St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-26
A WEGULAR WOW.
Foreign Minis ers offended by
the Dizzy Four Hundred.

the Dizzy Four Hundred.
New YORK, April ga man who is
abundantly qualified by his connection
with the centennial celebration commit
tee to speak advisedly told Tribune
reporter yesterday that the trouble with
the diplomatic corps over invitations
to the ball, instead of having been set
tied satisfactorily, as was stated in re-
cent document issued for publication
by the entertainment committee, had
become SO serious that the principal
members OF the corps had finally and
positively refused to come. Not
member of the diplomatic corps"
said he, will be in attend
ance at the ball. with the possible ex-
ceptiOn of the Brazilian minister, Baron
de ltajuba, or, in his absence, Senior
Jose Augusta Ferreira da Costa, secre-
tary of the legation" The trouble
with the diplomats originated in the
omission by the entertainment commit
tee to inclose to the foreign ministers
invitations to the ball for the ladies
OF their families as well as for them
selves. The ministers manifested their
diSpleasure at this slight by declining
their invitations to both ball and ban
Quet When the notices of declination
were received by the entertainment
committee, Stuyvesant Fish, its
chairman, hurried over to Wash
ngton to adjust the difficulty.
When he returned he reported that his
mission had been successful, that the
diplomatic corps would come, and the
committee at once issued for publica-
ton report 20 that effect. This report
also stated that one large box had been
reserved for the use of the diplomatic
corps at the ball. 1.-THE fact of the
matter is" continued the Tribune,
reporters informant, ''that the enter
tainment committee has made an eX-
tremely awkward blunder in its inter-
course with the diplomatic corps. For
eign ministers have always been treated
with great consideration in affairs like
this III this country, and they have
right to expect it. Indeed, it
is so in all countries. They are
representatives of their respective gov
ernmentS, and the honor and dignity of
their rulers are for the time being in
vested in them. To slight their families
was to offend them deeply. Mr.. Fish
Numbered again when ne went to
Washington to repair the trouble.
Doubtless he intended to do the
right thing when he urged the ministers
to throw Off their official characters and
come to the ball as individuals and have
real good time; but it must have
sounded queerly, to say the least, to the
dignified representatives of European
courts. Of course, foreign minister
cannot throw off his official char
acter at will; it is part of
the man from the moment he en-
ters the country until he leaves it.
Then the diplomats became angry
again when they found that only one
box had been reserved for themselves
and their families, after the had
consented to come to the ball upon in
vitations being extended to their
ladies. They might have over
looked even this, but they learned
that they were to have obscure positions
at the banquet. and they finally decided
not to attend either the ball or banquet.
This action was not taken because they
were sighted as individuals, but be-
cause proper respect was not paid
to their official station. They
were crowded away from their
proper places near the presi-
dent in order that the committeeman
themselves might have the positions of
honor. [ know that the diplomats for
warded to their governments statement
of the exact condition of affairs, and all
excepting the Brazilian minister had
the option of declining to take part in
the celebration. | know positively that
they are not coming, and if he attends,
the Brazilian minister will occupy the
diplomatic box alOne.'