Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-22
ALL CONDEMN AND
AWAIT EXCUSE TO
NOTE OF INSULT
But One Newspaper in All Eng
land Attempts to Pardon
Gov. SWettenham.
VERY TARDY WITH REPLY
Advices Received in London About
Jamaica, but Nothing of ALL
Important Matter.
SHAME AND INDIGNATION
"Wholly Unwarranted and Inexcusa-
able Lapse From Decency," Says
Harvard Authority - Drank
Champagne During Suffering
Insult to Americans.
SHAME AND INDIGNATION

Late adVICeS from London TINS
afternoon state that the British gov
eminent is anxiously awaiting Gov.
Swettenham's response to the man
date for an explanation of his re-
markable letter to Admiral Davis.
The governor seems to be in no
hurry to make this reply. He sent
some advices to London in regard
to the relief work at noon, but made
no reference TO the communication
which has excited such widespread
interest. From the stories of some
of the refugees returning from
Jamaica there is intense anin1osity
to Americans there from other
sources than Swettenl1am. The lord
mayor of London today wired the
governor $4,000 of the 100000
Mansion House fund. :.
LONDON. January. 22;-The. British gov
ernment and nation, having shown the
strongest Reproduction Of the attitude or
Gov. Swettenham of Jamaica in bringing
about the withdrawal of the American
warshjps under the command of Rear Ad-
mlral Davis from Kingston, the chief in
terest now centers in the governors long
deferred reply to the British governments
urgent demand for an explanation of his
conduct as this will give the first adequate
rrp or defp nj o. ha m In al
course in repudiating or condemnfng the
governors action. This explanation had
not been received during the early hours
OF the day, although a dispatch reached
here from Swettenham setting forth the
progress of the relief work. without any
mention of the incident which caused the
Americans to withdraw from the island.
This dispatch was not dated indicating that
IL sent before he received the govern
ment's request for an explanation. SWEET
tenham throughout the crisis has been
markedly lax in keeping the imperial au-
thorties informed regarding the situation
at Kingston and the present delay causes
much irritation on the part of the govern
ment officials.
Act or Individual.
The prompt recognition in America that
Swettenhams letter was the act OF an
individual is much appreciated here. Pub
lie opinion continues TO strongly denounce
the governor of Jamaica, although a small
element take the ground that he should
have fair chance of defending himself
The Evening Standard concisely sums up
the prevailing sentiment as follows:
Sir Alexander Swettenham committed
the gross and objectionable blunder of
writing letter to Admiral Davis which
studied insult. Even II he received vexa-
tious provocation from the Americans, no
shred OF Justification can be urged for the
letter. The only course it leaves open to
him, and to his countrymen. is to apologize
10 the nation 10 whose officer it was d.
rected"
Globe Only Excuses Him
Among the newspapers the Globe alone,
IN its customary anti-American way, per-
ssts in "applauding the frmness with
which swettenham asserted the rights of
his sovereign and flag in position of
peculiar difficulty.
The Globe reprobates the gushing tele-
gram OF War Secretary Haldane to Sec
rotary Root and says that IL this indicates
the intention of the ministry to overthrow
the governor feeling of widespread in
dignation will be evoked