New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-21
GRESHAM LAUNDERING ON.
VICTIM TO THE WILES OF SIR JULIAN
PAUNCEFOTE.

! WISE EXISTING TREATIES WITH JAPAN AND
WHY MINISTER TATENo WAS RE
! CAIIED-A HUMILIATING CHAPTER
IN AMERICAN DIPLOMACY.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THs TKIBrNEl
Washington, Sept. 20.-The failure of the
State Department promptly 10 negotiate re-
vision Of existing treaties with Japan has lately
! been made the subject of comment IN dplo-
matte circles. This comment while not I'M
I friendly in tone is Of such a nature that it
must sooner or later draw from the state De-
partment some better easons than il has here
tofore advanced for abandoning the policy OF
good will and friendness toward Japan. which
gave a prestige to it in that country possessed
by few others and surpassed by none. That
japan has some serious grounds Of complaint
against the United States is tacitly admitted
on every side. If nothing else had happened
than that sublime act of diplomatic indiscre-
ton and folly of which Secretary Gresham was
guilty when he sought TO NEEDLE in the quar-
rels Of two nations by characterizing the action
OF one IAN unjust war levied upon weaker
nation" it might still have been possible for
Japan and the United States to return without
embarrassment to the condition Of mutual
! friendship and confidence existing before the
commission of Mr.. Gresham's blunder.
| But there are Other reasons lar Hloit IHiH'l-
tant than the anger aroused over the thought
less and stupid utterance of Pecksnlflan
| phrase to which the unfriendly Indifference, If
not distinctly hostile attitude of public opinion,
| in Japan toward the United States must now be
| aScrbed. This sudden change of front is due
| in part to Secretary Greshams aversion to rae
ing promptly and courageously difficulties as
they arise 1t is due also To the mysterious
spell of hypnotism under which the secretary
| Of State rests whenever he finds himself in the
| ~ no oh Ambassador.
this feature of the difficulty which threatens 10
close the Of American influence In Japan
which most keeny arouses the interest OF dipio-
matte circles in Washington How is 1t. diplo-
mats ask themselves and each other. that our
colleague. Sir Julian. has managed TO gam the
ascendency the Secretary OF state, OF
which we daily see the proofs, and to counter
act which sometimes requires the greatest ef-
forts our part?
SIR JULIAN'S CHARACTERISTICS.
II is difficult to give a satisfactory answer to
this query 1t would probably involve an anay-
sis OF Secretary Greshams peculiar methods in
seeking the solutHn Of diplomatic difficulty
/ IL might also make IL necessary to examine more
infinitely than at present seems either adVsan'e
or necessary the ways and means employed ny
the representative Of Great Britain in laying the
| foundations of his influence over men OF score
tary Ciresham's stamp. Il Is suinc!eht - say ina
this influence exists. and has lately been employed
| with disastrous effect upon the interests oil the
United States. Sir Julian Faunceiote Is not d
| usually employed. But he is what serves ms pur-
pose and his Government quite as well ana eflec-
| lively in Washington a panstaking' cohscleh-
tiOus official hard worker, ana above an MAJ"
/ nossessad of quiet and generally unobtruslVe
| persistence before which the greatest difficulties
disappear IN time; and TO resist his successful
REQUIRES both tact and strength % MIND. neither
/ Of which qualities Secretary Gresham possesses
II one seeks for an explanation Of the failure OF
| the State Department 70 negotiate SAUSAGE II!
treaty with Japan. he Will find Il In the statement
| that Sir Julian prevented IL. He ala II. TOO. by
| the simplest means Ii cost only the EFFORT OF a
/ single visit to the State Department. This sounl
almost incredible. but II nevertheless j. true. III"
details of his conversation win StcIelats
I Gresham cannot OF course be given. Inc SUD.
stance Of IT, however. was that Great britain mao
no intention whatever Of negotiating u'i'H
I with Japan. and that therefore no reason existed
why the United States should hasten the concIu-
! sion OF its negotia lions. This statement
| which subsequent occurrences have proved 10 be
! erroneous" Secretary Gresham in the inno-
cence OF his heart and with the implicit trust re-
posed by him in the willy diplomat, bolted who'e'
He did not permit himself TO suspect rs truth or
the possible motives " It's author, though 'he
merest tyro in diplomacy. the greenest attache OF
the score or more OF legations In W asAinst.n'
might have given valuable advice 70 him on TINS
point The influence OF Sill Jui!an proNti '"in-
pletely paramount" 1t was the easiest diPI'-
matte victory he probably had ever gained As
soon as he was Informed that the treaty between
Great Britain and Japan had been signed Sir
Julian sailed for England
MINISTER TATENOs RECALL
Now mark the effects OF this stroke Of diplo-
macy. on July % It is announced that Conc Ia
teno. the japanese Minister in Washington. IL
recalled No reason for such a step is ofilcialiy
assigned: a step which at that stage OF cTisS
in japanese history, exctes unusual comment.
1t is given out at the State Department In tha'
mysterious manner which seeks 10 initiate the
serni-oficial utteranCes Of European govern
ments that the Minister has fallen a victim 10
the Vaccinations Of a cabal at home; That he mas
contemplated for "a long time departure rom
Washington. and retirement from the cares OF
nublc Office: that the japanese Government In
the present difficulty with Coroa wishes 10 aNali
itself Of the services Of its best men at nome ana
Mr. Tateno IA OF them that the civil service
notions prevailing in Japan demand rotation III
office every three years though the victim 81
this feeble official joke has been In washington
more than four II is even limited win an IN
penuity which might be called dev!lish, if IL were
not so stupid that Mr.. Tateno is recalled because
he has permitted several newspapers 10 see 4
dispatch Of Secretary Greshams in wmch tha'
| great headlight Of State Department "dipOinacy
as she is practsed" under the Cleveland dispen-
sation. refers to Japan's aggressive poncy III
Coraa as IAN unjust levied upon weak'r
Nation" In fact the brain and ingenuity OF the
state Department are employed 10 misiead me
public and hide the real carse or MT Ia'eho
disgrace -,
The cause is now we'll known. 1t could not
long remain hidden from diplomatic corps
whose business it is TO fathoin JUST such III.
teries as that which the State Department sought
TO throw around the Tateno incident bileh!
put IT was due to the dissatisfaction felt at
Toxic the failure OF Mr. Ia'cho 70 1 ,'
a treaty with promptness and dispatch. Inc
Government Of Japan attached great importance
to such a treaty. 1t had been striving Tor Hahl
vears "a sec,Ire q revision OF all It's treaties-thai
which I, had with the United States, as well as
those II had entered into with European Govern
, ments In the treaties Of 1878 between inc
United States and Japan it was stipulated ina
5 Americans committing offences In Japan shoulc
be tried by the American Consul-General or con
suls Other Nations followed this lead in theii
treaties with Japan and thus the country Eel
: under what Is known as extra -territoraT Juris
dction which is equivalent 10 placing the a1air'
~ foreigners In Japan completely under the
rather arbitrary control Of courts composed Oh