Evening star., 1896-07-27
CON SULAR CHAN GES
Many Made as the Result of Mr.. Chilton's
Inspections.
Mr.. HammOnd's Resignation Called
FOr-AlleEed Cause of Trouble and
What His Friends Say.

United States consuls, and In consequence
| 1t has been found necessary to call for
designations in the cases Of few of these
| officers. The chief of the consular bureau,
Mr.. Chiffon, has made a close personal in
| spection Of the consulates in Mexico, and
| at present is engaged In a similar investi-
cation Of the affairs of the Canadian con-
| sulates. In the case Of the Mexican con-
sulates the effect of his work was the re-
| moval Of several consular officers, while the
Canadian tour has already resulted In a de-
| riand for the resignation Of United States
Consul NJ. p. Thatcher at Windsor, Ont.
| Henry c. Smith, consul at Santos, in Bra
I'll. has also been invited to give up his
commission. and other changes may he ex-
pected, according to the results Of the close
| inquiries that are being made in the admin
| istration of many of the consuates. A
month ago the United States vice consul at
| Paris, Mr.. Shropshire, was displaced, but
as he was the appointee of the consul gen.
efal, this was matter that did not direct
ly concern the State Department. In all of
these cases the department has declined TO
make public the reasons for making
changes, contenting itself with the simple
statement that the designations have been
called for for the good of the service but
1t Is understood that the reasons do not
generally go beyond such matters as mat !
| tention to duty. incorrect personal habits
sular regulations.
Mr.. HnmmOnd's Case.
A more Interesting case than any OF
those named however, Is that Of Mr. Ed
ward p. T. Hammond, United States con-
sui at Budapest. He has been asked to
resign on the general ground that he is not
acceptable to the Austrian government.
Representations to that effect have been
made to the State Department by the OFF,
Gals Of the Austrian government and the
consurs resignation has been demanded in
the name Of the Secretary of State. Rea-
sons are never asked for in such cases. 1t
Is sufficient for the State Department to
know that its consular representative Is
persona non grata. Specific charges against
him are not essential His being obnox-
ious to the government to which he is ac-
credited is always considered q paramount
reason for his recall. This practice is in
accordance with that of all foreign coun-
tries with which the United States has
business relations
Although the officials of the State De-
partment are automatically silent on the
subject, II Is learned from other sources
that charges have been filed against the
official conduct of Consul Hammond. One
of the charges is that the consul attended
a ball given by Count Festetics in honor of
the King of Hungary, in May last, without
the formality of an invitation, and asked
the Countess Festetics to dance with him.
an honor Which that lady is said to have
| declined.
Another charge Is that, on several occa-
sions, when representing the United States
in an official capacity, he was intoxca ted
These charges were forwarded to the State
Department two months ago by Mr.. Town
send SECRETARY of the United States lega-
tion in Vienna.
The State Department requested Consul
General j ID at Vienna to investigate
these allegations. and that official returned
report sustaining all the charges. He
added that Consul Hammond is persona
non grata with the government of Austro-
Hungary.
Where the Trouble Began.
According to one story Consul Ham
nond's troubles began with the opening OF
the millennial celebration on the occasion
Of visit to Budapest of United States
Minister Trpp and Captain Dorst, the mill
tary attache at Vienna. 1t is said that
Minister Tripp, not being in the best of
health, had to leave the place where the
ceremonies were In progress before the de-
parture Of King Franz Joseph. Whereupon
Captain Dorst is said to have remarked to
Count SZapary, who was in charge of the
foreign diplomats: Il don't think Minister
Tripp should have left before the king"
This utterance was said to have been i'm
mediately rebuked by Consul Hammond,
and from that moment he has not been on
speaking terms with Captain Dorst or with
Secretary Townsend of the legation, who
forwarded the charages.
Consul Hammond has many friends in
this country, and they are trying to induce
the State Department to reconsider its ac-
ton, without much show of success. how
ever. DR.. Thomas B. Hammond of this city
is his brother. and he is interesting himself
in the case. So is Senator Gibson of Mary
land, who claims him as one of his con-
StituentJ
The Other Side.
DR.. Hammond says he has proofs In hand
to show that his brother is the victim of a
conspiracy. He says he has letter from
Count Festetics addressed to Count Gabor
Pejacsevics, in which letter Count Festetics
stated that Consul Hammond was duly and
properly invited to the ball given by him,
| and had right to attend. The letter fur
ther states that Hammond conducted him.
self in a gentlemanly manner, and eX-
presses the hope that on future occasions
of a similar nature he may have the pleas
Ure of the consuls presence.
Another gentleman, who claims to have
attended the ball in question, says that
the Countess Festetics not only did not re-
fuse to dance with the consul, but that she
was his partner four times during the
evening. With regard to the assertion that
Consul Hammond is persona non grata
with the government, the same gentleman
declares 1T to be without foundation. Con-
sui Hammond. who has been in Budapest
four and half years. is said to have main
tained the best of terms, social and official.
with the leading men of Hungary, and is
reported to be a personal friend of the
prime minister, Baron de Banffy