The herald., 1898-02-13
Comment on the De LONE
Incident
Mr.. M'KINLEY is COMMENDED
THOUGH BRIToNs WOULD HAVE
DONE BETTER
The Far Eastern Question Assuming
a Phase Satisfactory to England.
Political and Personal
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
LONDON, Feb. 12.-(Copyright, 1881
The De LONE incident has excited little
interest in England, but the opinions
expressed almost unanimously indorse
the position of the United States The
daily newspapers, with the exception
of the Morning Post have adopted the
view that the administration took the
right course. The Sackville West Incl
dent naturally has been much quoted,
but it must be added that it has always
been in the most friendly terms toward
the United States.
| What the Times calls well-informed
correspondent, which probably means
some one in the foreign office, writes
to that newspaper today that, in re-
sponse to the cabled request of the
| United States for Lord Sackville Vests
| recall, Great Britain answered that mo
action could be taken until the receipt of
the language that it was charged Lord
Sackville West had used"
When this answer was received it ap-
pears Secretary Bayard handed Lord
Sackville West his passports.
The weekly newspapers express the
opinion that President Mckinley would
have done better to ignore Dupuy de
LONE, and the Statist opines that man
better qualified to conduct the foreign
affairs of the United States than Mr..
Sherman would refuse to notice De LONE
and every one participating in the af-
fair, adding, "a government based on
popular suffrage has to endure free crit
icism." Continuing, the Statst says it
does not see why President Mckinley,
who is accustomed to the rough as well
as the smooth side of politics" shows
susceptibility and objects to allow for
eigners the freedom he admits in the
case of his fellow w-citizens.
The Spectator thinks the practical
expulsion of De Lone will produce fresh
difficulties between Spain and America,
although the incident ought not to
change the situation in any way" Con-
tinuing, the Spectator says: IF Pres
ident Mckinley were wise, he would have
promptly declared that he would not
pay any attention whatever to a pur-
loined letter, however genuine. Presi-
dent Mckinley SHOULD have publicly
called on De Lome} and informed him
that he does not need his assurance that
the letter was forgery, the bad taste
and vulgarity of the language being am
pie proof of the fact. Ii he had had the
nerve or wisdom to do that, he would
have immensely raised his prestige
abroad and in his own country At the |
same time one cannot be surprised that
the United States failed to treat the |
letter with the contempt it merted
I'VE do not for a moment suggest that
the executive failed to ignore it because
it was ignorant of diplomatic usage or
because it was not sufficiently good
to be self-restrained under
provocation. The Americans are as
good-natured as most people, and their
politicians and officials are perfectly
aware of how Lord Salisbury or NJ Han
otauX would have disposed of a similar
letter, and can guess exactly how Pres
ident Lincoln would have treated it.
1t is not lack of manners or traditions
which made the United States govern
ment take the incident too seriously, but
rather the want of firmness and savoir
faire which has been shown by the pres
ent administration throughout it's term
of Office"
THE CUBAN QUESTION
The Spectator is not sorry "the mo-
ment may be approaching when the
United States will intervene to stop the
agonies of Cuba" adding: Their only
hope is in the United States declaring