Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-02-14
There Have Been Others.

and humiliating departure of Senior de
LONE from Washington, it is of inter-
est to recall former cases when foreign
ministers have thus hastily ended their
diplomatic careers here. 1t is univer-
sally recognized that a country has a
right to dismiss or procure the recall
ecutive. No government has used this
power of enforcing the retirement of
amba ssadors more freely than that of
the United States. Since the begin
ming of the century our government;
has compelled the withdrawal of three
British. two French, one Russian, and,
counting de LONE. three Spanish ann
bassadors. In each case the ambassa-
dor had been guilty. of dsrespect for
the government of the United states,
equivalent in kind if not in degree to
that of the Spanish representative.
Washington compelled Genet the
French representative, to give up his
position as ambassador for breaking
or inducing others to break the laws Of
the United States. In 1906, the Spanish
minister Yrugo, not only attempted TO
Influence" the press in the controver-
sy we had then with Spain with regard
to boundaries. but on being detected
wrote a peculiarly nsolent letter 10
President jefferson. The latter respon-
ded with very plain statement that
while he regarded Yrugo's room as a
good deal better than his company, he
was willing to allow. out of deferenc"
to the sensibilities Of Spain. that he
should be recalled. Yrugo was allowed
1872 Jackson. the British minister. who
had rendered himself extremely often
sive to our government. and who had
spoken at a public meeting in Boston
in a tone that was insulting to the
President. was told to go home, and
went home accordingly, just before the
outbreak of our second war with Great
Britain.
Chevalier Hulscmann was the next
diplomatist to come in for discipline
unless we reckon a French minister
who was reprmanded about 1S4S as his
predecessor Sir John Champion. Brit
ish minister. who connVed at the en-
istment in the United States of sol
diers to serve England in the Crimean
war. was given short shift by our GoN-
eminent, and left this country in some
what of hurry, after receiving a hint
that if he did not get out he would nc
put out About 1871 our government
caught Catacazy. the Russian minis
ter. Intriguing with members of Con
srcss to prevent tn" settlement of the
Alabama claims. 1t demanded his re-
call The Russian government tenn
ported and sought to put up excuse.
Finally President Grant consented that
Catacazy should remain in the United
States until the visit of the Grand
Duke Alexis was over. but no longer.
ntimating to the car that on official
occasions connected with the tour Of
Alexis. Catacazy's presence would lac
It pleratcd"
In1SSS President Cleveland told Sack
Vile West, the writer of the famous or
e., p,.it y,
minister that his passports would be
furnished him President Cleveland WAS
| perfectly right in his action. for Sack
vile Vests letter, thought confidential
was insulting in its reflections on the
| executive of the nation to which he
was accredited. His usefulness to both
nations was ended. for neither PreS-
dent Cleveland nor his successor could
/ he expected to receive with even Goa
/ ventional courtesy man who had ac-
/ cused both of playing politics and pan
! dering to popular passions. Senior Mu-
ruagua Senior de Lome's predecessor
/ left this country rather hurriedly in
consequence of having allowed himself
to be interviewed with regard to the
! foreign policy of Secretary Gresham
Now de Lone himself has committed
an even gravcr offence against diplu-
matte etiquette and international cour-
tesy.
In all of these cases the stand taken
by the United States was that demand
ed by self respect In every instance
the minister brought the disgrace Of
| dismissal or recall upon himself and
deserved his fate, In no case has war
or international difficulty resulted from
the act of this government. This re-
public is one of the great powers of the
world. and it expects diplomatic cour-
teSy from the representatives of for
eign governments. 1t asks nothing
more. and it cannot accept anything
less.
a novel suit in legal history is the one
fpraptly broupht by an ENGLISH la wy,lv