The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-18
A BAIT THAT WAS NOT TAKEN.

The publication a few days ago of VOL
ume containing the diplomatic correspond
ence between the United States and foreign
Germany set nicely oaited trap for the
United States, which Secretary Hay polite
ly declined to walk into. The trap was set
by Ambassador Won Holleben about year
ago. To be exact, IL was April 3, 1902. less
than a month after Prince Henry had con-
ed for home. He had been very kindly
treated here and his visit had left favor
able impression. While the country in
a glow of good feeling the German ambas-
sador at Washington addressed note to
Secretary Hay i'm which he outlined a
eign debt OF Guatemala. In his note he
said that the counsel of the foreign bond
holders were seeking to make a new ar
rangement with Guatemala and suggested
that the proposed arrangement fought to
be acknowledged by the most interested
England-in order to induce the govern
ment OF Guatemala to stick to the new ar
rangement. No mention made of
Venezuela or of the raid which Germany
and England were preparing to make on
her. Secretary Hay was asked to say what
the United States thought of the suggestion
regarding Guatemala. The secretary walked
around the trap, noted the implied compli-
ment of asking the United States to join
with the other two powers in compelling
Guatemala to pay her debts. smelled of the
bait. and declined to take it. In his reply
to the German ambassador he said:
While the government of the United
states Is indisposed to join In any collective
act which might bear the aspect of CO.
ercive pressure upon Guatemala. this gov
eminent would reserve for it's citizens equal
benefits with those which might be obtained
for creditors of any nationality in the ad-
justment of the Guatemalan foreign debt,
and the United States minister to Guate-
mala will be Instructed to advise that gov
eminent of this attitude on the part of the
United States.
The purport of this note was three-fold:
First, it put the United States in the posi-
ton of declining to join with the other pow
ers In using coercion against Guatemala.
or presumably any other American state;
second. 1t notified Germany that If the
other powers carried their point against
Guatemala by coercion the United States
would claim for the debts due American
citizens the same recognition that the for
eigners might get; third, that the govern
ment of Guatemala would be Immediately
advised regarding the correspondence.
Never was there a heater turning of the
tables on tricky friend than this. If Sec
rotary Hay had taken the innocent-looking
bait offered by Germany and Joined in fore
ing Guatemala to pay her debts. the United
States would have been estopped from pro-
testing against the blockade Of Venezuelan
ports or against any of the coercive pro-
ceedings in that case. and would have been
disabled from bringing about an arbitration
and peaceful solution of it. Foreign diplo-
matists in washington-not. however. in
Guiding those connected with the German
embassy-say the reply of Secretary Hay
was one of the cleverest diplomatic foils
they had ever known. Germany's propo-
sition was tricky, underhanded and almost