Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-16
Secretary Bayard's Brutal Action In
Dealing With Sweden.
SOME DIPLOMATIC HISTORY.
Many Specimens Being Added TO the
Menagerie for tho National Zoo
logical Garden-Cbesapeak
and Ohio Canal.
The New swedish Minister.

all other details concerning hun, which by
any possibility might be Of interest to the
general public THIS was probably due TO
the fact that his predecessor had been some
what trag,cally removed from his position.
A week ago MIR. John Austen Wolff Grpp
presented his credentials to the president as
envoy extraordinary and minister penpoten-
tiary from the kingdom of Sweden and Nor
way to the United States. Four lines IN the
local papers and as much in the Associated
press was deemed sufficient space to
give to this diplomatic change, yet
there was as much of suppressed
sensation in the appointment of Mr.. Gripp
as there was in the appointment Of Sir Ju-
lien. Somehow or other very little attention
is paid to the relations of the Scandinavian
kingdom with the United States, except in
some few cities where the Scandinavian pop
ulation predominates. Immigrants from
Sweden and Norway TO this country make
some of our best citizens They are, as a
rule, hard-working. industrious, honest and
straightforward people, who attend strictly
to the idea of acquiring homes aud caring for
their families. They minge little in politics,
and although there were three natives OF
Sweden and Norway in the last congress,
very little attention was paid to capturing
the Scandinavian vote by either political
party in the late presidential contest.
Yet the change in the diplomatic represen-
tation of the Scandinavian peninsula was
fully as sensational AS that which brought
about the removal of Lord Sackville, and the
succession of the big, sx-foot Britisher who
now presides over her maiesty's legation on
Connecticut avenue.
Under the terms of the so-called Dingley
shipping bill which passed the house several
years ago, the government of Sweden con-
cluded that they had the right to demand
tn at the tonnage tax on all vessels coming
from ports within the kingdom to ports of
ha in pf 10 Shpul1 an
reduced from TO cents per tou. That able
gentlemen who presides over the navigation
bureau of the treasury department, and who
can tell the difference between a marline
spike and Jopsail by the aid of micro
scope, did not agree with the views taken by
the Swedish government, and refused to
permit the Swedish vessels to enjoy the
benefits of the Dingley shipping act. He
| held that the lower rate OF tonnage applied
| solely to vessels coming from adjacent ports
| of Central ana South America, and that, in
| spite of all treaties which might contain con-
| trary clauses, Swedish vessel owners had no
right to demand the concession.
QUnder ordinary circumstances this might
have been a correct construction of the act
| OF congress-, but unfortunately for the posi-
| ton assumed by the commissioner of navi-
COTTON, there was a similar case decided in
the Twenties, when the United States de-
| manded under the treaty of 1927 certain con-
cessions from Norway, which were granted
| to vessels coming from European ports. The
| later maintained by Morton, tho United
| States commissioner of navigation, that the
| geographical zone applied, and that United
| States vessels were not entitled to the lower
rate of duty. Henry Clay, however,
who was then secretary Of state, de-
| clined to accept the construction of the
| Norwegian law by the Swedish govern
| ment, and insisted that under Article VIII
| of the treaty of 1927, the United States was
! entitled to the lower rate duty. In response
| to the logical letter of the secretary of state
| the king of Sweden granted the demands Of
| this country, and the necessary legislation to
| carry out his instructions was enacted by the
| Norwegian parliament.
In supporting its demand for a cent ton
| mage duty upon vessels hailing from its ports.
| the Swedish government instructed its min
| lister to call the attention of the state depart
ment, then presided over by that prince of
| diplomats, Thomas F. Bayard, to the letter
| Of 1928, written by Henry Clay. The Swed-
| ish minister at that time was Baron Reuter-
| SKIOLD. This gentleman wrote to Mr.. Bayard
| early IN the year 1887, aud called his atten-
| tion to the letter OF Mr.. Clay. Mr.. Bay
ard replied that he had no record
| of that letter, and that it could
not be found in the archives of the depart
| ment. The minister Immediately cabled to
| Stockholm for a copy of the document from
the Swedish archives, and as soon as it was
received sent it to Mr.. Bayard. This was in
March, 1887. Ordinary diplomatic courtesy
| would have demanded that the letter OF the
! Swedish minister should have had reply as
1 soon as the matters to which it called atten-
| tion could be looked up in the department,
| but Mr.. Bayard ignored it entirely, and up
to the close of his administration OF the state
department no reply had been sent to the
| representative of the Swedish government.
| After waiting nearly six months that gov
| ernment became disgusted at the tiagrant
| violations of etiquette on the part OF the
American foreign secretary, and Baron
| Reuterskjold was recalled IL was given out
! that he had taken IA leave OF absence, but
l lie us.1 m n n N at in
| the case, and when 1t was subsequently,
| announced that he had been sent as minister
to one of the European courts, Constantine
pie, l think, the truth dawned upon the oni
| cials of the state department. Yet no reply
| was sent, and the Swedish mission to the
United States remained vacant until June /,
when Mr.. Gripp presented his credentials.
This is a little piece of diplomatic history
| which would have attracted more attention
if the Scandinavian vote in this country was
as important "a factor in politics as either til
Irish or the German vote has proved to be.
AS it is, when brief reference was made in
| this correspondence more than q year ago to
| the exact situation, it stirred up the Scandi-
navians, IN the northwest particularly, and
thousands of letters have been received here
inquiring as to the correct status OF the case.
In the meantime, it is generally believed, the
brutal action of the secretary OF state in
ignoring the courteous aud diplomatic letter
of the Swedish minister had u great deal to
do with the large increase IN the republican
vote among the Scandinavians in Nebraska,
Iowa and Minnesota.
| NATIONAL GEOLOGICAL GARDEN.
The secretary of the interior and the other
gentlemen who were authorized by congress-
TO form themselves into commission for
selecting site for the proposed National
geological garden. to be established in the
District of Columbia, have not yet made
their final selection but the garden, or AT
least the inhabitants of The garden, are con-
stantly multiplying, and scarcely week
passes that donations are not made to the
specimens of American animals gathered in
| the sheds and dens at the rear of the Smith
| sonian institute. Already there are quite O
small menagerie, and the crowds who visit
| the museum never fail TO take in this. TO
| Washingtonians novel sight.
The project for the establishment OF ma
tional geological collection seems to meet
| with very general approval throughout the
entire country, and Prof Horniday who has
| direct charge of the collection, Is highly
| gratihed with the donations which are prom
| isad from time 10 time. Thcro can be 20
| doubt that with suitable place properly lald
| out and prepared for the reception or wild
| animals, there will be before many years a
national menagerie which Will rival that OF
| any similar collection in tho world Up TO
| hui {