The times., 1898-02-13
Our Diplomatic Troubles.
(From the New York SUM-

The first case in which the represent
tative of friendly foreign nation so
miscOnducted himself at Washington
that his presence became intolerable.
/ occurred in WashiHgtons time. The
offender was Citizen Genet This
! French minister's attempts to influence
public sentiment in this country
against the policy Of WashingtOn's Ad-
/ mtnistration. with a view to involving
us in war with England, led to his re-
call in 1894 at the request of the United
! States Government. Hamilton and
Knox, and perhaps others of Washing
Ton cabinet. had been in favor of or
defing Genet peremptorily out of the
| country Jefferson and Randolph Op-
| posed this extreme course for political
reasons; and Genet was finally recalled
Dy his own government His successor
MF. fduchet. upon arriving here asked
IN the name Of the French Republic for
the arrest of Genet for misconduct
our Government declined the request.
for reasons of law and magnaninlitv."
Twelve years later Mr. Yrujo. the
spanish Minister, was summarily dis
missed for abundant cause The original
offence Of YrujO had been an attempt 10
bribe Philadelphia newspaper to print
an article criticising the Administration
and taking the Spanish side of a bounda-
( ry question then in dispute between our
Government and Spain. Mr. Madison.
as Mr.. Jeffersons Secretary of State. de-
manded the recall of the Spanish Min
ister; and upon a direct appeal from
Madrid it was arranged that Yruia
should be allowed to depart quietly, as il
he were going home on leave. But this
diplomatic offender took advantage of
the lenity Of our Government to remain
in Washington while the Spanish ques-
ton was still being considered by Con-
gress. Mr.. Madison notified him that his
presence was displeasing to the Presi-
dent. Yrujo thereupon published two
impudent replies. declaring that he
would stay in Washington as long as he
pleased. He did stay, but as private
individual.
During Madison's first term the
British minister, Mr.. Jackson wrote
to the Secretary OF State a note di-
rectly accusing our Government of du-
plicity. He was promptly notified that
no further communications would be
received from him by this Government,
and his own government was SubSe
quently Informed of his misconduct.
Jackson withdrew from Washington to
New York. The foreign office at Lon
don showed some disposition TO ques-
ton the propriety of the course
adopted by Mr.. Madison in cutting off
official communication without first
asking for the minister's recall. And
when it did recall him. three months
later, it indicated no displeasure with
him.
The nearest parallel to De Lome's
peremptory dismissal is afforded by the
case of Monsieur Guillaume Tell La
L..
Zachary Taylor's time. Poussin had
on a previous occasion tested the for
bearance of our Department of State
by writing to Secretary Clayton let
ter concerning some French claim, in
which he used this language:
THE Government of the United
States must be convinced that il is
more honorable to acquit fairly debt
contracted during war, under the
pressure of necessity, than to evade its
payment by endeavoring to brand the
character of an honest man"
The Minister was summoned at once to.
the State Department and informed that
his letter was offensive, but that he
should have an opportunity 10 Withdraw
or modify it. Poussin offered to argue
the question of proprIsty. Clayton told
him sharply that the President did not
deem the point matter for argument
and erased its offensive expressions
This experience, however, '1i1 not teach
him wisdom The offense which led 10
his dismissal occurred several months
later Commander Carpenter, of the
United States war vessel Iris had saved
a French ship in gale off the Mexican
coast. There was some question of sal
wage and Commander Carpenters
course in that resnact was fully apprrv-
ed by the Navy Department. and after
wards sustained in an elaborate opinion
by the Attorney General, the Hon. Rev
erdy johnson. But l'oussin wrote let
ter on May u, 1919, 20 the State Depart
ment, declaring that the French flag
had been insulted grossly by Ccmman-
der Carpenter, and demanding the dis
missal of that officer. Secretary Clayton
had the affair investigated and sent to
Poussin a full statement IF the facts. 20
gether with all the documents. showing
that no offense against the French flag
had been committed. He expressed the
hope that this statement would prove
satisfactory to the French government
Instead of transmitting the documents
to Paris. Minister Poussin again gave
vent to his private opinion coneer.linc>
American methods and motives In a
letter of May 30 1S49, to Secretary Clay
ton, he said:
II called on the Cabinet at Washing
ton, Mr.. Secretary of State, in the name
of the French government, to address
a severe reproof to that officer of the
American Navy, in order that the error
which has been committed. on point
involving the dignity Of your ma
tional marine, might not be repeated
hereafter.
"Erom your answer, Mr.. Secretary