New-York tribune., 1901-03-27
DIPLOMATS ON STRIKE.
FOREIGN NAVAL ATTACHES RESENT A
DEPARTMENT ORDER.
THEY REFUSE TO GO TO THE NAVIGATION
BUREAU IN SEARCH OF INFoRMA-
TION-THEIR GOVERNMENTS
MAY RETALIATE
MAY RETALIATE.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrRr>E.l

lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBrNEl
washington, March ga novelty in strikes
is just now exciting diplomatic and naval circles
a result of the action of the Bureau of Navi-
cation or the Navy Department in having itself
constituted the guardian Of all information re-
garding the service. Heretofore the naval at
taches Of foreign embassies and legations. fol-
lowing the custom abroad. where access TO ship
yards and administrative bureaus is courteouslv
granted TO American officers have been on in
innate terms with the rear admirals composine
Secretary Longs executive staff and have had
no difficulty in exchanging information on tech
nical subjects and all matters not of a strictly
confidential character. The advantages of this
personal intercourse between European and
japanese officers with skilled American bureau
chiefs We're manifold, for no one was SO well
FITTED TO secure ordnance information, for in
stance, as Admiral O'Neil. or desirable plans OF
engines and boilers as Admiral Melville These
officers knew what they did not want as we'll as
what they old not TO divuIge on the special
subjects under their Jurisdiction. The same rule
held good in the Equipment Bureau under Ad-
mral Bradford and the Construction Bureau
under Admiral Bowles
An order recently went around the Navy De-
partment forbddng the admiraIs 10 give any In
formation Whatever TO foreign attaches or TO
have any conversation with them but in every
instance TO refer them to the Bureau Of Nayiga-
ton, which in its discretion might further direct
the representatives OF foreign navies to the chief
intelligence officer of that bureau. When the
attache reached this source OF all wisdom, and
custodian Of national secrets and asked any
technical question, he would of course have TO
he told 10 sit down and wait while the inteIlt-
gence officials tried TO hunt up the subject with
the head OF the proper bureau. If the INQUIRY
is frequently the case. related 10 a matter in
the New-Nork Navy Yard under a bureau the
CHIEF intelligence officer would have to make out
an inquiry and refer IL through half dozen Of
hcials along the proper channel and trust to
luck in satisfying the inquirer within SIX
months. The foreign attaches in Washington
soon ran up against the restrictive order and in
course OF time agreed that they would not SIX
for information, as they had much more to give
than they could ever expect TO receive, especially
as the newspapers printed everything that was
worth Knowing about American naval progress
They felt keenly the implication contained in the
order that they had been acting surreptitfously
in cultVating acquaintance with the admrals
and that an effort was being made 10 place them
by declining to put themselves in a humiliating
position.
Secretary Longs admirals are said 10 depre-
cate any discussion Of the subject at least until
the department is brought TO realize its mista ke
by the position which will be occupied by Ameri-
can naval attaches abroad. In the mean time
the United States will have no means OF profit
ing by the experience of foreign navies except
through the newspa pers. and officials charged
with responsible duties will be to that degree
hampered in their work