Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-03-28
NOTIFIES GOVERNMENT
OF HILLS DEFICIENCY
Washington Doesn't Understand
Why Diplomat Broke Away
From Precedent and AS
Sumed UnWdrrdntGd
Responsibility.

sion of the emperor of Germany TO
rescind his promise to accept as
American ambassador to Berlin Dr.
David Jayne Hill, ex-assistatnt secre-
tary of state and the present minister
to The Netherlands, came TO this gov
ernment as a surprise. While the
administration is as yet i'm ignorance
as to the reason why Germany has
| changed her mind concerning the de-
sira ability of DIR. Hill as American
ambassador and there remains a pos
sbility that the real reason may never
| be made known to this government, 1t
begins to appear as if the affair
would hasten the retirement from the
| diplomatic field of Charlemagne Tow
er, who for several years has been
ambassador to Berlin.
State department officials decline
| to discuss the case from any point of
view, Secretary Root saying that he
can say nothing till a letter which has
been posted from the American en-
bassy in Berlin has reached Washing
ton. an
Precedent Was Violated.
| The Washington officials were sur
prised that the German government
should have decided to withdraw its
former approval and it was at first
| believed by Secretary Root that there
must have been an error somewhere
That Germany should send such in
formation through the American en-
bassy in Berlin instead Of through
the German ambassador in Washing
ton is contrary to custom and is prac-
tically without precedent. Because of
this and the fact that Mr.. Tower had
recently been travelling in southern
Europe, it was feared that a mistake
had been made somewhere. Spencer
+. Eddy, the responsible head of the
embassy in Mr.. Towers absence, how
ever, doubtless would proceed eau
tiously in such a matter, for his pro-
motion to minister to Argentina de-
pends upon DR. Hill's transfer to Der
lin. If the information was sent by
Mr.. Tower, the unique situation would
exist of an ambassador informing his
| government that the man who is TO
relieve him is persona non grata
Mr.. Tower Is Undiplomatic.
Although this action would be ir-
regular, it would not be surprising to
officials of the state department, for
Mr.. Tower has given Mr.. Root and his
assistants several jolts in the matter
of irreglar form in the last six
months. So far as Mr.. Root or the
state department know officially, Mr..
Tower has never had any Intentions
of leaving the diplomatic service. Sec
retary Root was informed that the
! ambassador had written to the presl-
dent personally that he was prepar-
ing to come home. This was not re-
garded by Mr.. Root as a resi- gnatiOn,
! and Mr.. Tower even failed to indicate
| when he purposed TO quit Berlin.
: Mr. Root looked about for a sue
p cessor to be prepared in case the post
were suddenly vacated, and DR., Hill
was selected. The proposed appoint
ment was laid before the emperor by
Ambassador Tower and was found ac-
p ceptable. Berlin dispatches said thai
: the kaiser recalled the important part
Dr.. Hin mad taken as assistant srcrc-
S tary Of state In the lavish entertain
ment Of Prince Henry of Prussia dur
ing the latter's visit to this country
5 in the spring of 1902. The designa-
% ton was accordingly announced with
, a number of promotions incident TO IL
Important diplomatic changes in
, South America hinged on the appoint.
! ment of Mr.. Hill to Berlin Mr.. Tow
{ er was travelling in Europe and nc
% answer was received from him tC
4, communications from the state de
paCtmeut. Recently MI Root wired
MIR. Tower, suggesting that ne would
like 10 know about when the place
would be made vacant, in order tina
he could prepare for the line Of pro,
| motion. The answer was far from
what might be expected by the secre
1 tary Of state.
Some time next summer was a.
Mr.. Tower said. Mr. Root let th'
( matter drop and nothing further had
e been done till the cablegram can't
] from Berlin.
p Records of the state department
z show that Mr. Tower possibly has LAID
e himself open to criticisms on the par
F. Of he president such as was mad,
Of Mr.. Storer when ne was recalled
from Vienna for not giving proper at
tentiou to the departments CORE
J / spOndenCe.
k Not only Is our state department
but the entire diplomatic colony ap
o | parently is I'm entire ignorance of IN,
10 real reasons for the attitude of tn
.