The daily critic., 1890-09-29
MINER s BLUNDER.
UNCLE SANS AMATEUR IN DIPLOMACY
MAY BB RECALLED.
Tbere was a Disposition to Uphold His
Action Ga the BarrundIa Case.
but Pubtic sentiment Was
Too sirnnr

New YoRE Sept. ga Washing
ion dispatch to the World says that the
Administration, while at frs, disposed
10 uphold Minister Miner IN his course
In the Barrundia affair, has found pub
lie opinion 10 the matter too strong,
and il is reported IN the best informed
official circles here now that the Presj-
dent and Mr.. Blaine have finally settled
the course they mean to follow in dis.
posing Of the case, by holding that Mia
lister Miner has failed in diplomatic
tact, judgment and discretion and
pointedly inviting him to resign the
mission TO Central America
This step, It is said, viii be taken by
means Of dispatch which will restate
the position this Government holds re.
specting the nature and extent Of the
privilege Of asylum afforded by the flag
of the United States in the case Of 20
litical refugees in Central and South
America.
This intended dispatch will, Il Is said,
be In form a reply TO the recent dis
patches Of Minister Miner reporting
the circumstances of the death Of Gen
eral Barrundia.
1t will review and expouni the dis
patch Of Secretary Bayard in 1885 to
Minister Hall upon the Gomez case.
While not directly impeachlng that
dispatch as a theoretical statement Of
the rule Of international law respecting
port Jurisdiction. or questioning its en-.
tire applicability to the particular case
Of Gomez, the forthcoming dispatch
will explain that Mr.. Bayari did not. In
effect or intent, lay down any general
rule or principle to govern all the
various cases that might arise In Cen
lral and South America.
One Of the most serious grounds Of
censure upon Minister Miner, say
friends of the Administration, Is the
excessive weight he gave to this dis
patch Of Mr.. Bayard TO the disregard
Of other considerations equally ap.
parent and momentous, and the ignor.
ing Of which admits Of no condona-
tlon.
A circumstance that IS said 10 excite
the gravest dispieasurc Of the President
and Secretary Of State Is the unexplained
neglect Of Minister Miner 10 improve
the ample opportunity afforded him
between the departure Of Barrundia
from Mexico and his arrival at San Jose
de Guatemala 10 come TO some friendly
arrangement with the Guatemalan Gov
eTnmeut by which the right Of asylum
10 political refugees on American vGs-
sells might have been preserved with.
Cui prejudice 10 the strict legal rights
Of LEGAL jurisdiction or immediate dan
ger TO the peace and security Of the cx.
isiinE government Of Guatemala.
IL Is said 20 be held by the Aminis.
tration that if Mr. Miner had appealed
10 the Guatemalan Government 10 re.
frain from q resort to its naked legal
rights a solution Of the question would
readily have been found that would
have avoided the necessity of any at
tempted seizure Of the person Of Bar.
rundia while under the protection of
the flag of the United States. Apart
| from any question Of the personal
/ safety of General Barrundia, the adj
/ dltional immunity secured 10 American
steam packets pursuing their tralllc
with Spanish-Amerlcan countries by a
wise and proper conduct of the issue by
our Minister, would nave been a ma
terial gain 10 our position In, and com
merce with, these countries
In view of the many other obvious
courses open 20 him, the President and
| Secretary of State are said 10 consider
| that the omission 10 use proper judg-
ment and discretion constitutes the ac-
tion Of the Minister a grave diplomatic
| blunler