Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-22
REGRET in ENGLAND
British frsss and officials Condemn Insult
TO Rear Admiral Davis
GOVERNOR SweTTeNHAM REMAINS SILENT
Request Of oolOnial 0fBo9 for Explanation
Remains Unanswered.
HAlDANE TAXES AN UNUSUAL COURSE
cablsgram to Secretary Boot Implies Cen
sure Of Governor Of Jamaica.
ADMIRAL DAVIS At GUANTANAMO
His Report OF incident is Forwarded
20 Warrington by MaiI-FNInEs-
ton citizens Indignant Mt
Governor.
ADMIRAL DAVIS At GUANTANAMO

ander Swettenham, governor OF r. T. ,
OF the situation which led to q. 4 .
drawal OF Rear Admiral Davis ws r.
from Kingston on Saturday. The sill 4. Y
although Irritating to the government, q
construed as a good sign that this muo
regretted AFFAIR is capable of amicable ad-
Justment and will not lead to any disturb
ance of the friendly relations between the
United States and Great Britain.
It Is supposed that II Governor Swetten-
ham had any reasonable justification for
his extraordinary letter to Rear Admiral
Davis he would not delay in placing his
government In possession OF the facts;
thei efore his silence Is regarded as a con-
fessiop OF the weakness of his case. or an
evidence of conjunction at having adopted
an inadvisable course In this light the
governors telegram asking the British gov
eminent TO convey to the government OF
the United States the thanks of the nation
for American assistance rendered by Rear
Admiral Davis assumes considerable i'm
portance. Foreign Secretary Sir Edward
Grey, in forwarding this message to WASH
ington with the thanks Of the imperial gov
ernment, well expresses the feeling of the
government and the nation on this subject.
HaIdane's Unusual Course.
War Secretary Haldane, on behalf Of the
War once, has taken a quite unusual
course and one Indicative of the exceptional
Importance of the occasion, by addressing
a dispatch to Secretary Root which indi-
rectly implies censure of the governor of
jamaica. It will thus be seen that prac-
tically all the ministers are adopting
highly appreciative attitude toward the
United States. and IL cannot be doubted
that the incident will be settled. probably
by the recall OF Governor Swettenhan or
ct least disavowal of his action and apology
to Rear Admiral Davis.
While the Foreign office naturally is re-
luctant, In the absence of fuller informa-
ton, TO pass Judgment. officials do not
hesitate IN agreeing that under no circum-
stances should such letter as Governor
gwettenhaua's TO Rear Admiral Davis have
been written, ana they declare that even
the stress Of recent events is no excuse for
such language on the part Of government
ofacial 10 an oflcer of the friendly nation
engaged in a work OF humanity.
Davis Popular An England.
Rv a singular coincidence Admiral Davis
"A an officer to whom England heretofore
has felt the deepest gratitude, as his course
while the American member OF the inter-
national arbitration court at Paris, upon
the sinking of the British fishing vessels in
the North sea by the Russian feet prac-
tioaIly shaped a decision favorable to Great
Britain 1t is known that Admiral Davis
staunch support OF the British contention
turned the scales at the decisive moment
one phase not generally known is that
King Edward. on the conclusion of the
court communicated an invitation through
the British ambassador at Paris to Ad-
miral Davis to come to Buckingham palace,
iva
shown lin. But the desire to avoid any
thing which might be canstrued as wound
ing Russia led Admiral Davis not to accept
the kings invitation.
II was none the less expressive " the
feeling of Great Britain toward Admiral
Davis, although this feeling is now mo-
mentarily overlooked, probably through
failure 10 recognize the Admiral Davis at
Jamaica as the same Admiral Davis who
turned the scales for Great Britain before
the historic international court.
No Friction over Incident.
All the morning newspapers again print
editorial articles on the Kingston incident.
which they regard as already virtually set
tied, or at any rate. they say the tension
OF the crisis has been relieved by the ad-
rnirably toned dispatches exchanged be-
tween the two governments.
Impressions OF the deepest gratitude for
the help rendered by the American navy
continue to be used. and while full allow
anee is made for the exceptional ciroum-
stances ch may have accounted for
Govern, ttsnham's ruined feelings, the
newspart arc unanimous In censuring
strongly one OF his letter as absolutely
wrong acalled for and this in spite
OF the at the papers recognise Rear
Admiral also may have been some
what blt ,rthy.
The ST. reflects the prevailing views
as folio,
'Perhn .Ible would have been saved
II we ned forthwith that Admiral
Davis WAS a trihe too energetic and Gov.
ernor swettenham unduly tenacious OF
prerogatiye." In short. Il Is held thai
nothing could excuse such an amazing
letter" except the charitable view that thS
writer was suffering from nervous break
down.
swettenhAm Jealous OF Jones.
It is leaTGed that the incident between
Governor Swettsnham and Admiral Davis
il not the only one which has arisen al
Kingston as e now develops that the ae
tiyities OF Sir Alfred Jones In relieving tho
situation at the jamaican capital hav,
given the governor the idea that Sir AlfreC
ought to take the whole matter In hand
Sir Alfred is one Of the principal bushes,
men OF England, head OF the elder Demp
ster steamship line, and leader OF tn,
British commercial party which has beer
visiting Jamaica.
John Westlake. professor OF internationa
law at the University OF Cambridge. on,
OF the members Of the United Kingdom o.
the international court OF arbitration a
The Hague and ex-president OF the Insti
tute OF international Law, made the fol
lowing statement 10 the Associated Press
II am unable 10 see any Justification fo
the action OF Governor Swettenham. I
was rather Informal on the part OF Admira
Davis II he did not ask for the governor
permission before landing men. but tn
landing OF men. though they we're armed
was not even q technical breach OF Inter
CcOntinued on Second PsEs)