Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-21
AN AMERICAN CONSUL
HIS sAGACIoUs HANDLING OF A
DELICATE SITUATION.
Shanghai Papers Favorable Commend
on the Action Of Consul Gem
eral Goodnow.

eral doodnow.
Some weeks ago. when the Russian war;
ships Askold and Grosovoi Of the Port
Arthur squadron put into Shanghai. China,
for safety. there looked for a time an
IL there would be another case of
the Japs going into the harbor and
taking the ships, they did at Chefoo
in the case Of the Ryeshiteni Accord
Ing to Shanghai newspapers, intense ex-
element reigned at the time, especially
as the United States torpedo boat de-
stroyer Chauncey followed a japanese
torpedo boat into the harbor and anchored
between 1t and the shore. According 10 tho
Chinese advices the situation called for ex-
acting diplomacy and United States Consul
General Goodnow. dean of the corps at
Shanghai. very admirably carried the deli
cate situation to a successful close.
The Shanghai Times Comment.
The Shanghai Times. under date. of Au-
gust 26. says editorially that apart from the
werk OF the Chinese officials In taking pre-
cautionary measures the diplomats had to
be gotten together and that "chiefest
among these has undoubtedly been Mr.
Goodnow. consul general for the United
States, doyen of the consular body In
Shanghai. In the latter position has the
grea test call been made upon his judicious
handling Of delicate situation. By
thoughtful tact he has led his confreres to
maintain the pacific attitude to the penulti-
mate degree. By the presence of both the
Japanese and Russian representatives at
the meeting Of the consular body to receive
the taota1s appeal for relief the possibility
or misunderstanding was avoided and the
opportunity of an expression Of view before
their colleagues was thus OPPORTUNITY Of
fered to the representatives of the belliger-
eEts.
These views were expounded and a mas
Ter stroke OF diplomacy on the part of Con-
SUI General Goodnow was thus gratified
with complete success. This occasion I'M
doubleday is the point from which the set
uement of the Askold- Grozovoi question be-
ceme an accomplished fact and the credit
should be given to the organizer OF a situa-
ton which has proved so fruitful of good to
the world in general and to Shanghai in
particular. OF the actions of other officials
we are not wishful to speak. but we must
express disappointment with the attitude OF
Great Britains representative and from a
knowledge of his personality can only pre-
sumo that the telegraphic nuisance from
Downing street Che ignoranU has been
previous and checked his natural policy.
AS for the Russian representative. with
the usual didactic authority under which he
works. his actions, 1t Is certain, have tenn
pered the rough edge of his autocrats
orders Tor those issued in said autocrats
name), and his moderation and friendly
intercourse with other nationals has doubt
from becoming impossibly acute. The atti-
tude assumed by Japans representative,
Mr.. Odagiri, was beyond reproach. Though
rising from sick bed. he has daily attend
ed to his official duty as few diplomats
would or could have done. With never
failing tact and courtesy. of such grace
that We are transported to the early days
when European gentlemen thought more or
department than Of commerce, Mr.. Odagiri
transacts his business with ALL
THE quiet restraint, the bow, perhaps all
too gracious for this workaday nineteenth
century, but the obvious grasp of his sub
ject, even though the language is that of a
foreign country. our local japanese repre-
sentative is marked as an admirable man.
ed in a mastery manner, and Shanghai has
been spared disastrous accident. All resi-
dents should be grateful to the brains
which have saved the situation"
Mr.. Goodnow Again Praised.
The Shanghai Mercury of August Is says
editorially Of Mr.. Goodnow's good work:
Perhaps word Of appreciation may be
permitted in reference to the consular and
other officials who have had a heavy re-
sponsibility thrown on them by the events
of the past fortnight. On Mr.. Goodnow.
as senior consul, fell the heat and burden
of the day and 1t is largely owing to his
urbanity and unfailing tact that the deli ;
cate negotiations have been carried through
successfully. Not only had Mr.. Goodnow
to mediate between the opposing Japanese
and Russian interests. but he had to keep
the slippery Chinese officials, who would
have been only too glad to wash their
hands Of the whole affair up to the scratch.
That the neutrality of Shanghai has been
preserved and no foreign interests injured
as the result Of the conversion of Shang-
hal into port of refuge is chiefly owing
to Mr.. Goodnow's skillful diplomacy.
Mr.. Odagiri has also come well out OF
the ordeal. In spite of the difficult stua-
ton in which he placed by the neces-
sity of seeing that his country's interests
suffered no injury and his reluctance to
antagonize foreign sentiment by hasty ac-
ton, he has shown himself thoroughly
capable diplomatist, being both firm and at
the same time conciliatory, and there can
be no doubt that he has, in spite of The
fact that during the whole time his health
has been far from satisfactory, acted In
the best interests of his country all