The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-11
THE INCIDENTS ASPECTS.
De LONE VIII Leave Washington
Without Formality.


Washington, Feb. 10.-Up to the close
of Office hours the state department
had not heard from Mr.. Woodford. It
was said, however, that there was no
disposition to question the correctness
of the report Of the Spanish cabinets
action upon the Spanish minister 5
resignation, and the opinion is enter
tanned that the matter is now prac-
tically settled. It is believed that when
Mr.. Woodford is heard from it will be
in the shape Of a message saying that
the Spanish government expresses re-
greet at the incident; that the resigna-
ton of Mr.. Dupuy de LONE makes it
unnecessary 70 go further in the di-
rection of the request of the president
for his recall, and announces that the
first secretary of the legation will con-
duct its business in Washington until
another minister is named.
Under the peculiar circumstances eX-
listing, the ceremony attending the de-
parture of the Spanish minister is at
tended with much doubt 1t is usual
when a foreign representative leaves
the country for him to be received in
formal audience at the White House
when an exchange of well-wishes takes
place between him and the president
1t is hardly expected that this for
mality VIII be observed in the present
case, owing to the personal aspects of
the incident.
In cases that approach this in most
respects, the minister has usually al
lowed his letters Of recall to be pre-
scented by his successor. Senior Muru-
aga, who was Senior de LOme's prede-
cesSor, left Washington suddenly on
the leave of absence shortly after the
appearance in a newspaper of an in
terview in which he criticised our gov
eminent. He did not return to Wash
in crTn IN frr+ IL I
peared with the letters of recall of his
predecessor, and letters accrediting him
as the successor. so that there is a
precedent for failure on the part of
retiring ministers to take leave of our
officials.
1t is said at the state department that
there IS no time limit in which Dupuy
ue LONE must leave Washington, and
being now only a private Spanish citf-
zen, he may take a reasonable time 70
arrange his affairs here without calling
for criticism.
The De LONE letter has already at
tracted the attention of foreign govern
ments, and appears to be regarded by
them as an important factor in the
general Cuban question. Some of the
1CrelSn ministers at Washington have
advised their governments of the oc-
currence fully. These We're misleading
at the outset, for members of the diplO-
matte corps assumed that the letter was
a forgery, and some advices conveyed
this view of the case. Now that its
genuineness has been established. the
facts have been sent to most of the
foreign capitals.
No incident in recent days has caused
such ? sensation in the ranks of the
diplomatic corps. There is universal
regret among the ambassadors and
ministers who have been brought into
close relations with Senior de LONE.
1t has also aroused Il keen discussion
as 10 the right of criticism which a
minister can indulge in. under the seal
of a private letter. While there is no
general concensus of opinion among
diplomatic authorities, yet many Of |
them take the view that it is not only
a right, but a duty for a minister to |
present every detail of a personal ma |
ture, which, in his judgment, may aid |
IN correct understanding of a case.
A distraction is made by them be- |
tween official and personal letters.