Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-05-07
MORE HUMILIATION
President Roosevelt Gives
Dewey and Miles Another
Swat.
DECLINES TO CONSENT TO CON-
FERRiNG OF CROSS OF LIE.
GiON OF HONOR
On Dewey and Miles by the French
Government, Just Because Teddy
Don't Like EN-.
WENT BEYOND HIS AUTHORITY

Washington, May 7-President
Roosevelt has intimated to the French
government that he does not think il
desirable for that government to confer
the cross of the Legion of Honor npon
Admiral Dewey and Lieutenant Cen
eral Miles
lhls aetlon mas caused q sensation
IN diplomatic and army and navy cir.
cles. The officers directly concerned
and their friends assert that the pres
idents decision was due To a wish to
further humiliate them, and, this time.
to make the humiliation international
Whatever may have been the reason
controlling the action of the president.
it IS certain that France will not. in
view OF his attitude. award he cross
to either of the officers.
Notification that the cross would
be conferred upon Admiral Dewey ana
Lieutenant General Miles was taken
to the White House by M. Cambon. the,
, French ambassadors. France desired
to commemorate the ceremonies cor
nected with the unveiling of the
Rochambeau statue to occur here on
May "a, and she believed it would be
a graceful act of courtesy to select
prominent Americans for membership
J, of her Legion Of Honor.
NJ. Cambon called at the White
, House two weeks ago and stated thai
his government, in consideration OF
the great services rendered to The
world by Admiral Dewey and General
miles, desired to confer the cross upon
| them.
| 1t is said the president received the
announcement with SURPRISE So far
as Admiral Dewey was concerned, he
SAID, there would be no objection hut
it could not be thought of in the case
of General Miles. The president final
~ suggested to the ambassador that
he be allowed few days in which to
consider the matter.
President Roosevelt discussed The
proposal with Secretary Root and Sec
retary Hay and. it is said, conferred
with several senators in whisc ja7dg-
ment he has confidence He came fo
the conclusion that it would be un
two officers whom he had reprlman8eG
and one of whom was upon terms of
hostility with his Administrations
least. this is the explanation of Trends
OF General Niles and Admiral Dewey.
When the ambassador next called
at the White House he was Informed
the decision had been reached not to
consent to conferring the honor upon
either officer.
In announcing this decision frienas
CT the two officers say the presider,
has exceeded his power. The law on
the subject of decorations from for
elgn government reads:
thereafter any present decoration or
other thing which shall be conferred
or presented by any foreign govern
ment to an officer of the Unite;
States, civil, naval or military, Shall
be rendered through the department
| OF state, and not to the individual in
| person; but such present decoration
or other thing, shall not be delivered
by the department of state unless so
, authorized by congress.
Thus, it is stated, the president was
without legal authority to deny to the
French government the privilege Of
decorating Admiral Dewey and Gen
eral Miles.
In view of the fact that congress,
and not the executive. is empowered
to determine whether an officer of the
government shall receive decoration
from foreign government, the Do
clslon of the president will undonbteGl-
ly cause a stir in the capitol.
Both the admiral and general have
many friends in the senate and house
who Will be iAeI;a1d TO take ND the
matter and press it if allowed to do