The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-30
Il. W. Bowen Again.
He Complains Because He Is Rated
Higher Than He Deserved.

encc recently exchanged between the
diplomatic representative of the
United States and the executive of the
government to which he is accredited,
regarding the appearance in the
newspapers of the country Of a state
ment charging him with having re
ceived 169, $500 bolivars as u fee for
services rendered instead of only
10000 bolivars, which sum, he says. is
ali he ever got-a sum which. he de-
cfare5, moreover. never began TO cover
his expenses"
The case, of course, is that Of the
ilustrious Herbert w. Bowen. It
would be an amusing one. were it
not so humiliating-hum we
mean, to the United States. Here is
the Official representative Of his coun-
try, authorized to receive a fee Of
$1,000 from a foreign government in
return for Safeguarding three other
friendly foreign governments, com
planning not only of the fact that
some obscure Venezuelan sheet should
suspect his services of having been
worth six times as znuch, in the eyes
Of President Castro, as they really
were, but also that the money paid
him, according to contract, was not
sufficient TO pay his expenses, much
less recOmpense him for services rem
dered. We confess the position of
Mr.. Bowen is a novel one. If a diplo-
matte representative Of the United
States ever occupied a similar one, we
are not aware or il. And we sincerely
hope his case viii not be made a
precedent for others.
The shirt-sleeve diplomacy OF Mr..
Bowen greatly impressed every shall
low pate in this country. 1t was sim
pie and picturesque to a degree. 1t
consisted in gathering about him at
the close Of each days work, while
negotiations were pending, the re
Dorters and correspondents Of news
papers, 10 whom Mr.. Bowen would
communicate with charming anabili-
ty and condescension how a few hours
before he had been compelled to make
clear 70 the Representatives of three
eHete monarchies what their places
were; how, in fact, he had admin
istered to them a few wholesome les
sons In international department;
how he had told them to mind their
p's and as, and how they had quailed
before his anger. and how they had
humbly apologized for living and
promised never, nc never, to be bad
again. We were treated, we say, to
this sort OF thingday after day in the
early days Of last year, and the I'M
thinking multitude, which is easily
amused, stood gaping with wonder at
the prowess displayed by a diplomat
courageous enough TO sweep away the
"cobWebs OF tradition" and strike
from the shoulder at ninnies Of the
"old school" Whether what Mr.
Bowen chose TO say was the truth. or
not. mattered little, so long as it was
patriotic; and I'm the minds OF many
well-meaning persons, we fear. mere
buster in those days passed for pa
triotism"
1t was Dr.. JOhnson-was it not
who in an access Of bibulCus fury de-
clared PATRIOTISM certain kind of
It. at any rate-to be the last refuge
OF a 5coundrel That saying is not
applicable. let US hope, to the case Of
Ir Bowen. Yet, after all is said that
can be said in his behalf. the fact re-
mains that while holding a commits
sion as a diplomatic officer of the
United States he accepted q fee from
q foreign government, and. in c0nsid-
Grafton OF the payment Of that fee,
went 70 work to embroiI the friendly
relations existing between this cOun-
try and three others. 1t may be said,
too. for Er-Bowen, that he had the
consent and authority Of this Govern
ment 10 do il. but if he had il does
not lessen his share Of responsibility
for conducting the case Of Venezuela
as he did. Our Government, certain
~. had no reason to doubt that he
would not move within the limits of
ordinary propriety. Where fl erred,
IN our opinion, was ia not instantly
demanding that ne should be either
OF two things-the servant of the
United States or the servant Of Vene-
Zuela No man can serve two mas
tiers, not even Mr.. Bowen. AS q pri-
Vate citizen there could have been no
possible objection TO his accepting a
retainer from Venezuela 10 defend her
against the entertainments and pre-
tensions Of foreign powers. As an en-
voy plenipoteutary Of The United
States, and the paid attorney of Vene-
zuela to boot he was bound to be-
come impossible And impossible"
he became, sure enough
The Hague Tribunal has decided in
favor Of the allied powers. It is true