Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-01-21
Cable to .Swettenharn.

London, Jan 21.-After confer onces to-day between officials of the foreign ofiice and of the colonial oflce, the latter cabled to Governor Ewettenham of Jamaica asking him for his version of the situation which led to the withdrawal of Rear Ad- miral Davis's warships from Kings ton on Saturday. Nothing bearing on the incident had been received from the governor up to noon and his reply to the specific request is anxiously awaited. No persons were more surprised at the action of Gov ernor Swettenham than the foreign offlce oficials. who learned the first particulars through the press.
 In the absence of Foreign Secre- tary Grey, the senior secretary of the foreign ofiice. went to the colonial ofice and suggested the propriety of securing the governors statement without delay, as 1t was felt that the incident might cause great injury to the friendly relations between the two goveruments if not promptly ex- plained. As a result of this sugges- ton the cable message to Governor Ewettenham was sent. When the of flcials here were shown Assistant Sec retary of State Bacon's statement ca- bled from Washington, to the effect that the authorities there had no in formation regarding the departure of the American warships from Kingston, they were somewhat re- heved, but still they were much dis turbed.
 Tt is unexplainable," said an offi- cial of the foreign once to the Asso- ciated Press "If 1t was not for Gov ernor Swettenham's letter, which is 50 full of Inconsistencies, ir would De impossible to believe that he has taken such action. am sure no one can regret 1t more than we do. and in this am sure can speak for Sir Edward Grey as we'll as for other officials of the foreign ofice. Swet- tenham has always been considered to be an excellent governor, but 1t Is hard to see how he can Justify his letter to Admiral Davis. The most charitable view to take is that he is overwrought by the great nervous strain resulting from the disaster. But this does not explain the gov ernor's letter, which in one line seems to be chan, while the next re- fers to the American efforts to assist in the relief work. It Is a great sur prise to us. Sir Edward Grey was particularly appreciative of the kind iy consideration of the American navy and so expressed himself. No- where did we hear any criticism Of the landing of armed men, which seemed quite natural under the cir cumstances. We shall make every effort to have the affair cleared up without delay and we hope that the Americans will withhold their tudg- ment until this can be done"
 Governor Swettenham's friends here. while greatly astonished. say that he is man of fixed ideas. who has been in the habit of treating na- lives in a firm manner, and he may have felt hurt at having another au- thority working at Kingston. On the other hand it Is held that Admiral Davis's courteous letter and policy in consulting the governor before act ing should have overcome any re- sentiment resulting from the pres ence of the American sailors
 Omcials of the colonial eiice ex- pressed themselves to the Associated Press on substantially the same lines as those of the foreign once. The secretary of state for the colonies. the Earl of Elgin. had not had any word from Governor Swettenham and therefore did not desire to make any oficial statement. but one of the highest officials of the colonial oface said:
 Thus far we are only able to fudge from the press reports. but these appear to show that Governor svettenham indulged in unaccounta- ble sarcasm."
 It is learned that the incident be- tween Governor Swettenham and Ad- miral Davis is not the only one which has arisen at Kingston. and it now develops that the activities of Sir Alfred Jones in relieving the situs- ton at the Jamaica capital have given the governor the idea that Sir Alfred sought to take the whole mat ter in hand
 John Westlake. profeesor Of inter national law at the Univsrs1ty of Cambrfdss and one of tha Demberr for the United Kingdon q the inte-- nas1oaaI co1rt Of sbfitrat1sa C Th> Hagss. nafs ths foI1oving sfste- ueuk: z