Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-19
A Goodness Between Mr.. Patenotre
and Mr.. Rockhill.
IT. ORIGINATED OVER IN CHINA
The French Ambassador May Ask
to Be Transferred Elsewhere.
THE CAUSES DETAILED

M. Patenotre, the French ambassador al
this capital, and Mr.. w. w. Rockh:ll, the
newly appointed first assistant secretary o1
state, are the principal actors in bit oi
gossip that has created quite stir in social
and diplomatic circles. Ii has been known
to their friends for long time that ING
relations between the two gentlemen, Off
cial as well personal, were severely
strained, but Its melting and continuing
cause has been a well-kept secret
According to current gossip the estrange-
ment between the two had its origin while
they We're both in Pekin, China, many
years ago, NJ. Patenotre in diplomatic
capacity and Mr. Rockbill in a private
business capacity. Their relations at first
we're extremely cordial and the French
diplomat was frequent visitor at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. kOckhil!.
According to the story now in circulation
here the disagreement was the result OF
the last one of these visits.
The Cause of the Coclness.
The following is the story:
1.-The day he chose for this call was a
warm and sultry one, and Mrs. Rockhill
was not prepared to receive callers. When
Mr.. Patrenotre's card was presented to
Mrs. Pockhill She sent word to him ask
ing to be excused. The French diplomat s
reply, l am told was:
Tell Mrs Rockhill have ,:ome long
way. 1t is hot. When yon say it is NJ.
Patenotre the ladies viii receive me-
Mrs. Rockhilrs answer was evidently no;
intended to be delivered verbatim, hut the
Chinese footman apparently repeated lit
orally what Mrs. Rockhill is alleged to
have told him.
Tell NJ Patenotre.'' i. is said lie told the
French diplomat, that Mrs. Rockhii is
dead
AZ p,,e,otra 1af, .,5 .o,, ,,o,h:,,~ ,,,or,
Of the Rockhills until that family came to
Washington early in the present admins
tration. Until the present social season
hesan Mr.. and Mrs. Rocllhill avoided "
the last few months. however, they have
been invited to several dinners at which
NJ. .Patenotre was also guest The am
bassador Is SAID to have acted in n manner
which Mr. Rockhill considered ungentle-
manly. and to have studiously neglected to
tender even the most formal courtesies
to Mrs. R"ckfil.
''Nlr. Rockh.u wrote to NJ. Pater rotre tha,
in future We will have not only no SOC. al
but no official relations. When business
transactions are Necessary between lis Won
viii wait until leave the department ard
rank below me-
NJ. Patenotre is said to have proposad In
Mr.. Rockhlll that while they recopiZe each
other officially they or the.r families shaU
Ia no way recognize each osher socially Mr.
Rockhli 1t IS said, declined 20 accede TO this
proposition.
Possible Result.
None of the parties to the affair will
talk about it, and it is difficult to say how
much of the story is true. beyond the we'll
established fact that N. Patenotrc and
Mr.. Rockhill are not friends. IN case it is
true that Mr.. Rockhill has declined TO have
even official dealings with the French am
bassador. 1t is possible that the latter vii
ask for transfer to another capital.