The Washington times., 1902-10-18
Greatly lncensed Over An
nouneement of Selection
of Henry White, of Rhode
Island, as His Successor
in Rome.
Much Confusion Has Arisen
Over Statement, as 1t Is
Not Believed Likely That
Our Present Representa-
tive Will Resign.

Private advices received here from
Europe indicate that George V. L. Mey
er, OF Massachusetts, United States am
bassador to Italy, is wroth over reports
sent out from Washington that he is TO
be succeeded by Henry White, of Rhode
Island, the present first secretary of
the United States embassy in London.
The statements were correct and
were confirmed yesterday, but consid-
cradle confusion has arisen over the
announcement of Mr.. Whites selection
for the Italian mission in view of Mr..
Meyers expressed intention of not re-
signing. To explain away this con
fusion it is necessary TO tell the story
of Mr.. Meyers appointment.
Asked for Transfer.
In 1900 Mr.. Meyer applied to President
Mckinley for the Italian mission. from
which Gen. William N, Draper, of Mas
sachusetts, had retired. Mr.. Mckinley
agreed to appoint Mr.. Meyer, but made
the condition that he should resign at
the end of a year. saying in SO many
words:
'You can have the Italian mission for
one year and no longer"
Mr.. Meyers appointment was made
December IA, 1900. When the year ex-
pired Mr.. Mckinley was dead, and Mr.
Roosevelt was too busy with Congress
to take up the matter of selecting new
ambassador at Rome.
Just before he was assassinated, how
ever. Mr.. Mckinley, in the understand
for year only. offered the Italian mis-
sion to Col. Myron T. Herrick, of Cleve-
land, Ohio. Colonel Herrick declined,
and the death of Mr.. Mckinley occurred
before he could give attention to the Sc
lection Of another man.
Renewed the Tender.
When Mr.. Roosevelt was made aware
of the compact that had existed between
his predecessor and Mr.. Meyer, he re-
newed the tender of the mission to
Colonel Herrick, but the latter again de-
clined to accept.
Later on, when 1t became known that |
DR.. Andrew d. White. of New York. in
tended to retire from the German mis-
sion on November Z, OF this year, Bel |
lamy Storer. Of Ohio. United States min
lister to Spain. applied for transfer to |
Berlin. President Mckinley had prom
Used him that he should have the first
vacancy in an important embassy, and
Mr.. Roosevelt was willing to stand by
this promise, which he has recently car
ried out by the appointment of Mr..
Storer as ambassador at Vienna.
Mr.. Storer's application and the de-
sire of President Roosevelt to fluid
good diplomatic post for H. Clay Evans,
OF Tennessee. then Commissioner of ZEN
sions, brought again to his attention the
agree nent of Mr.. Meyer and President
Mckinley, and consideration was given
to the matter of selecting men to fill the
expect ed vacancies in the German and
Italian nissiors.
No doubt wts fes. that Mr.. Meyer in
tended to relinquish his diplomatic Of
flee, NOT only on account of his arrange
ment with Mr.. Mckinley. but because it
was understood that he Intended to en-
ter the contest for the Republican nom-
ination for Congress in the Sixth Massa-
chusetts district, the seat formerly held
by Seer stary Moody.
Mr.. Storer in View.
At that lime the President cortem-
plated appointing Mr.. Storer to the Ger
man mission, or to come embassy whose
incumbent would be transferred to Ber-
lin. MIR. Evans to the Spanish mission, |
TO succeed Mr.. Storer, and Henry White /
to the Italian mission, to succeed Mr.
Meyer. '
But DR.. Andrew D. White did not then
tender mis- resignation or officially con- I