Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-05-06
THE DIPLOMATIC BOYCOTT.
New Theory in Regard to the Ostra-
cising Of senior AspiroZ.

-
From a Washington letter: 1t is
painfully apparent that the European
ambassadors here have determined to
boycott their new colleague, Mr.. Aspi-
roz, of Mexico. There have been sus-
picious circumstances from the hour
Of his arrival, but the officials Of our
government and Washington society
generally have been reluctant to be-
lieve that such eminent and broad
minded statesmen us Sir Julian
Paunccfotc, Count Cassini, DR.. Won Hol-
lcben, Jules Cambon and others would
deliberately humiliate a stranger, and
n so amiable and honorable as the
ambassador from Mexico. They no
longer conceal their intentions, and
Count Lichdervelde, the Belgian min
ister, who telegraphed to Brussels for
instructions as to the course he should
pursue, has been directed by his gov
eminent to stand by the representa-
tives Of European powers and freeze
the Mexican out.
When n new ambassador comes to
Washington he is always welcomed in
formally by his future colleagues, and
they hasten to make his acquaintance
before he is officially received by the
president. When he presents his ere
dentials etiquette requires him to call
at once upon all his colleagues. Then
he sets an early day to receive them
at his embassy or legation, and they
always GO in full force. Mr.. Aspiroz
has cOnfOrmed TO all the peculiarities
Of the diplomatic code OF etiquette, and
has met none of his fellow ambassa-
doris in person. They did not call upon
HIM before his presentations; when he
called upon them they were not at
home, and not n Of them appeared
at his reception. This might have been
due to q series of accidents. but il was
no accident that every prominent men,
Der Of the diplomatic corps sent his
regrets to the reception which cX-Sec-
retarv and Mrs. John w. Foster gave
in honor of Mr.. and Mrs. Aspiroz,
which was not only a slight to the
guests Of that evening, but TO the hosts
also.
At n tea given by the Countess Lich-
dcrveldc, wife of the Belgian minister,
the truth came out. The Mexican am
bassador and Mrs. Aspiroz were the
only members of the diplomatic corps
who were not present, and their alb
sence was due to a failure to receive
invitations. 1t was a deliberate insult.
The preteXt for the boycott lies in
the historical fact that thirty years
ago Mr.. Aspiroz happened to be the
Judge advocate general of the Mexican
army who was detailed by President
Juarez to try the pretcnder MaXimil-
ian. Maximilian had five distinguished
lawyers to defend him, but was con-
victed and shot at Qucretaro. The Aus
trian government has never resumed
diplomatic relations with Mexico. The
two embassies here have had no com-
munication since the death of Maxi
milan, for Emperor Francis Joseph
cannot forgive or forget the execution
Of his nephew. But until now there
has never been any lack Of cordially
between the Belgians and the Next
cans, although Carlotta, the widow of
MaXimilian, who is now in an insane
asylum near Brussels, is the sister of
King Leopold of Belgium. But why
the performance of a military duty un.
der orders from his government by Mr..
AspirOZ a third of n century ago should
make him an unfit associate of the
British, German, French, Russian and
italian ambassadors is difficult to I'M
derstand. Great Britain and Germany
refused to sustain Macmillan and
practically repudiated the invasion Of
Mexico, and it is not believed that
either of the governments will approve
the action Of their ambassadors in de-
claring a boycott against n colleague
upon such n preteXt, if they are ap>
pealed to.
However, it is believed to be only a
preteXt for a more serious reason. The
great European powers were not
pleased when the Mexican legation at
Washington was elevated to an em-
bassy on an equality with their own.
They made no formal protest, but
there was a good deal of dissatisfaction
expressed privately that the represent
ative of so small a nation as Mexico
should be accorded the same diplo-
matte distinction by our government
that their ambassadors received. The
respect felt for the late Minister ROM
ero was so great that the Europeans
would not object to him, but when a
man without diplomatic experience,
like Mr.. Aspiroz came, a boycott was
decided upon.
H.. W.,