The San Francisco call., 1907-01-21
London Hopes Re
ports Have Been
Exaggerated

tunate incident that led to the hurried
+ departure of American warships from
T Kingston. Yesterday having been
Sunday and the news having arrived
late tonight. the fact became known TO
a comparatively small section of the
public and the Official world but ev-
erywhere the greatest astonishment
was expressed.
Neither the admiralty nor the for
/ eign Office had any news of the Incl
dent except that derived from the press
dispatches and the inclination on all
sides was to withhold an expression
of opinion until the receipt of the Of
! hcial version from Governor Swetten-
! ham.
Meantime the Kingston dispatches
giving the correspondence exchanged
between Governor Swettenham and
I Rear Admiral Davis are read with in
terest. The incident occurred at a mo-
ment when the British public and press
were loud in their expression of praise
and appreciation Of the prompt assist
ance rendered by the United States
when it was impossible. owing to the
distance, for British warships to go TO
the scene.
The important question as to Wheth-
er the British authorities at Kingston
were in a position to maintain order
appears 10 be debatable- Governor
Swettenham's claim Of ability to do so
is in marked contrast to the accounts
OF many Of the British press correspon-
dents. who recorded numerous cases OF
disorders; but, on the other hand. some
Of the correspondents averred that no
serious disorders took place.
ACTS ON HIS OWN INITIATIVE
What seems much less debatable is
that Governor Swettenham acted en-
tirely on his own initiative. The last
dispatch for the secretary of the colo
nies. Lord Elgin. to Governor SWEET
tenham, dated January is. gave the
Governor full liberty Of action. Ii was
as follows:
You know that I appreciate the
courage and frmness with which you
and your government are facing this
great disaster, and that ! do not wish
TO bother you with dispatches or fetter
your discretion"
l. is not believed the Government sent
any subsequent instructions modifying
4 this attitude.
AS a possible explanation of Cover
nor Swettenham's course, ii is suggest
ed that he may have acted under the
strain Of nervous excitement through
being overwrought by his recent pain
Cul experiences.
The morning newspapers all regard
the incident eliminating in the with
Kingston as most unfortunate and re-
grettable but several OF them refrain
from speaking editoriaIly, pending fur
ther Information, evidently being de-
sirous TO avoid anything calculated to
in the slightest jeopardize the friendly
feeling between the United States and
Great Britain. They. however. reiterate
expressions of gratitude for the inval-
liable services Of the American sur
geons and private parties.
According to the Daily Mails Kings
ton correspondent, the people of Kings
ton are wildly protesting against the
withdrawal Of the Americans. as there
is still great need of food and medical
aid
FINAL INTERVIEW WAS HEATED
This correspondent relates that IL was
at the request of the Governors duly
appointed subordinate that American
marines We're landed to quell the dis
orders in the city. Governor Swetten-
ham, however, repudiated his deputy's
action.
The correspondent says Governor
Swettenham bases his own action on
that Of the American Government after
the San Francisco disaster He adds
that in the heated final interview be-
tween Governor SWettenham and Ad-
miral Davis the Governor intimated
fair amount OF credit.
The Daily Mail describes the incident
as a "deplorable blunder upon the part
Of Governor Swettenham." and says he
dealt with the situation in an alto
gether wrong frame Of mind and COM
promised the credit Of his country in so
doing.
1T was a situation to try the stout
est nerves." the Daily Mail continues,
land full allowances must be made for
the condition in which the Governor
found himself. II cannot be too plainly
understood that ii was a humiliating
experience for a British colony to be
compelled to seek foreign assistance;
but American help. freely and gener-
ously rendered, should have been ac-
cepted with equal generosity Of spirit
and acknowledged with the fullest
courtesy"
The Daily Chronicle says: The
painful ending of the mission of mercy
will be deeply doplored by the British
people. In the absence of confirmation
IL is impossible TO place responsibility
for the misunderstanding We hope
that the American people, who are
quick 70 take offense at anything in
the nature OF a slight will take a cool
view of the facts. Their generosity
and promptitude in Offering aid created
a favorable impression here and we
sincerely trust lDeN VIII not Ihlnk we
do not value their sympathy or their
cooperation"
The Daily Dispatch says: THE dis
aster viii become doubly disastrous if
il leads to i'll feeling between Great
Britain and America Should Governor
Swettenham's action be as inexcusabIe
as appears from the correspondence
published, the Government will do well
to supersede him and offer diplomatic
regrets to Washington without delay"
The Times finds no excuse, except
that he was unstrung by the terrible
events, for the tone Of Governor SWEET
tenham's reply TO the courteous letter
of Rear AdmEal Davis. 1t says:
This lamentable close Of a mission
conceived in so admirable a spirit of
international good Will certainly will
not lessen the gratitude of the unfor-
tunate colony and OF Englishmen the
world over to Rear Admiral Davis and
his bluejackets, or TO the American
Government"
Fillmore street Merchant Goes East
Mr. Edgar Stoltz. the head of the
H.