Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-04-24
GERMANY MAKES PROTEST
Ambassador Won Helleben Calls on Se.--..ary
Of State Hay.
Ceghian's Talk About Won Dcidrtchs
Objected to-Action OF navy de.
tatsmcns Awaited.

Washington. April 2t.-Thc German
government has entered n formal pro-
test against the language used by Cap
tain coghlan. of the Raleigh. at the
Union League club banquet In New
York last Friday night
The protest was lodged with sccrc-
tary Hay through the German ambas-
sador Herr Won Hollcbcn. Secretary
Hay replied that the language appeared
to have been used at dinner Ia a club,
and could not be regarded rs an official
or public uttcrance In the sense that
would warrant the state department In
acting. However. the navy department
was fully competent 10 take such action
AZ the cause seemed to require.
with this statement the ambar sudor
was content for the time at least, and
viii doubtless await a reasonable length
Of time upon the navy department.
There are semi-ofilclai intimatlona that
the ambassador viii not No much con-
cern himself with the course ~ Captain
coshlan a. with the course Of the
United States In dealing with coghlan.
The German Ambassador stated today
that the poem rccited by Captain cogh-
Ian was too nasty To be noticed"
II said Capt. coghlan'r case In not
similar to that OF the spanish Captain
conchns. whose uttcranccH In Madrid,
Just before the war. criticinlng tn.
United States. caused the state depart
mcnt TO lodge formal protest through
United states Minister Hannln Taylor.
Captain Conchan' uttcranccn were EN-
bodied In a lecture before the spanish
Geographical society and were public
In tho full sense OF the term. Secretary
Hay. IN his reply Ia the German ann
baanador, has undoubtedly taken note
OF the differences between the cases
on this particular point and II may be
very Important difference for Cap
tain coghlan. The state Department.
position IN that u club In simply the
home Of u number Of gentlemen and ao
cannot be considered public affair.
hut this View does not relieve Captain
coghlan from responsibility TO his
brother officers. FOR conduct which II
alleged to be detrimental to the navy,
Though relieved from accountability 10
IN. state department directly BY See.
rotary Hays attitude. the navy depart.
ment, nH the secretary has Indicated,
must deal with the case.
Captain couglnn can be called 10 nc-
count on several charges, prcHumlng,
that he has been correctly reported
and that he admits the utternnce. A. In
Commodore Meade'a case n he stands
mute ana the newspaper men refuse
proceed no further. The charge which
would most probably DO brought
against Captain coghlan In case the
nffnir progresses TO u court martial.
would be conduct 10 the prejudice OF
good order and discipline and conduct
unbecoming an officer and a gentle-
man.
10 far no response has been received
from Captain coghlan at the navy de-
partment. II II expected the officer
VIII proceed with elaboration In max.
Ing any statement he may care 10 sub
nit 10 tho department. Meanwhile un-
pleasant suggestions are arising TO the
embarrassment that may follow the
execution OF the round OF receptions
planned for the Raleigh.
inc German ambassador appeared
At tho state department at noon today
for the purpose OF making further rep.
presentations to Secretary Hay touching
the conduct OF Captain coghlan 30
that the utterance OF Captain caghlan
at the Army aud NAVY club. as n,,b.
lished In yesterday mornings papers,
were REGARDED nH an additional offenae.
An EFFORT was made 20 Ascertain
whether the United States government
Intended to do anything officially In
View OF subsequent Developments In
the cnse: Secretary nay has not
changed his position In any degree. IA.
deprecated the lack Of tact and bad
taste shown by Captain CoghlAn, and
he did not hesitate TO let that be knawn
to the German ambassador. hut he
stili held that tho case was one that
required treatment by methods
OF naval discipline only. and with
which the state department could only
concern itself. The German ambassa-
dor VIII communicate the departments
ylews 20 the foreign office at berlin.
The officials OF both sides realize that
THIS episode may grow into very
great source OF diHcorl. unless treated
discretely and coolly, After the con-
ference between Secretary Hay and the
German ambassador this afternoon il
was stated In an authoritative quarter
that there was no reason TO View the
coghlan affair In too serious "A light. or
as presenting grave International COM
plicatlons. The meeting today. Il was
stated, has been mutually agreeable.
Tho main feature OF the state depart
ment conference was In establishing
that Germany expects to the United
states government 20 deal with the
coghlan nffair according 10 the gravity
OF the offenAc and the United States
In turn gives assurance that every lust
expectation In this respect win be per-