The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-11

| ability OF his recalling the minister
| Immediately. Mr.. Bayard proceeded tc
| dismiss Lord Sackviile in the following
| terms:
The president OF the United States
has instructed me to inform you that
| for good and sufficient causes which
are known 10 yourself and have been
duly Drought TO the knowledge of your
government. he has with great regret
become convinced that Ii would be in
compatible with the best interests and
detrimental to the good relations OF
both governments that you should any
longer hold your present official posi-
ton in the United States and that ac-
cordingly. the government of her Bril-
tanic majesty will without delay be
informed of this determination in order
that another channel may be found
for the transmission of such communi-
cations as may be found desirable be-
tween the two governments in the
transaction of their business. When
ever il is your pleasure to depart from
the United States / am instructed 10
furnish you with the usual facilities,
and with that view l now beg TO en-
close a passport in the customary
FORM
Lord Sackville left Immediately, and
from October 80. 1883. until late in the
spring of 1889, the British government
was represented here only by a charge.
a sign of the displeasure with which
il viewed the treatment OF its minister.
OPINIONS OF CONGRESSMEN.
There were few senators who had
not read the de LONE letter when the
senate met today, but there were COM
paratively few of them willing TO ex-
press an opinion upon it.
1t is a very serious matter" said
Senator Gray, of the committee on for
eign relations, too serious indeed to
discuss carelessly."
If it is true" said Senator Foraker,
also a member ofthe foreign relations
committee, Mr.. de LONE ought to be
Immediately given his passports"
Senator Spooner said: IF true, il is
a gross attack and most astounding"
Senator Stewart said: '@The sentiment
expressed is in a line with Spain's pol
icy and disposition. We do everything
to conciliate the Spaniards; they re-
ciprocate by despising u.s."
The letter was almost the sole topic
of conversation among the members Of
the house today. Its contents We're
considered such a manifest breach of
diplomacy that many refused to credit
it. Chairman Hit of the foreign af-
fairs committee; Chairman Dingley, of
the ways and means committee, and
other leading republicans, declined to
express any opinion at this time. On
the assumption that the letter was au-
thentic, however, the opinion was al
most unanimous that no self-respect-
ing government could tolerate such
criticism of it's chief executive and that
Minister de Lomes words had put an
end to his usefulness at the capital.
Some fear was also expressed that the
recall of Minister de Lorne while af-
fairs were in the present condition
might precipitate grave crisis.
The democrats were much more free
in the expression of opinion than the
republicans. Mr.. Berry, democrat, of
Kentucky a member of the foreign af-
fairs committee, said if the letter
proved to be genuine the Spanish min
lister should be- made to walk the
plank.
Mr. William Alden Smith, republican,
of Michigan, a member of the foreign
affairs committee, said: Il regard the
letter, if authentic, as serious af
front, calling for as radical trea atment
as was administered to Lord Sack
vile West, in 1885,
DeLOME SCORNS DENIAL.
Senior de LONE received a number of
callers during the day, and to those
sustaining a close relation to him he
did not question the authenticity of
the published letter, making it clear
that he would scorn the subterfuge of
a denial for purposes of expediency.
The only question raised was to the
accuracy of translation, for the pub
lished translations gave a severity TO
some of the expressions on the pres
dent which were regarded as designed
to magnify the actual statements.
Among the ministers friends the act
of stealing a confidential letter, and
making it public, was considered as
more reprehensible than the writing
of the letter itself. 1t was the general
expression among the minister's as
sociates of the diplomatic corps that
while the publication disclosed a
grave impropriety, yet it was one that
might happen to any of them in the
course Of those confidential communi
cation in which the greatest freedom
of expression is used in order to con-
vey a full understanding of an inter
national question.
De LONE RESIGNS.
Philadelphia, February Especial
dispatches from Washington received
in this city state that Minister de
LONE calped his resignation to the
Spanish government once yesterday
and twice today, but up to late hour
this afternoon he had received no re-
ply from Madrid.
HOW IT IS VIEWED IN MADRID.
Madrid February e.-CMid nighD
The de LONE letter incident Is regard
ed here as jingoist intrigue. intend
ed 10 disturb the relations between the
United States and Spain.
COMMENTS OF FOREIGN PRESS.
London, February 1e.-With the ex-
ceptioa of The Daily Mail, the morning
papers do not comment on the de
LONE incident The Daily Mail says:
We cannot suppose the de LONE
letter genuine; but IL il is, then ali the
fat would be in the fire. Things have
reached a pass where little is wanted
10 cause an explosion. Even the re-
call Of Senior de Lone would not salts
fy or pacify the insulted jingoes."
The American correspondents are all
OF opinion that Senor de Loane's re-