Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-04-21
Must Follow the President at Grant
Monument Ceremonies.
OTHERWISE WILL NOT Be PRESENT
Continuation Of a Long Fight for
Preferment.
RIGHTS OF AMBASSADORS

Questions of precedence are seriously en,-
| bsrrassing the gentlemen making the ar
rangements for the ceremonies incident 10
| the transfer of Grants tomb to the city
| of New York next Tuesday. They in
volve the relative official standing of tho
Vice President, the Presidents cabinet,
| the foreign ambassadors and the foreign
| ministers
Unless settled speedily and satisfactorily.
they bid fair to interfere in a measure
with the entire success of the occasion,
SO far as it's international features are
concerned.
The main question at issue is whether
| the ambassadors are to take precedence
of the Vice President and the cabinet, or
vice versa. incidentally is involved the
propriety of separating the ambassadors
from the other members of the diplomatic
corps.
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British ambas-
ss.dor, takes the ground that his position
as the ambassadorial representative Of
Queen Victoria, near the person of the
President of the United States,' gives him
precedence in public functions in which he
takes part in his official capacity, over the
Vice President, whose only real official
function is as President of the Senate as
we'll as the members of the cabinet
In support of his contention it is shown
that at ceremonial affairs in England for
eign ambassadors rank next to the royal
family ard ahead of Lord Salisbury and
the other members of the cabinet and all
other high functionaries of the British
government.
Ambassador Bayard was included in the
most favored class because of his dip
lomatic rank.
Sir Julian's Attitude.
Sir Julians attitude in the matter Of de-
manding precedence, even in social func-
tons, has been the subject of comment in
Washington for months. Recently, being
invited to meet Vice President Hobart at
a dinner given by Gardiner G. Hubbard,
president of the National Geographic So
ciety, he insisted, as a sine qua non of his
acceptance, that he, and not the Vice
President, must have the seat OF honor
What Mr.. Hubbard replied is not known,
but the ambassador was not of the party.
little before that event he was asked to
meet Secretary Of State Olney at the resi-
dence Of L. q. Letter, the father-in-law of
George N. Curzon, under secretary of state
Tor the colonies in the British government,
the post which Sir Julian left to bee ONE
British ambassador at this capital. He
made the same demand and it was granted
the Secretary being consoIed for the dis
criminasion by being permitted to take the
young scion of the house out to dinner
1t is said that Sir Julian's pretensions to
precedence were sanctioned officially by
Secretary Olney. SO that when he was
made victim of their pra actical applica-
ton he was estopped from criticism, had
he felt disposed to make it. 1t is also
said that the ruling of the Secretary was
made originally to apply to Vice Presi-
dent Stevenson.
In the matter of possible SUCCESSORS to
the presidency the Vice President is put
In the same class as the members of the
cabinet, differing from them only in de-
gree.
Notified the Grant Committee.
1t is understood that Sir Julian has noti-
fled the Grant committee that unless he
|. and the other foreign ambassadors are not
accorded the places belonging to their rank.
they will not be able to take any part in
the ceremonies.
In case the ambassadors are placed next
to the President, the foreign ministers, led
by Senior Romero, the Mexican plenipoten-
ttary, will also insist on being accorded
similar distinction. 1t will be difficult to
separate the diplomatic corps into two
classes, placing one ahead and the other
behind the Vice President and the cabi-
net, without repeating the trouble that
occurred at similar attempt at the Can't
tol at the inaugural ceremonies.
None OF the gentlemen directly interestetY
VIII discuss the question, and it is diff
cult to get at the bottom facts 1t is said.
however, that Sir Julian and the other
Foreign ambassadors and the memOers of
the diplomatic corps generally are going
to attend the Grant ceremonies.
That would indicate that ARRANGEMENTS
nave been made agreeable and satisfactory
to all persons concerned. 1t is said that the
all questions Of precedence of foreign off,
Gals to the Secretary of State