin any man who presumes to like poiltlcal
enemy of Bismarck gives offence and even the bare
conjecture that such liking exists AFFORDS the
groundwork for active enmity.
Beng asked if he had at any time exceeded his
instructions Mr. Sargent replied that he had on no
occasion done So He was, he said. instructed IN
the case of the prohibition decree to oppose the
measure and to show that it is gToundess and I'M
Just" He politely but firmly protested against tho
measure to Count Hatzfcdt. Prince Bismarck. how
ever took fresh offence at this representation ap-
pearng to resent il personally as an interference
with his autocratic power, and blaming the Minister
for the act of the Government. Captain Won Eisen-
decker objected to it to Mr.. Frelnghuysen twice.
Yet Morton had made identical representations AT
Paris and other Ministers had protested IN the samc
way elsewhere Morton, said Mr.. Sargent, spoke
quite as plainly as did. Of reprsas, of motives,
etc. But the act was entirely proper and diplo-
matte per se and any minister who would not have
performed it would have evaded his duty. No
offence was taken in France or elsewhere.
The third cause of offence, continued he. was my
calling official attention to the calamity at EEmers
leben. Thorn etc leases of trichinosis and showed
that il arose from the consumption of German pork
This also was published and caused the local
wrath TO grow hot This wrath ripe for burst
ing when the inept Lasker resolution came. l
feared i'll results but my instructions were formal
Importing as little of my personality into the
matter as possible, / executed my commission.
Bismarck complained in the Reichstag that did
not consult with him, OF rather his subordinates.
over some mode Of relieving him from sending back
the resolution Had / done so l should have
merited universal contempt, and deserved recall
for disobedience and subserviency.
1,ah had rnnfa ate
signing Mr. Sargent replied: al have stayed here
the last month because it would be cowardly to
resign because it wOuld play into Bismarck's hand
70 leave. because il would be cOnceding away the
diplomatic independence of the United States for
its Minister to abandon his post at the rown OF an
officer of this Government. II has required forth
tude to stay. have ,hoped that the homo Govern
Inrnt would take some decisive steps to make my
duty clear have indicated to the Government what
| thought should be done. and have been patiently
waiting for some evidence of its appreciation of the
situation But am in the dark as to the course OF
matters at Washington during the past two weeks,
and do not know whether Bismarck has asked my
recall or not"
Mr. Sargent denied the reports of certain papers
that he had suffered rudeness at the hands of any
German officials He said have been subjected
10 no personal rudeness by Bismarck or at the
palace any newspaper gossip TO the contrary not
withstanding. To that | should not submit mo
ment But my relations with the Foreign Office are
those of cool reserve. Bismarck had to invite me
TO the dinner given TO the Chefs OF Mission on the
occasion Of the EmperOr's birthday. or would, by
not doing so. have suspended diplomatic relations
with the United States. | had to accept for the
same reason At the dinner he bowed to me ciyilly,
and | TO him. He did not offer his hand, nor ]
mine"
Mr. Sargent was asked if there any fOunda-
tion for the report that he had specially sought the
intimacy Of the German Liberals He replied:
"There Is no truth In that The fact is that,
warned by the abuse following my first published
dspatch that my association might iniure Liberal
statesmen by directing suspicion against them,
have kept unusually aloof from leading Liberal
statesmen professors. etc And do not know per-
sonalv most of the men whom Bismarcks organs
accuse of beng my intimate advisers"
Mr. Sargent would hazard 10 conjecture at this
time as TO the course of the Washington Govern
ment. He merely said "1he case is before them.
They know all the facts The next question is, is
the Republic of the West able and willing TO vim
dcate its representative I"
A few hours after this he learned what the Re-
public Of the West thought fit to do III his case.
What his feelings were on receiving the dispatch
which announced his appointment to -. Petersburg
NAV perhaps be conceived from the present outline
of his previous position, and from his subsequent
determination to come nome.
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NEW CHARGES AGAINST Mr.. KNOX