New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-28
MIR. SAPGENT'S TRANSFER.
HIS FRIENDS IN Az ,ycREDULoUs MOOD.
THEY DO NOT TIL * TIL MINISTER'S CONSENT WAS
oBTAINED--A vARJ..TY or RUMoRS

rBEY DO NOT TIL TIL MINISTER'S CONSENT WAS
oBTAINED-A vAEI1TY or RUMoRs.
TBY TELEGpAPr 10 THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Nah 27.-Great efforts seem to
have been expend,i TO mako it appear that Mr.
Sarrel,t's ira sfer from Berlin to St. Petersburg
WA Effected al his desire. The contrary is the
t-a \ dispatch was received to-day from Mr.
f:rren. by a friend in this city, which distinctly
n..tc, that lie would have preferred to stay
nj lls post and leaves it to he inferred that
he was not consulted as 10 his transfer
to the Russian mission. The friends of the Minister
hc,e outside Of Administration circles assert that
If he had been left to choose, he would undoubted-
~ have preferred TO remain III Berlin and fight it
out" there.
Talk of this thing being done with Mr.. Sargent's
consent" exclaimed Senator to-day, land then
call it a transfer and even advancement 1t is
preposterOus; il is simply silly to endeavor to make
it appear as such. Nobody Is deceived; nobody,
knowing Mr.. Sargent, thinks that he asked to be re
called or transferred to St. Petersburg. The post at
Berlin is more important one than that at st.
Petersburg, though the pay is the same.
In some ways it is the most desirable
mission abroad, while that TO Russia is
coveted by few on account of the high of liv-
ing there. Why couldn't the State Department
come out honestly and say that it is a removal in
stead of sending a sensational and highly colored
dispatch TO Mr. Sargent. which isn't going to pull
the wool over the eyes of diplomatstS. Tie creak-
ing of the machinery is heard too plainly, and the
scene-shitting hasn't been done quite cleyery
enough to deceive people"
ThIs Senator's views represent those held by u
minority of the Senate though no one outside the
devoted adherents of the Ad, liniSratiOn pretends
TO say that Mr.. Sargent asked be transferred 10
St Petersburg or that it done with his consent
RECENT DISPATCH RECALLED.
few weeks ago a cable dispatch was received bv
the Associated Press, from Berlin. which announced
that Nh Sargent had received letter from the
State Department informing him tina. would
be relieved of his duties II he desired to re-
linquish them. The Department al the time
was at great pains to deny that snCh letter had
been sent 1t is generally believed now that not
only was such letter sent, but ontained
also All iDtimatiOn to the effect that n T. Sargent
would ask to be recalled or Transferred TO some
other post, 1t would relieve the Department Of Il
serious embarrassment. TO this letter NJ. Sargent
either did not reply he answered II by refusing
10 be transferred to any other post
The MATTER BEFORE THE CABINET
The matter it IL said, was discussed by the Cab
inet on tuesday. A majority seemed to favor the
taking of some decided step, which would reflect
credit upon the Administration and be popular NJ
home 1t was suggested that the Berlin mission be
closed at once and kept so indefinitely.
Such course, some one yentmed 70 say,
wOnld be uncalled for and contrary to
diplomatic usage. Mlder counsel prevailed at last,
and the course taken yesterday was decided upon.
The advice Of Mr. Edmunds, who had just returned
from tl1p South, was also given in the direction
Of less radical proceeding than that of severing
uplomatlc relations with the German Empire.
CURRENT RUMoK IN wAsHINGToN,
tailons rumors ale ahoat tonight as " the meth