The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-11
Mr.. De Lome's Predecessors Down
III Spanish Walk.


The first case in which the representative
of a friendly foreign nation 30 miscon-
Quoted himself at Washington that his
presence became intolerable, occurred in
W~AsHINGToN's time. The offender was
Citizen GENET. This French Minister'S at
tempts to influence public sentiment In
this country against the policy Of WASH
INGToN's Administration, with q view to
involving us in war with England, led to
his recall in 1894 at the request of the
United States Government. HAMILTON
and KNOX, and perhaps others Of WASH
INGToN's Cabinet. had been in favor Of or
dering GENET ~peremptorilv out Of the
country. JEFFERSON and RANDOLPH OPP
posed this extreme course for political rea-
sons; and GENET was finally recalled by his
own Government. His successor, Mr..
FAUCHEr, upon arriving here, asked in the
name of the French Republic for the ar
rest of GENET for misconduct. Our Gov
eminent declined the request, :" for reasons
of law and magnanimity."
Twelve years later Mr.. YRUJo, the Span
ish Minister, was summarily dismissed for
abundant cause. The original offence of
YRUJo had been an attempt to bribe a
Philadelphia newspaper to print an article
criticising the Administration and taking
the Spanish side of a boundary question
then in dispute between u Government
and Spain. Mr.. MADISON, as Mr.. JEFFER-
SONS Secretary of State, demanded the re.
call of the Spanish Minister; and upon a
direct appeal from Madrid it was arranged
that YRUJo should be allowed to depart
quietly, as IL he were going home
on leave. But this diplomatic offender
took advantage of the lenity of u
Government to remain in Washington
while the Spanish question was still being
considered by Congress. Mr.. MADISON
notified him that his presence was dis
pleasing to the President. YRUJo there.
upon published two impudent replies, dc.
claring that he woul stay in Washington
as long as he pleased. He did stay, but as
a private individual.
During MADIsoN's first term the British
Minister, Mr.. JACKSON, wrote to the Secre-
tary of State a note indirectly accusing our
Government of duplicity. He was promptly
notified that no further communications
would be received from him by this Gov
eminent, and his own Government was
subsequently informed of his misconduct.
JACKSON withdrew from Washington to
New York. The Foreign Office at
London showed some disposition to
question 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 re.
call him, three months later, 1t indicated
no displeasure with him..
The nearest parallel to DE LoME's per-
emptory dismissal is afforded by the case
of Monsieur G~UILLAUME TELL LAvALLEE
PoUssIN, french Minister in ZACHARY
TAYLoR's time. PoUssIN had on a previous
occasion tested the forbearance of our Dc.
partment of State by writing to Secretary
CLAYTON a letter concerning some French
claim, in which he used this language:
Tho Government of tho United States must be
convinced that It is more honorable to acquit fairly q
debt contracted during war, under the pressure OF
necessity, than to evade Its payment by endeavorlng
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
nave an opportunity to withdraw or modify
it.. PoUssIN offered to argue the question
of propriety. CLAYTON told him sharply
that the President did not deem the point
a matter for argument. PoUssIN there.
upon withdrew the letter and erased its
offensive expressions.
This experience, however, did not teach
him wisdom. The offence which led to his
dismissal occurred several months later.
Commander CARPENDER of the United
States war vessel Iris had saved a French
ship in a gale off the Mexican coast. There
was some question of salvage, and Com
mande CARPENDER's course in that respect
was fully approved by the Navy Depart
ment, and afterward sustained in an
elaborate opinion by the Attorney-Gen-
eral, the Hon. REvERDY JOHNSON. But
PoUssIN wrote q letter on May IL, 1S49,
to the State Department, declaring tina
the French flag had been insulted grossly
by Commander CARpENDER, and demanding
the dismissal of that officer. Secretary
CLAYTON had the affair investigated and
sent to PoUssIN a full statement of the
facts, together with all the documents,
showing that no offence 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 concerning American
methods and motives. In a letter OF May
30, 1910, to Secretary CLAYTON, he said:
81 called on the Cali1et at Washington. Mr. sccrr.
tary OF State, in the name OF the French Government.
to address u severe reproof 10 that OFFICER OF the
Am .ricsn Navy, in order that the error which he has
committed. On a point Involving the dignity OF your
national marine. might rot Le repeated hereafter.
From your answer, Mr.. SecretGrF OF STATE. ! am
unfortunately induced 20 believe that your Govern.
nient subscrihes TO the strange doctrines profeSsed by
Commander CAmBSpER Of the war steamer Iris. and
l have 'nsy to pr, test IN The name OF my Government
against these doctrines"
To this extraordinary insult no direct re.
ply WAS made by our Government. The en-
tire correspondence was forwarded to Ricu.
ARD RUSH, then the American Minister at
Paris, with instructions to bring 1t 10 the
attention of NJ. DE ToCeuEvHL.E, The
| IHrn,.,I, NIf,gytn, ~ L,xoF.. kn.t., LIT.