Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-08
The Gurney Incident.

AAO ~ oAACy AhC4oCALs
While the State Department at Washing
ton is being troubled through the overzeal
of the local Massachusetts magistrate who
fined the third secretary of the British en-
bassy for automobile scorching, the British
authorities are trying unsuccessfully to COL
lect local taxes from the Spanish consul at
Liverpool. The Spaniard is as obstinate as
the proverblal mule and he had defed the
tax collector, the local courts and finally
the imperial government itself. He says he
IS lighting for a principle, and will never
pay penny to support the Liverpool
municipality.
l was discussing the two cases with an
international lawyer today. who told me
that in theory the immunities of all dinIo
matte agents are the same as those of the
sovereign, but in course of time some of
these nave been pared down below the point
which would have been fixed for the prfyi-
icgeS of SovereignS had like cases brought
them into question. An ambassador cannot
be tried for criminal offense by the courts
OF the state to which he is accredited hut
Ii the alleged act is one of extreme gravity
re can be arrested, and kept in custody
while application for redress is being made
In 1I1I, for instance the Swedish ambas-
sador for England was arrested for com
Pnclty In plot against the Harroyian
dynasty, and retained for a Considerable
tune while his government was heinz co,,.
nluncated with. and in 171S the Spanish
ambassador in Paris, having Organized a
conspiracy against the government of the
Duke of Orleans, was arrested and ratainaS
In custody until the French amhassador 81
MADRID returned safely to France Exemn-
Ion from arrest and freedom from distraint
OIL goods Is, as a rule. the privilege of an
ambassador in most countries bur If is not
a universal principle of international law
A consul shares many of the privileges NJ
an ambassador, but in lesser degree nm
lesS as sometimes happens. he is diplomati-
caily accredited, when he has an ambassa
DOR s. privileges in full. As general ruIa
he is conceded whatever privileges are
necessary to enable him to perform his du-
tieS, out he has no immunity from arrest,
either for civil or criminal offenses. If ac,
cused of criminal offense he must he set
at liberty on ball or kept under surveillance
In his own mouse instead of being sent to
prison. But consuls liability for rates
and taxes, except a personal assessment.
ike the income tax, is undoubted and the
case raised by the Spanish consul at Liver
pool depends upon whether he has, in adj
dftion to his ordinary duties any ambassa-
dorial function to perform, which raises
him above the position of an ordinary con-
sui. If the consul refuses to accept this
ruling. mis- eXequatur will undoubtedly be
cancelled, and he will have to give I'M his
Office.
Americans at Gravesend.
Americans in London are focking to
Gravesend, where the cruisers Olympia.
Cleveland and Des Moines, under command
of Admiral Jewell, are at anchor. Both Of
ficers and men hope their stay will be q
long one. They have visited Cherbourg and
Christiania and liked the welcome well
enough, but here they consider they ara
among brothers. 'It's just like being In the
states said an American boatswain's mate
to me on board the Olympia. II reckon
Gravesend's just a f1ve-cent city, but I've
got forty-eight hours leave and I'm going
to put it right in to see London"
Some of the sailors are British by birth
and American by naturalization and the at
Effectiveness Of better pay and better con-
ditionS. The American officers however
deny that these form the majority of their
crews, as has been stated in some London
Journals. Since the vessels came into the
river the hands have been "piped down"
and the lower decks yesterday presented a
busy picture of navy life. 1t was inter-
esting to notice that in one of the groups
sitting round the breech of gun We're some
seamen of the royal navy, exchanging visits
and experiences with their American cou-
sins. They were at the moment discussing
the merits and disadvantages Of stopped
pay, which is the American system of pun
ishment> and detention in cells, which is
that melted out in the British navy. The
voting on both sides went In favor OF de-
tention.
The Mayoralty Election
This week the new lord mayor of Lon
don will be elected. 1t is invariably
known beforehand on which distinguish
ed citizen the choice of the city will fall.
but however cut and dried the selection
may be. the city fathers go about the
business with much ceremonial delibera-
the lord mayor-elect will make his bow
amidst all the accustomed congratula-
tons and most of the accustomed pOmp.
There will be one little rift in the lutte.