Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-22
AN INQUIRY CAUSED|IN SPIRITED DEBATE
English Officials Looking Into Takoma Park Citizens Asso-
the Kingston Incident. citation Holds Lively Session.
Mr.. SWETTENHAM'S LETTER OWNERSHIP OF RAILROADS
Published Resolution
sion is Correct Favorng Government Control.
NO ACTION HERE LIKELY ABATING THE SMOKE NUISANCE
by Jamaica They VIII Probably
Be Sent to the Chinese
English Officials Looking Into
the Kingston Incident.
Mr.. SWETTENHAM'S Letter
Trying to Ascertain if Published Yer
sion is Correct.
NO ACTION HERE LIKELY
If Red Cross Supplies Are Declined
by Jamaica They Will Probably
Be Sent to the Chinese.

DISPATCHES exchanged last night between
the British secretary OF state for war and
the State Department. wholly ignoring the
letters which passed between Admiral Da-
Wis and Gov Swettenham at Kingston,
have had the effect OF relieving the intens-
ity of feeling which had existed since 1t be-
came known that Admiral Davis returned to
Guantanamo Sunday from Kingston with
his ships which had gone to aid the strfck-
en- people of Jamaica. The message from
London is interpreted here as meaning that
the British government and people disavow
the ASTON of thte governor of jamaica in
requesting Admiral Davis to embark his
men.
The State Department received the fol-
lowing telegram from London under yes
terday's date:
Hon. Elihu Root. Secretary of State.
Washington:
Have read in newspapers this morning
what purports to be letter from governor
OF Jamaica. Can only say that on mate
rails before me | entertain, as responsible
for troops in island, feeling of deep graft
tude to American admiral for generous
assistance rendered at most critical time
Secretary of State for War. London.
(Sgned) HALDANE,
To this the following reply was sent:
sHaldane. Secretary of State for War,
IOnuOn.
The President greatly appreciates your
aeordal telegram. and is glad If the prox-
unity of this country has made 1t possible
to be of the slightest assistance to the
stricken people of Jamaica in this crisis.
II because of this proximity, and pending
the arrival Of your own warships and trans
ports, We can render further aid whatever,
the President earnestly hopes you will call
on him without hesitation. We know how
cbeerfully you would render such aid to US
were the circumstances reversed.
(Signed BACON.
Assistant Secretary of State"
Message From Sir Edward Grey.
Mr.. Esme Howard, charge daffaires at
che British embassy, called on the acting
secretary OF state last night and presented
q message from Sir edward Grey principal
secretary OF state for Great Britain. re-
garding the Davis-Swettenham incident. In
his message Sir Edward Grey says that he
10 causing official inquiry TO be made to de-
termine the authenticity of the letter pur-
porting to have been written by Gov. SWEET
tenham to Rear Admiral Davis.
The British foreign office. he said. was
entirely without official advices. and their
only information has been through the
press dispatches. IF these advices prove
to be correct" he says. Great Britain will
deeply regret that any British official should
have written such a letter to the gallant
admiral. who had rendered such valuable
assistance to British subjects at a time of
great suffering and Distress"
Secretary Bacon assured Mr.. Howard that
President Roosevelt and the officials of the
State Department are much gratified to re-
ceive these messages from the British gov
eminent. and especially so in view of the
fact that Great Britain has not even waited
to receive official advices concerning the
unfortunate event before communicating
with this government.
England's Early Acknowledgment.
The promptness with which the govern
ment Of Great Britain acknowledged its ap-
probation of the sending of the ships to
Jamaica is indicated in the following cor
respondence which passed between Secre-
tary Root and Esme Howard the British
charge, which also was made public last
night:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, January 16, 1907
My Dear Mr.. Howard:
May ask you to cable directly to the
governor Of Jamaica an expression Of the
deep and sincere sympathy which the peo-
pie of the United States feel for the people
of Jamaica In their great misfortune. And
can you also ascertain and inform me
whether the situation In Jamaica Is such
that the people are In need of supplies or
assistance of any kind which we can send
from our naval station at Guantanamo II
there Is anything that We can do to re-
Neve or prevent distress, our Navy Depart
ment will be most happy to do 1t, and
Guantanamo Is so near to Kingston that
perhaps early relief may be afforded from
there.
Very sincerely yours
''ELIHU ROOT.
Mr.. Esme Howard. charge d'affaires ad
interim of Great Britain"
To this Mr.. Howard replied the next day
as follows:
BRITISH EMBASSY.
WASHINGTON, January II, 1907.
"Sir:
II have the honor to inform you that 1
have been instructed by his majesty's prn-
cipal secretary of state for foreign AFFAIRS
To express the high appreciation of his
majestys government at the prompt as
sistance rendered by the United States gov
eminent in the dispatch of their ships to
Jamaica to afford aid to the stricken popu-
latiOn OF Kingston.
Il have the honor to be with the highest
consideration. sir, your most obedient
humble servant,
"EsME HOWARD.
ITO Hon. Elihu Root ETC."
At the State Department il was stated
that SO far as this government is con-
cerned the matter will be allowed to drop,
the departments position being that the
action OF one man in distant colony, at
time of great distress and mental anguish,
should not be the means of raising an un-
pleasant issue with a great and friendly
nation.
The Red Cross Supplies.
Officials OF the National Red Cross So
ciety in this city do not believe that the
the supplies which have been sent by this
society to that island for the reliss of the
earthquake sufferers on account Of the
correspondence between the governor of
Jamaica and Admiral Davis. At least no
such intimation has thus far been given
the society. In case the Red Cross sup
pixies are declined. however. 1t is more than
probable that they will be diverted to the
ADMINISTRATION people of China.
If the supplies which were sent by the
society on Friday and Saturday last from
New York shall be declined" said Miss
Mabel Boardman, a member of the execu-
tive committee. 1T is likely that we will
send such of the supplies as are suitable
for the relief OF China sufferers" Miss
Boardman added that no further steps
would be taken at present In aid of the
Jamaican sufferers. and that even Ii IL were
desirable to intercept the supplies already
sent IL would now be impossible to do SO.
Refused to Grant Writ