The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-20
MINOR MATTERS.
William Hunter, the Second Assistant Secre-
tary of State.


tary of State.
epecial to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19-William Hunter, the
Second Assistant Secretary of State, who is now
lying very i'll, is one of the best-known men
among diplomates in the United States. He has
always been an exceedingly irascible old gentle
man, and during the latter years of his service
his temper has not improved. Notwithstanding
this however. he has been one of the most sue
cessful dplomates ever in the service of the
United States. He has always been great
stickler for the rights of this country and has
never failed to notify foreign powers that this
government could and would take care of itself
'vhen occasion demanded. Every foreign born
itzen of the United States has cause to thank
Ir. Hunter for his service in his behalf, for it
conveyed to the Austrian government
the ultimatunl of the United States
in the Kosta case, which convinced
the Austrian Government, as we'll as the other
powers of Europe, that this country proposed to
protect the rights of her naturalized citizens
Mr. Hunter made Assistant Secretary of
State in 1866 and some years ago Congress, in
order that he might not be removed for partisan
reasons, provided that his tenure of Office should
end only with his life. He has been in the CON
tinuous service Of the government for more than
.fifty-six years, and all that time has been en-
ployed in the State Department, which he en-
tered as young man in 1929. There have been
occasions in the history of the country when the
newspapers of the land might have secured the
biggest kind of scoops" upon their esteemed
contemporaries, if they could have induced this
old gentleman to open his lips, but it was as
easy to secure word from the Egyptian sphynx
as to CLEAN Information from the Second Assist
ant Secretary Of State.
Proposed Neutrality of the Pacific Islands
Washington Special.
The report that the Secretary of State is one
of the movers in diplomatic project to secure
the neutrality of the islands of the Pacific which
are not now occupied by European powers, is
officially denied at the State Department. A
prominent Official says that the Department has
always recognized the fact that it would be to
the advantage Of the United States to have the
Pacific islands neutral. but that the State De-
partment has no authority to enter into ary ne.
gotiaIions on the subject, to give official ex-
preston to its views. or to entertain anv prom
osition which has such end in view 1t
appears however to be a fact that the
Hawaiian minister has been endeavoring to in
augurate a movement of this kind and that he
had endeavored to secure the active cooperation
Of this government; but it is also quite clear
that, in the absence of some specific authority
rom Congress, the State Department will not
venture TO commit itself in the matter except,
possibly, to approve recommendations designed
20 accomplish the desired object, if this can be
done without violating international law or in
terfering in any disputed questions with foreign
powers. 1t will be the policy of the administra-
ton 70 respect the traditions of the government,
and to avoid 'entangling alliances"
Secretary Manning Suppresses Reports.
Washington Special.
1t is understood that Secretary Manning has
placed an embargo upon the reports OF the
Treasurer, the Comptroller of the Currency and