Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-21
THE DEEPEST REGRET
In London at Gov. Swettenhsm's
Strange and Not Understood Action.

London. Jan. 0.-Thcrc is Il feeling Of
deepest regret here over the unfortunate
incident that led to the hurried depart
ure OF the American warships from
Kingston.
i:einE Sunday and news arriving late
tonight. the fact became known to I
conn aratively small section of the pub
lie and The official world but everywhere
the greatest establishment was expressed
Up TO a late hour tonight neither the
admiralty nor the foreign Office had any
news of the incident except that derived
from the press dispatches, and the incli
nation on all sides was to withhold. an
of the official version from Gov. Swetten-
ham.
Meantime the Kingston dispatches Civ
ing the correspondence exchanged be-
tween Gov SWettnnham and Rear Ad-
lniraI Davis are being read with eager
interest. The incident occurs at a mo-
ment when the British press and public
are loud in an expression of grateful
recognition of the prompt and generous
assistance the United States rendered
when it was impossible. owing to their
distance from the scene, for British war
ships to so to the rescue.
The important question as t. whether
the British authorities at Kingston w"ro
in a position to maintain order appears
to be dcbatablc.
Governor Swettenham's claim of ability
to do 50 is in marked contrast to the ac
counts Of many of the British press cor
respondents who recorded numerous
cases of disorder; but, on the other hand,
some oc the correspondents averred that
no serious disorders took place.
What secrs much less dnbatablc is
that Gov. Swcttenham acted entirely OH
his own initiative.
AS a possible explanation If Governor
Swettenham's action it is suggested tha1
he may have acted under the strain of
nervous excitement through being over
wrought by tie recent painful expert
erce.
According to the Daily Mails CORE
SpOndcnt the people of the town arc
widely protesting against the with
drawal Of the Americans as there is
still great need of food and greater
necessity of medical assistance. This
relates that it was at
the request of the governors deputy
and Il subordinate that American ma
rineS We're landed to quell the dis
orders in the pcnitcntiary. Gov.
SWettcnham, however. repudiatcd his
dcputy's action. The correspondent
says Coy. Swettenham based his action
on that Of the American government
after the san Francisco disaster. He
adds that in the heated final interview
hEtN'nan nd
Admiral Davis the governor intimated
that tn" admiral wanted to gain unfair
of credit
The Daily Mail in an editorial frank
~ describes the incident as Il dcplor-
able blund"r on the part of Governor
Swettenham and says that he dealt
with the situation i'll altogether in IL
wrong frame of mind and compromised
the credit Of his country in 50 doing.
1t Was situation 10 try tho stout
"St nerves. the paper continues. "and
full allowance must b" made for the
condition in which the governor found
himself. 1t canot be too plainly under
stood that il was a humi!iating expert
'nce for British colony to be compelled
to seek foreign assistance but Amcri-
Fan help freely and generously rendered
should hay" been accepted with equal
Of spirit and acknowle dyed
with tie fullest courtesy"
The Daily Chronicle in an editorial
says:
The painful, ending of tn" mission of
mercy will b" deeply tlcplcrcd by the
British people. In the absence of in
formation il is impossible to appor-
ton the responsibility for the misun-
Outstanding. We only hope that the
American people. WHO are Quick to
take offence at anything in the nature
IF q slight. will take a fair view Of
he facts. Their generosity ana
oromptitui" III disratchinG aid created
1 faNorahl" impression here and We
sincerely trust that they will not think
we i" not "aluc their sympathy or
heir co-op"ratiOn."
Tho Daily Express says: "Tho dis
'Stcr Will become dnubly disastrous If
t should lead to ill-fccling between
treat Britain and America. Should
Governor s>WcttcnhamS action be as
heNcusablc as it appears from the cor
tsrond"nce published. the government
could 10 well to surcrscde him and
'iler diplomatic regrets to Washingto,,
Without delay"
me Times finds no excuse. cxcent
nat he was unStrung by the. terrible |
Vent Tor the tone Of Gov. Swetten-
laf'i reply to III" courteous letter of |
t'ai Admiral Davis. II says:
rms lamentabl" close of a mission |
ohceiVed in so admirable spirit ,f |
International good will certainly MT |
essen the gratitude Of tho UNIFORM |
late colony and Of Englishmen tbn |
world oveI''