The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-03
DUPUY DE LONE
DIES IN PARIS
SPANS Minister Here Be
fore the War.
SENT HOME IN DISGRACE
Wrote Letter Criticising President Nc
Kinley and His Cuban
Policy.

The death. in Paris on Friday night,
of Senior Dupuy de LONE recalls one of
the most interesting incidents In the
modern diplomacy of America. and at
the same time one which had humorous
as well rs regrettable sides
Dupuy de LONE was Spanish minister
to the United States prior to the out
break of the Spanish-Amerlcan war.
and was given his passports from this
country because of a letter he wrote
containing derogatory criticisms of Pres
ident Mckinley. II was the manner III
which this letter received publicity and
the peculiar circumstances that sur
rounded the departure or de LONE that
lent particular interest to the incident.
A Personal Letter
The letter referred to was written by
de LONE in December. 1897, to Jose
Canalejas. a Spanish official at Havana.
Cuba, and a personal friend of De
Lone. It was not intended for publi-
cation.
Detectives IN The employ Of the Gu
ban junta got hold of it. The junta gave
ii out. and it was Immediately printed
in Havana and American newspapers.
Touching upon President Mckinley :
message to Congress in regard to the
Cuban question Senior de LONE wrote
The message has undeceived the in
surgsnts. who expected something else,
and has paralyzed the action of Con-
gress, but 1 consider it bad Besides
the natural and inevitable coarseness
with which ha oil - ,af .
and public opinion of Spain has said o.
Weyler, it shows once more what Nc
Kinley is weak and catering to the rab-
BILE. and, besides. a low politician. who
desires TO leave door open 10 me and
to stand well with the jingoes OF his
party
A Diplomatic Crisis.
The publication OF this letter naturally
created a sensation and brought about
a diplomatic crisis. 1t was apparent 70
the laity that the Spanish minister had
committed an objectionable breach OF
etiquette and that his recall would fol
low Immediately.
None realized this more quickly than
Senior de Lone himself He Immediate
" cabled his government TO recall him
at once.
Justice William r. Day. of the United
States Supreme Court. was then Secre-
tary of State. He at once decided to is.
sue passports 10 de Lone. The Span.
iard. however. anticipated this, ane
desiring to1be recalled by his own gov
eminent rather than be dismissed by
this Government he shut himself up II
the legation and declined TO see any
one. Then the race began between thi.
Government ard the Spanish govern
meht
Secretary Day tried 10 serve the prope
papers on The Spanish minister. Tbs
spanish minister would receive no mes
sages from the state Department. Mr.
Day was IN quandary. he tried severa
ruses, but every one failed.
Finally Eddie Savoy, the welI-knowl
negro messenger ar the State Depart
ment, asked Mr.. Day 10 let him try L
reach Senior de LONE with the papers
In his extremity the Secretary OF Stat
told Eddie TO 90 ahead.
The messenger knew the Spanish min
lister we'll lie had often received min
at the State Deartment, and had fire
quently been the bearer of official mes
sages 10 the legation. Going TO the lega
ton he went in 1T the basement door
None OF the servants thought TO stol
him. as II did not occur TO them tina
any harm could come 10 the diploma
through the negro messenger.
Eddie played his part well and calml.
walked upstairs 10 the private Office o
Senior de LONE. The minister greete,
him pleasantly and Eddie calmly hand
ed him the papers without a word.
Taken OFF His Guard.
Taken unawares. Senior de LONE wa
wholly off his guard. He received tn
envelope the messenger handed him ant
tore it open. Then he saw what he hat
done, but 1t was too late to retreat
There was nothing left for him to d.
but acknowledge the receipt OF the puss
/ ports. They were In the envelope. Eddi
| then coolly asked Senior de Lone L
give him the envelope as a souvenir
| This the minister did
Thus did shirtsleeve diplomacy
| triumph.
| Senior de LONE was very popular wit
Americans and had many friends il
! Washington. When his letter came L
/ light his friends realized he had mad
/ q grave mistake, but they We're non
/ the less sorry he had 70 leave. Madam
/ de LONE was as popular as her huSban
/ with Washington society, and receive
| with him the personal regrets OF thei
4 mutual friends that diplomatic necessit
| required their departure from Washing
/ ton.
The Spanish government appreciate
| the fact that De Lone was, 10 Gel
| tain extent the victim OF misfortune
since the letter he wrote was to per
sOnal friend. and was written with n
idea that II would ever go further. Con
/ sequently Senior de LONE was ret dis
credited by Spain. although his actio
was repudiated by that government a
not having been based on any ofhcis