Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-26
KAISER SA VS.
NO TO CHOICE
OF FPRESLDEN7'
DR.. HILL, AS AMBASSADOR TO
BERLIN, BARRED
EMPEROR REFUSES TO ACCEPT
HIM IN TOWERS PLACE
Diplomatic World Aroused by Action
of Wilhelm in Regard to Suc-
cessor to Present Rep
resentatVe

BY Associated Press
WASHINGTON, March 25.-The Ger
man government has declined to receive
DR.. David Jayne Hill in the capacity oi
American ambassador to succeed Char
lemagne Tower, whose resignation has
been accepted to take effect upon the
qualification of his successor. DR.. Hill
Is at present American minister to The
Hague and was formerly first assist
anw secretary OF state under the ad-
tninistration of Secretary Hay
The objection to DR.. Hill is one purely
personal to Emperor William, who has
simply caused it to be made known that
the American diplomat is persona non
grata to him.
The reason for the emperor's objec-
ton is connected with the visit TO
America several years ago of his brotn-
er, Prince Efenry, the ranking admiral
of the German navy. DIR. Hill at that
time was first assistant secretary of
state and necessarily was brought into
official contact with the distinguished
foreign visitor. Just what he did or did
not do to give offense is not known
here.
presented by the fact that last Novem-
ber the German government let it be
known that DR.. Hill would be cordially
received as American ambassador to
Berlin
AT that time Ambassador Tower, af-
ter the president had sought in vain TO
dissuade him from such course
reached the decision that proper con-
sideration for his own private interests
and the welfare of his children, whose
education he deemed it necessary to
perfect in America, obliged him to IN
sist upon the acceptance of his res1g-
nation
Hill Selected
DIR. Hill was selected to fill this i'm
portant vacancy for two reasons, first
because of his high rank in the world
of literature and diplomacy; ana sec
ond, because his promotion would be
in execution of Secretary Roots cher
ished plan for the application of civil
service principles to the diplomatic
service. For two years preceding DR..
Hill had been an American minister,
first accredited to Switzerland and then
to The Hague. he was engaged in
literary work covering the entire his
tory of the worlds diplomacy and
these two posts afforded exceptional
advantages for the procurement of the
great mass of material required for the
work.
AS the task neared completion Dr.
Hill found himself willing to abandon
the field for the higher diplomatic post
of Berlin and as already stated, the
German foreign office cordially re-
sponded to the usual cautious overtures
from the state department here as to
his availability for appointment as am
bassador. So today's decision of the
German emperor has come as COM
plete surprise to officials at Wash
ington.
1t is nevertheless final as far as DR..
Hill is concerned for the etiquette that
governs international relations does not
permit of any question of the right of
a sovereign to interpose an objection
to the reception of any official who
comes to his post as ambassador.
After a conference between Ambas-
sador Won Sternberg and Secretary
Root it was ascertained that letter is
en- route from Berlin which contains a
full explanation of the reasons for the
change of attitude on the part of that
government toward Mr. Hill.
In the absence of the details of the
objection no comment could be elected
as to the probable action of the Amer
lean government in respect to the mat
ter. In any event it is regarded as
certain that an expressed objection to
Mr.. Hill made by Germany will be
decisive so far as his appointment is
concerned