Evening star., 1898-04-23
SPANISH INTERESTS,
Specific Duties Of French Am bn ssa d or
md Austrian Minister.

Specific Duties Of French Am bn ssa dor
and Austrian Minister.
AS result of objections raised by the
State Department to the joint action of the
French ambassador and the Austrian min
lister, In representing Spanish interests in
this country, 1t is understood that a satis-
factory arrangement has been made by
which the ambassador and minister will
divide their duties and will act separately
in looking after Spanish affairs and in deal
ing with the authorities here This ar
rangement was made after a conference be-
tween Judge Day and the ambassador and
minister. At the outset the department
took decided grounds against Joint rep
resentation, believing that 1t invited con-
fusion and was quite unusual. 1t was ex-
plained. however. that Spain had made her
request simultaneously to France and Aus
trfa, and that both governments had ac-
cepted simultaneously. Although it i'm
posed an onerous duty, the acceptances. 1t
was explained, were dictated by the usual
comfy between nations Having two ac-
ceptances. the Spanish government did not
feel at liberty to prefer one over the other.
but accepted the protection of both coun-
tries. While this explanation was in every
way satisfactory to the authorities here,
yet they did not wish the protection to be-
come complicated by any joint or divided
responsibility. This was arranged, how
ever, when the ambassador and minister
plates distinct action in different local
ties. The French consul consul gen.
erals will take charge Of Spanish interests
at New Orleans San Francisco, Philadel-
phia, Boston and Galveston. At these
points the Austrian government is not rep
resented by consular officers. If any case
originates at these points and is brought
before the State Department. then the
French ambassador will take entire charge
of the negotiations SO far as Spains inter-
ests are concerned, without consulting the
Austrian minister. On the other hand,
Austrian consuls and vice consuls will take
charge of Spanish interests at New York,
Chicago and Pittsburg. France also has
consular offices at these points, but the
Austrian officials are senior and are there
fore given charge. If cases arise in these
localities and are brought before the State
Department, then the Austrian minister
will act independently and without consult
ing the French ambassador. Under this
arrangement there will be no joint action
on any one subject, although both the am
bassador and minister will continue to act
in distinct fields. In smaller cities, where
no consus belonging to the regular SER
wee or France or Austria are located, the
consular agents commercial or honorary,
Will take charge of Spanish interests Sc
nlority determining whether a French or
an Austrian official shall be in charge
Cases reaching the State Department from
these smaller cities will follow the same
rule as those originating in the large cities
namely the French ambassador taking
charge when the case originated under a
French consular agent and the Austrian
minister when the case originated under
an austrian consular agent 1t is under
stood that this arrangement will be salts
factory to the State Department so long as
no joint negotiations are involved 1t Is
said that the ambassador and minister will
nave no joint functions to perform for
Spaln in the sense of conducting diplo-
matte negotiations, as all diplomatic rela-
tions with Spain are terminated Ths. sole
duties OF the ambassador and minister are
TO look after Spanish persons and property
now in the United States