Evening star., 1898-02-11

vas niada public. ard it was supposed that
i. NEAR the disgrace and dismissal of Gen.
Rlurlenthal. But when il was brought to
the attention of the crown prince he said
IF Blumenthal only knew what I tell my
wife about him. L think we would be even. =
Blumenthal held his place. and the often
size structures were never given official
recognition The incident is related by d
minister of one of the countries referred
to, and is from his personal knowledge.
Interest of Foreign Minister'S
The De Lone letter has already attracted
the attention Of foreign governments, and
appears to be regarded by them as an i'm
pCrtant factor in the general Cuban ares-
iicn. Some OF the foreign ministers at
Washington have advised their govern
nents fully on the occurrence. These were
misleading at the outset. for members Of
the diplomatic corps assumed that the let
ter forgery. ard some advices con-
yeyed this view of the case. Now that its
EenufleresS has been established, the facts
nave been sent 10 most OF the foreign Cap
itals No incident in recent DAYS has
caused such sensation In the ranks of the
diplomatic corps. There Is universal re-
Sret among the ambassadors and ministers
who have been brought INTO close social
relations with Senor de LONE. Ii has also
aroused a keen discussion as to the right
OF criticism which a minister can indulge
in under the seal of private letter. While
there Is no general consensus of opinion
among diplomatic authorities, yet many of
them take the view that 1t is not only
right. but a duty, for a minister TO present
every detail, even of a personal nature.
which in his Judgment may aid in cor
rect understanding of A case. A distinction
is made by them between official and per-
oral letters.
Under the peculiar circumstances exist
ing, the ceremony attending the departure
of the Spanish minister is attended with
i, Gtrrl yf1an for aitr1
representative leaves the country for him
to be received in formal audience at the
White House. where exchange nf good
wishes takes place between HIM and the
President 1t is not expected that this for
naiity will he observed In the present case
owing TO the personal aspects cf the Incl
dent In cases that approach this in most
respects the minister has usually allowed
his letters OF recall to he presented by his
successor When MIR. Thurston ceased to
De minister from Hawaii to the United
States, he simply left Washington, and
when Mr.. Castle succeeded aim, the Few
minister at the same time presented the
letters OF recall OF MIR. ThurS:on and his
owp credentials. Ii may also be recalled
that Senor Muruasa, who was Senior Du
puy Ge Lome-s predec essor, left Washing
ton suddenly on leave of absence, shortly
after the appearance IN a newspaper Of an
interview in which he criticised our gov
ernment. He did not return to Washing
ten, but Senor Dupuy de Lone appeared
with the letters of recall of his predeces-
sor and letters accrediting himself 5 his
successor. So that there is precedent for
a failure on the part of the retiring minis
yer to take formal leave Of our officials. Ii
Is said at the State Department that there
is no time limit within which sir. Dupuy
Te LONE must leave Washington and be-
ing now only private Spanish citizen. he
n ay take reasonable time TO arrange his
affairs here without Calling for criticism.
4 Dfpiomnts Views.
According TO the unbiased opinion Of sew
eral members of the diplomatic corps the
offense OF which Senior de Lcine was guilty
was sufficient to have destroyed the useful
ness of any diplomatist. as ore OF them
put 1t:
ITO criticise or condemn the political and
personal motives or asSail the personal
character of the head of friendly nation
to which he is accredited as an envoy is
one of the most unpardorable sins diplo-
mat can commit But to hold the chief
magistrate of n great country up to con-
tempt. even in private correspondence is
to invite. on discovery. the swiftest and Sc
Verest public retrihutio1. Nothing could he
more Injurious and objectionable than the
sentence in which President McKinley's
official and personal dignity was assailed
in the Canaleias letter. Senor de LONE
thought. doubtless that only the distant
future would reveal his personal opinions
when he wrote of an American President:
" Besides the natural and inevitable
Coarseness with which he repeats all that
the press and public opinion of Spain has
said of Weyler. il shows once more what
MCKINLEY is, weak and catering to the rab
BILE, and, besides, a low politician who de-
sires to leave a door open to me. and to
stand well with the jingces of his party
From diplomatic point of view no more
egregiouS professional blunder than the
Spanish ministers comment on the mes
sage OF December has been committed at
this capital for generations. Beside it the
offenses of ministers like Sackville West
shrink to the dimensions of personal peca-
dilloes of the most harmless sort
A Cabinet Officers Views.
After the meeting of the cabinet at the
White House today a prominent cabinet
officer, speaking of the De LONE letter.
remarked that the incident, So far as it
related to Mr.. De LONE, was entirely
closed, but that the question between the
United States and Spain in reference to
Mr.. De Lome's statements in his letter was
the subject that was up for consideration
by the cabinet
He said that Spain would be forced
either - approve or disapprove of Mr. De
Lome's letter and especially to state in
unetuivooal terms whether or not Mr. De
ioEles advice to his friend Canaleias that
ne should agitate the question of CONNER
ttai relations even though it only be for
effect was the true position of Spain. If
so this would be regarded as serious
matter, as IL would show that the Spanish
government was merely trifiing with the
United States in it's talk about reciprocity
Uhiess Spain takes action without un-
necessary delay in regard to the de LONE
letter, this government. the cabinet officer
suggested, might recall its minister to
Madrid. and thus end all diplomatic reIa-
lionS with the Spanish government He re-
sarded the whole subject as unsettled. al
thoush Nr. de LONE himself is in no way
factor 10 the subject at the present time
DE LOME's RESIGNATION.
What the Spanish Papers sny on the