The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-11-01
MINISTER LEE
UPHELD BY ROOT.
COUNTESS PART
NObleWonan Is Said to
Have Caused Trouble.
Diplomats Side.

No charges have been Sled AZ the
STATE Department against ". j. Lee.
American minister to Guatemala Ru-
mors regarding his services in the
capital Of the South American republic
have been entirely ignored by the State
Department officials. It is said that
Secretary Root is perfectly satisfied
with the ministers record. and as far
as the State department is concerned no
action looking TO his dismissal viii be
taken.
1t has been learned. however, that the
Countess Festetics, the divorced wife OF
Count Rudolph Festetics, an Austrian
nobieman. has cabled Minister Squiers.
at his Panama station. that Mr. Lee
and she were engaged. This action by
the Countess was to apDrise Minister
Squiers that the announced engagement
between Miss Helen squires and Mr.
Lee would meet objection on her part
because she claims that Mr. Lee was
first engaged TO her and that nOtWith-
standing the announcement OF his en-
gagement To Miss Squiers she will not
release the American Minister from his
promises.
Fell Out With Countess.
AIr. Lee denies that he is in any way
bound to the countess, and says that
they agreed to disagree some time ago,
long before his engagement to Miss
Squie-s. II is understood that there
has been no change in his engagement
to Miss Squers.
AT the State Department today Il was
learned that the question of Mr.. Lees
return TO Guatemala hinges on his
health, and he is now recuperaung from
an attack Of fever at his home in Knox
vile, Nd.
When questioned about the charges
made against him by Americans in Qua
temala, Mr.. Lee said:
This would all come as a greater
surprise to me had / not been warned
before I went to Guatemala. Represen-
tative Americans in Guatemala are es-
Unable people. but there are some,
whom for chaTityis sake l shall not men
ton, who had been prominent in anti
diplomatic circles long before reached
Guatemala City. l was informed from
experiences of my predecessors that in
ways that are dark they were resource
tul / was told there was no escaping
them. and now that they are making
things hum I only consider il as a part
of the duty and responsibility I as
sumed. ! made one great mistake
did not permit them to run the Ameri-
can Legation
Former Diplomat the Trouble.
"As far as I can judge. the source of
much trouble comes from a certain
American who had held a diplomatic
post formerly and who came to me to
ask a favor Of President Estrada Ca
brera. The request was refused by the
Guatemalan President.
Il was held responsible for not getting
this man what he wanted. and a link in
the chain Of the Clique was formed.
When asked about the action OF
Countess Festetics Mr.. Lee was reluc-
tant 10 discuss the matter.
Long Known Countess.
Countess Festetics Is an old friend of
mine and Of my family" he said. ..She
has spent much time here. and is hon
Ored and respected by all of Us.
When I last saw her, last November.
we understood each other perfectly.
am a Catholic, and she understood ana
agreed that she could not marry a
Catholic, as her husband was stiU Ifv-
ing. Countess Festetics is a most es
Unable woman. I shall always believe
that anything she may do to injure me
Will be inspired by some one else and
not by herself
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