New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-31

to work on this line. and the need OF 4 bureau to
look after the commercial interests OF tho United
States with foreign countries has long been felt 10
be a pressing one For many years Mr.. kasson
has been urging this Government to establish n
bureau which would correspond 10 the Board OF
Trade OF Great Britain and the Bureaus q Com
merce OF other countries. 1t IS not unlikely. there
fore that this commission. under It's own or some
other name. may become a permanent bureau. al
though IN making the appointments President Nc
Knlcy did not name their life. and the commits
sion Is regarded a temporary arrangement only
which may endure from two to four yenrs.
The appointment Of Mr.. Kasson TO this important
position meets with universal approval, and the
President is to be congratulated that he succeeded
In persuading this eminent diplomatist TO leave
his wo-earned retirement and enter active service
again. for there Is no other man available prom
ably entirely fitted to carry out the projected
plan. As Minister TO Austria and TO Germany
Mr. Kasson rendered signal service TO this country
In It's commercial relations His work az legis-
lator and official OF the Postofilce Depart
ment makes him familiar with the needs Of his own
country. and his diplomatic experience gave him an
acquaintance with tho character and methods OF
foreign countries which Will prove OF invaluable
service In his new work
llr Kasson did not belong to that school Of
dplomatists who enjoy the emoluments. the honor
and dignity Of their positions and wait for nstruc-
lions from home. imagining that their chief duty
WAYS on the aicrt to sSe low he Could best serve
his country and how he could aid by his knowledge
and advice the State Department.
When M Kasson was Minister a. viSn9s he had
sery to IG tde s We sa and o
make commercial treaties with those countries
lie had almost finished negotlaiions win Bu sara
when Minister to Greece and to these countries
appointed and the work so favorably begun
was Transferred to him 1t was while serving a,
the representative OF Nicaragua In dispute
Emperor Of Austria was named as arbiter. and by
his conduct Of her affairs on this q, occasion won on
Central America
While Minister at Berlin Mr. Kasson acted as
American delegate TO that famous congress. known
the Congo Conference. which called In Ber
lin by Prince Bismarck to aid the King OF Belgium
In organizing that country in Central Africa. dis
covered by Stanley and recently added to his do
mlnions. In which, because OF the nationality OF
the discoverer. the United States must always have
especial and moral interest. In his account OF
this congress- published In Berlin some time after
Its adjournment. Bunsen mentions that the Ameri-
can delegate took leading part in It's deliberations
and. indeed it by Mr. Kassons motion that the
territory acquired by discovery extended to
include the conventional rather than the actual
basin OF the Congo. which made IT embrace the
lakes In the east.
In this convention Mr.. Kasson demanded that
the rights personal and commercial. OF all Ameri-
cans who might live In visit the new country
for whatever purpose should be respected, and.
looking far ahead he made II a condition that, no
matter what the fate of the country. whether II
should remain whole under the sovereignty OF
Belgium or be broken up into little States and be-
come the property OF other Powers. this provision
should stand. Foreign dplomatists commended
Mr.. Rasson's course and ne was regarded as far
seeing and astute In looking after his countrys
interests but Mr.. Cleveland did not approve OF the
treaty. believing. he said. that It involved this
country In entangng alliances and 1t was never
signed.
Mr.. Kasson has chosen for his first secretary
Chapman Coleman. formerly and for twenty years
recretary Of the United States Legation at Berlin.
Mr.. Coleman is grandson of Senator John ].
Crittenden. Of Kentucky. and has many Of the at
tributes OF his distinguished progenitor. and much
OF the cleverness and charm Of manner that made
his grandmother. Mrs Crlttenden, one Of the most
famous women Of her day In the social world and md
her name conspicuous r the annals OF Official
life at the Capital Mrs. Crittenden was not only