New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-27
HE ADVISES JAPAN.
Role Played by an american La10yer
in the Mhado's Foreign Office.


tween Russia and japan. which at any moment
may develop into full hedged war. there Is one
that has until escaped the attention OF the
public, although familiar TO the State Department.
at Washington and to every foreign diplomat WHO
has been stationed at Toxic 1t is the former
vice consul general of the United States at AoAo-
hama, shrewd and able lawyer named Denhlson'
expert in international law and who for a long
number Of years-indeed, since he leit the
service OF the American government-has been the
/ legal adviser to the Gaimusho, or Department OF
! Foreign Affairs at Toxic His activity is oy no
means restricted to the legal affairs OF the depart
ment His counsel is sought by the japanese MIN
lister of Foreign Affairs and his subordinates as
we'll as by the other members of the Cabinet about
all sorts of matters. and he is the principal foreign
adviser of the japanese government.
1t speaks volumes for his honesty, tact ana
shrewdness that he should have succeeded in win
ming their confidence. that he should have been
able to dlspel that innate distrust which the OI4-
entail invariably entertains for the european OF
American, and should have exercised his dehcate
functions with so much care as to avoid exciting
the jealousy which highly sensitive people as
the japanese might naturally be expected 10 teei
with regard to the idea that they were depenoenc
on foreign judgment and experience TOT tnelr
craftsmanship.
Mr.. Dennson has, I believe. been nearly thirty
years in Japan and first went there as the deputy
to the turbulent General Van Buren, whose term
OF office consul general at Yokohama Is still
remembered. both there and at the State Depart
ment in Washington, in connection with the NUMBER
OF disputes in which he became involved especially
with his chief, Judge BINGHAM. the genial ana
popular envoy Of the United States at Toxic.
Where Dennison especially shows mis- ability is by
his modesty and by the altogether unobtrusive
manner in which he is content to work instead OF
exploiting for his own glory and prestige the great
influence which he undoubtedly Yields with the
Japanese government, greater in fact than that en-
joyed by any other foreigner at Toxic. with the
possible exception. perhaps Of the gallant old Cen
eral Legendre, whom everybody liked who was
and whose name is still held In kindly memory by
Japanese and foreign friends who associated
with him in Japan thirty years ago.
Talking Of Judge Bingham reminds that IT Is
a justice with somewhat similar name Sir John
Bgham who has been presiding the trial of
| the late Whitaker Wright, and who announced
from the bench the other day that he had received
innumerable letters OF mingled menace and en-
treaty. aimed influencing him in his direction OF
the trial Sir John is great character in his way.
and shares his fame such with HIS two pedigreed
| bulldogs, Fee and Brief Fee invariably escorts
him to his chambers at the Law Courts in the
morning Sometimes Fee Is content TO remain
throughout the day in the judges chambers until
his master has finished his work, but occasionally
will return home earlier, jumping into the first
hanson which he sees standing at the curb. and
coolly ensconcing himself on the cushions. II tho
cabman happens =, be unacquainted with the dog
its master, he WILL after fruitless attempt to
eject him. appeal 10 the nearest policeman. alarmed
by the formidable appearance or the dog. Usually,
| however the dog lies ir such way that the name
and address of Sir John. which appear en- his col
lar, be deciphered with safety. and thereupon
the cabman, the advice OF the policeman. will
drive the dog state to the judges house IN Ken
singOn Just opposite the home OF the late Sir John
Milais on arrival the dog alight from the cab
while the cabman rings the bell for the pu6eose OF
securing admission for the animal and for collect
ing his fare.
Sir John is a rich man. having inherited largo
fortune IN addition to tho which he made by
successful career Mt the bar. His eldest son, Give
Bigham. greatly distinguished himself In the trou-
bles IN China at the time OF the siege OF the Legal
tons He was tho last foreigner 10 leave Picking
before the Siege began. and afterward took an ac-
tive part in the relief OF the legations. acting as
aide-de-camp and intelligence officer TO Vice-Ad-
Iniral Sir Edward Seymour. He has frequently been
employed by the government in diplomatic work,
and by The London Tines a special CORE
spondent and has written number OF books OF
! travel
As advertisements have lately appeared. not only
! in some French and English newspapers. but also
/ in certain American journals. intimating that an
Italian duke IS willing 10 adopt an heir 10 his ute
and honors ION terms TO be agreed" II may be wei
4 10 warn those who might be foolish enough to be
/ tempted in any way by this offer by saying that
IN Italy according to the law OF the land any such
adoption would be invalid unless 1t had received
the sanction OF tho Crown. which IS rarely grant
ed and only In the most exceptional cases. as,
! for instance in the case Of a son-in-law. or OF
sisters son. Thus when the Marquis Luigi Sac
chetti married the only child and sole heress OF
the last male scion OF the illustrous and historic
/ Roman House Of Barberini. he received permission
from the late King Humbert assume his father
fn-laws name Of Barberini, and after his death TO
succeed to his title of Prince Of Paestrins But the
| Grown is reluctant to s8nction any such inher!-
lance OF titles by people whose rights thereto are
not based on the laws Of primogeniture in the
male line which alone now govern the descent OF
! nobiliary honors in Italy, and under the circum-
| stances II any is rash enough 20 reply TO tho
! advertisements now appearing In the European ana
! American press, and to pay money IN order to be
adopted by some Italian duke heir TO his honors.
he will find IN due that he has been victim
ICED by q mere vulgar swindle and that he can
never hope TO obtain any legal right to tho duke
DOM to inherit which he has parted with his cash.
With regard to the attitude OF the present trench
government toward nobiliary titles may mention
! in reply 10 the inquiry OF reader IN ST. Louis
that the republic merely considers them as parts
! or complernents OF ordinary names. This was de-
teruined some time ago by the Supreme Court or
Appeal OF France, in the suit between the Two
branches of the ducal house OF Monticello on the
/ subject of the sale OF the Montebelo champagne.
| In 1875 Duke Napoleon de Montebeo and his two
| bro+bers all three of them OF the famous
Marshal IAnnes and his wife, so familiar TO Ameri-
| can theatregoers under the name OF Madame Sans
| Gene" founded a company for the purpose Of sell
ing the champa gnes from their vineyards OF
! Mareuil-sur-Ay. The bottles were marked with the
name Of the family. and with the ducal arms. while
| the firm was known as that OF "De Monticello ct
! Gle" Some years ago the widowed mother Of the
| late Duke who was a minor at the time. brought
r,t against her brothers-in-law, alleging that, mas
! much as her boy no longer had any financial IN
terests in the firm. the latter had right to