Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-01-25
To Disregard Entire Affair.

To Disregard Entire Affair
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 21.-
From official sources it is learned that
no attention will be paid by this govern
ment to the action of Gov. Swettenham
OF Jamaica in asking Admiral Davis to
withdraw his forces from Kingston.
| 1t is held here that the act of the gov
ernor is that of a single individual for
which the British government Is in no
manner to be held responsible.
In his cablegram Admiral Evans in
formed the navy department that Ad-
miral Davis report would be forwarded
| by mail.
The only communications which have
| thus far passed between the American
embassy and the foreign office relative
to the Kingston incident We're formal
| inquiries lis to whether any official in
formation had been received.
Early Reply Not Satisfactory.
London cables that shortly after )
o'clock this afternoon, the colonial Of
hce received Il dispatch from Gov. SWEET
tenham asking the British government
to convey to the government of the Unit
ed States the thanks of Jamaica for the
American assistance rendered by Ad-
miral Davis. The telegram contained
no mention of the incident involving the
departure of the American warships.
1t is learned that the incident between
Gov. Swettenham and Admiral Davis is
not the only one which has arisen at
Kingston. The activities of Sir Alfred
Jones in relieving the situation at the
jamaican capital have given the gov
ernor the idea that Sir Alfred sought to
take the whole matter III hand.
All Pick On the Governor
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 21.-The
''declination" of Sir James Alexander
Swettenham, the governor of jamaica,
to accept American aid at Kingston, and
the departure i'll consequence, of the
American WarShips, under command of
Rear Admiral Davis, has sent the di
plomatists of the United States and
England into a Autter.
England assumes an apologize air,
America is reticent and the people of
Jamaica are angry because of the gov
errors action.
Make 1t Hot for Governor
II was stated today that Gov. SWEET
tenham held up Saturday nights dis
patches from Kingston regarding his
letter to Rear Admiral Davis requesting
him to re-embarIl the American marines
who had been landed to assist in the re-
lief work ashore.
just previous to the departure OF the
American warships the mayor and city
council of Kingston sent a petition to
the admiral begging him to remain, and
the relief committee headed by Arch
bishop Iubball, threatened to resign.
When the American surgeons left tie
hospital the patients Wept and begged
them and the American warships to stay,
and the Red Cross nurses declared that
the governors action i'll causing the
Americans to withdraw was nothing
short Of criminal
England Just as Angry.
English newspaper comment on the
incident is unanimous in regretting the
occurrence and in expressing the hope
that the good relations existing between
the United States and Great Britain will
not be endangered thereby.
The friction between the governor and
the admiral began with the arrival Of
the American warships. when the gov
ernOr objected to the firing of a salute
in his honor on the ground that the
citizens might mistake the firing for Il
new earthquake. He also declared there
was no necessity for American aid. Gen.
Davis sent very, pleasant apology and
offered his aid. Gov. Swettenham then
requested Admiral Davis to withdraw
his WarShipS.
London Demands Explanation.
LONDON, Jan. 21.-After conferences
today between officials of the foreign
office and Of the colonial Office the latter
cabled to Gov. Swettenham of jamaica,
asking him for his version of the situa-
ton which led to the withdrawal of
Rear Admiral Davis warships from
Kingston on Saturday.
Maybe He Was Excited
at is unexplanabIe," said all official
of the foreign office. If it were not for
Gov. Swettenham's letter, which is so
full of Inconsistencies, it would be inn
possible to believe that he has taken
such action.
Il am sure no one can regret it more
than we do, and in this Lam sure | can
speak for Sir Edward Grey as we'll as
for the other officials of the foreign of
fee Swettenham has always been con-
sidered to be an excellent governor, but
it 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 dis
aster."
Friends Turn On Him.
Gov. Swettenham's friends here, while
greatly astonished that he should have
acted SO abruptly, say that he is man
of fixed IDEAS who has been in the habit
of treating natives in a firm manner,
and that he may have felt hurt at hav-
ing another au h0rity working at King
stOn. On the other hand, it is held that
: lmiTal Davis, courteous letter and pol
icy in consulting the governor before act
ing should have overcome any resent
ment from the presence of the Ameri-
can sailors