The sun., 1903-11-12
The Honorable Wayne MacNeagh at
The Hague.

On the l4th of last month THE Sun
published a Washington despatch con-
cerning the circumstances under which
the senior counsel of Venezuela and the
creditor nations departed from The
Hague, where the International Tribunal
of Arbitration is considering the ques-
ton whether England, Germany and
Italy are entitled to preferential treat
ment in the payment Of their claims
against Venezuela.
In this despatch it was said that in
formation had been received at Wash
ington to the effect that by his sudden
departure for home Mr. MACEEAGH
saved himself from recall; that accord
ing to statements from reliable sources
that gentleman had set the Tribunal by
the ears and provoked much ill-feeling
on all sides; that if he had elected to
stav until the Tribunal completed its
work the situation would have developed
protests against his continuance as coun-
sci; that consideration was actually
given to the question Of his recall; that
the principal charge against him was
that he had written letter to the E1ecu-
tive Council of the Tribunal in which he
said, in effect, according to report, that
if the arbitrators were lawyers instead
of diplomats they would know their
business better-a remark which was
regarded as insulting by the Tribunal;
that he went beyond his rights as coun-
sci by accusing the British Government
OF having fomented the revolution
against the Venezuelan Government,
and that this statement gave great Of
fense to the United States Legation at
The Hague, which maintained that it
was unwarranted.
These several allegations about Mr..
MACVEAGH's professional acts and de-
meanor at The Hague were sent to THE
Sun on the strength Of information which
was regarded as sufficient and in all re-
spects trustworthy. We recapitulate
them now in order to say voluntarily
that while the reports were transmitted
and printed in good faith as representing
information derived from responsible
source, a careful investigation of the
facts has convinced us that most, if not
all, of the specific charges about the
cause of Mr. MACVEAGH's return to this
country were unfounded, and that the
publication of the same did injustice to
the distinguished gentleman. Our rea-
sons for these conclusions are here
stated briefly:
/. Mr.. MAcVEAGH's departure for
home was not sudden, or to avoid re-
CALL occasioned by any incident during
his sojourn in Holland After having
| completed his argument he sailed for
New York on Oct. TO- five days after the
Court had adjourned on Oct. until Nov.
4. The date of his return had been fixed
before leaving the United States for
The Hague and he sailed on the same
steamer on which his passage had been
purchased in July last.
2. The question of Mr.. MACVEAGHs
recall on account of ill-fccing and pro-
tests occasioned by his behavior at The
Hague has not been considered at Wash
ington, at least in any responsible quar-
ter This statement that it has been 50
considered is absolutely contradicted by
Secretary HAY, as follows:
| THE letters received from both Judge PENrIELU
| and Mr. bowen, who were at The Hague with Mr.
/ MAcVEAGH, have described how splcndidly MAC
| VgAoH argued his and how effectively he per
| formed the duty assigned TO him The Court had
! permitted him to make his argument out OF order
| As he had become tired OF waiting and he made the
argument and started for home. II Is absolutely
untrue that he incurred the dsplcasurc OF the Prcs
dent or that there has been the slightest thought
of his recall. on the contrary there has been only
| pleasure in the way that he acquitted himself"
3. AS to the principal charge that Mr.
MACVEAGH wrote a letter, regarded as
insulting by the Tribunal, saying that II
the arbitrators were lawyers instead OF
diplomats, they would know their busi.
ness better, we have now before us the
text of the letter referred to. 1t was ad.
dressed not to the arbitrators but &c
the President and members of the Ad.
ministrative Council of the Perma aen'
Court of Arbitrpion, and it conveycl