New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-15
Z. B. wAsHBURNE. AND THE LONDON
TIMES
AN ERROR CORRECTED BY ONE WHO WAS In
PARIS DURING THE SIEGE.


AN ERROR CORRECTED BY ONE WHO WAS In
PARIS DURING THE SIEGE.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir In Z" The London Tines Of recent date appeared
a paragraph calculated to reflect upon the memory
of the American Minister In Paris during the siege
OF 1S70-71. "Tho Tmesn said, speaking Of tho
late j. J. Weiss: "shut up by surprise In the Siege
of Paris ingenious idea attracted general attention
to him. Mr. washburne, the American Minister who.
unlike his colleagues, had remained In Paris and was
medium Of communication between besegors snl
beseged had permission to receive THE Times.'
which kept him posted up in events that were
secret for Passns, and especially for the Governments
Of National Defence. Weiss succeeded in bribng Mr.
washburnes valet The Tines arrived during the
day; Mr.. WashblTne resd il in the evening. His
valet, entering HIS masters bedroom to put out
the light, took away The Times, jumped INTO cab,
and went to Weiss, waited while he SKINNED the
paper, brought 1t back, and the next morning, on
entering the bedroom to draw back tho curtsins,
put The Times back In its place.
Were these statements true they would tend 10 aaow
that Mr.. Wsshburne careless diplomat lHths
anxious to Justify the confidence placed In his discretion
by the German bcsiegers, who allowed tne foreign
papers 10 reach him through their lines. ne had oc-
cason once 10 teach them good Lesson in that regard
The mailbag for this American Legation was usually
received from RENTED to the Prussian military pest
usually by Secretary Wlckham Hoffman, at the 5evres
Bridge, outside Of Paris. One day the Germans insisted
on opening 1t, and Mr.. wasburns declared that that
was done he would decline TO receive UT TO send
mall leaving 10 the beslcges ths responsibility Of the
consequences. The latter might have been grave n
asraaeh as Mr.. Washbnme was. with Nr. Kern, The
swiss representative, the only foreign Minister IN tho
Invested CITY, where he had be,h entrusted With tho
Of All foreigners whose ambassadors had left Paris
Prince Bismarck, who had already some motives 10 ap
preciate the spirit OF absolute neutrality displayed by
the American Minister, approved Mr.. WaslthIrne's
protest and ordered that the mail bag for from the
United States legation should be interfored with
Several London and American papers, and not Tho
London Tines only were received by Mr.. Washburne
who did not allow them TO be spread the table Of
the legations parlor, Avenue josephine: hut kept
them in his private office. lie did not either to
take them in his residence, Rue spontlni where he
stayed seldom, living rather at the houses OF friends
with whom he partook the scanty provisions they could
procure Mr.. Washbume's valet is imaginary per.
sonage unless " The London Tines should have taken
for valet the worthy Antoine. a colored man who
acted for many in tho capacity Of messenger in
the Legation, where he became very popular
j. j. Weiss was a poemist doctrinarian
journalist, not given to running after "news' still
less to using any improper tricks to 1t. He
held at that time the place Of chef editor Of the
Paris Patre,' evening paper, where those who
had seen Mr.. Washburne In the forenoon could
him in tho afternoon, quietly writing some brilliant
article the general situation, but not on the uncon-
frmed and called "news' Of the day.
No information OF political or military character
leaked through the American Legation during
the siege. Still, Mr.. Washburne openly made Of
"The London Times and other London papers in Q
highly charitable and proper manner. The English
journals published daily in the form OF advertisements
columns which were headed: Family News near
as / can remember. Those advertisements or rather
short notices, for instance thus: Mrs. X. and
the children In London, st. st No. -, In
good health" Other notices gave news OF a wife,
daughter old parents ETC.. who had left Paris previous
to the investment and residing in Belgium.
Italy, Switzerland, etc Those famiiyS columns were
cut OFF from the London papers by Mr.. washburne.
and handed by him b French journalist, tried friend
Of his, with the permission Of having them published.
That journalist, though friend also of j. j. Weiss
did not give these family notices. TO La Patrie' but
to I" lie Gaulos," morning paper which could publish
them more conveniently having time to set them
than an afternoon paper and which also had larger
circulation. A,
NewY0rk, June o, 1891.