The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-18
LIKELY TO DISMISS BOWEN
FOR SEVERE BREACH OF DIPLO-
MATIC ETIQUETTE.
He Infrinsed Upon One Of tho Rigid Rules
OF tho State Depa rtment by Publishing
Charges Against . superior Ofncer
Two Of His Despatohes Missing.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE dismissal
from the United States diplomatic service
of Herbert W. Bowen, until recently Minis
ter from this country to Venezuela, now
seems to be the outcome Of the investigation
the Administration is conducting into the
charges against Assistant Secretary OF
State LOOMS, which were sent TO the State
Department by Mr.. Bowen.
1t is believed that this action will be
taken on the ground that Mr.. Bowen was
responsible for the publication in news
papers Of the charges which he had sent to
the State Department. thereby committing
severe breach Of dipl omatio etiquette
and infringing upon one OF the rigid
rules of the State Department concerning
the conduct Of diplomats toward their
superior officers
In the event that Mr.. LOOMS Is cleared
Of the charges that have been made against
him. he will be promoted to an Ambassador
ship. In this event his successor as First
Assistant Secretary of State will be Lloyd
c. Griscom Of Pennsylvania, now United
States Minister to Japan. 1t IL not prob
able, however, that haste will be shown
in taking Mr.. Griscom away from Toxic
while the war is i'll progress as his services
will be needed there in the event OF peace
negotiations, in which the American Gov
eminent will probably play a prominent
part.
In the investigation by Secretary Taft
OF the Bowen-Loomis charges. there were
several developments to-day, the main one
being the discovery that two papers which
have an important bearing on the case
are missing. One Of the documents Is a
letter from President Castro Of Venezuela
to Mr. LOOMS, and the other is an assign
ment" from A. +. Jaurett. who. until exiled
by President Castro was editor OF the
Venezuela Herald. The document il au
thoritatively described an an assignment,
but It's specific nature has not been made
public.
Mr. Bowen to-day called Secretary Taft .
attention to the fact that two papers were
missing from those he sent to Secretary Hay
in February and which were given to Mr..
for them, but they could not be found.
Mr.. Bowen offered copies, and Mr.. LOOMS
consented that these copies he entered as
evidence.
Rudolphe Dodge. United States consular
agent at Caracas, conferred with Secretary
Taft to-day and left statement of what
he knows of the case 1t Is underst God
that Mr.. Dolge's statement Is favorable to
Mr.. LOOMS. Mr.. Dodge has been in Vene-
znela for many years and Is thorou ghly
familiar with the situation.
1t is understood that Mr.. LOOMS has
offered some very strong evidence to show
that Mr.. Bowen was the cause Of the ap-
pearance in public print of the charges
that were placed by MIN before the State
Department.
The most serious charge against Mr.
LOOMS il now believed to be the allegations
regarding the $40 900 check, which, it was
charged, he had received from the Asphalt
Trust Mr.. Loomis has denied this charge
and explained that he did get check for
$4,000 from the Venezuelan agent Of the
New York and Bermudez Asphalt Com
pany, but that the transaction was merely
matter Of exchange. Mr.. Andrews
vice. president Of the asphalt company
has corroborated this statement.
Mr. Bowen called on Secretary Taft
to-day and returned the papers he obtained
Yesterday. He explained about the two
missing documents and Secretary Taft
instituted search. Judge Penfe!d, Solici.
tor for the State Department, was called
in, and also +. j. Babcock, Secretary Hays
private secretary. Neither could throw
any light on the disappearance. Mr..
LOOMS also saw Secretary Taft to-day
Secretary Taft is having copy made of
all Of the evidence which has been SUBJ
Iuitted