The Washington herald., 1908-06-14

town for the purpose Of having a tete-a-
tste with the Secretary Of State can
surely testify 10 the truth Of the state
ment-to paraphrase Mr.. Gnbert-that a
diplomats life is not happy one. happy
one. for, since he entered the diplomatic
service in 1891. he has been constantly
embroiled with some one. As "a callow
youth Of thirty-one ne was appointed
second secretary OF the American EN-
bassy in Berlin. TO accept which post he
resigned lieutenancy in the Seventh
Cavalry
The position of second secretary Is not
a very important one and court life at
the German capital. where the strictest
and most severe etiquette is observed.
was not especially pleasing to the quon-
dam lieutenant Of the cavalry. but dur
ing his three years service there he
underwent a rather severe apprenticeship
for the career he had chosen-an appren-
rlceship that was manifestly dlscouraging.
for after this brief experience he retired
TO private life
Diplomacy however is a fascinating
profession, and so fascinating did it prove
10 Mr.. Squiers that less than ayear after
leaving Berlin he accepted the secretary
ship OF the American Legation at Pekin,
and served there during that time Of
horror when the foreign legations were
besieged in their own compounds by the
rebelling Boxers.
The story OF this siege that shocked
and amazed the whole civilized world
has never been fully told. nor will It be
ever told IN It's entirety, perhaps. for be-
sides the tragic events that daily took
place in the foreign compounds. there
were enough amusing incidents 10 fur
nish material for a dozen operas boune;
among these latter was the passage al
arms between the wife of the secretary
of the American Legation and the officer
in command Of the marine guard.
It seems that Mrs. SQuiers had been so
unfortunate as to offend the marines in
some way, who retalIated for this real or
fancied grievance by refusing 10 salute
her. She did not. in military parlance.
rate" q salute. save through courtesy.
and the failure 10 accord her this honor
would doubtless have passed unnoticed
except that the marines studioUsly sa-
luted all the other women belonging 70
tested Mr.. Squiers protested, Minister
Conger was importuned 20 look upon the
affair with gravity, and it all ended by
the aggrieved lady who Il seems. is very
Jealous OF her prerogatives. endeavoring
90 have the offending officer disciplined.
This course, naturally, made her per-
soma non grata with the military service.
In which there is so much esprit de corps
q frcf oF fFc
bers is an offense against all. But Mrs.
Squiers was appeased. her pique as
sauged by the elevation OF her husband
20 the rank Of minister and his appoint
ment 20 Cuba
The story Of his regime IN Havana
and the causes that led up 10 his resig-
nation are still too fresh In the public
mind 20 need repetition. but besides the
official reasons for Mr.. Squiers' resigna-
tion, there was much gossip IN the inner
circles OF the Cuban capital regarding
the standards. the laws Of etiquette and
precedence that the American Minister
introduced at his legation. standards and
laws that are punctiliously observed I'm
Berlin and Vienna and most acceptable
at these German courts, but which the
indolent and Indifferent Cubans found
very iTksOme- II speaks well for the
penetration and insight Of Mr.. Squiers
that he came speedily TO realize he was
not succeeding in cultivating the friendly
relations between the country he repre-
sented and that 20 which he was ac-
credited. which Is a dlplomatst's first
duty. and accordingly resigned
His friends felt that his fiasco at -Ha-
vania would terminate his official career.
but not SO, the lure OF diplomacy proved
too strong for one Of Mr.. Squiers bent.
and the offer Of the mission 70 Panama
was accepted with celebrity. To those who
know something OF life I'm Central Amer
lea. the selection of Mr.. SqUiers' as the
American envoy seemed an ideal one: a
man Of wealth and culture and some
diplomatic experience. who is willing TO
spend literally for entertaining would
seem 10 be most acceptable person 10
the Central Americans. who are fond Of
display. gold lace, high living but again
Mr. Squiers' standards are at fault.
He knows only one school of diplomacy
and he is not an adaptable man. The
people TO whom he is accredited like
spleador, the booming Of guns IS music
in their ears. the flying Of bunting en-
raptures their gaze. but they have never
been disciplined. and they do not take
kindly TO the process. Now Mr.. Sduiers
Is willing 10 give them all the spiendor
they desire. he lives in a palace. Is sur
rounded by flunkles. and there is as much
display es can be managed, but he in
sists upon form and ceremony. and due
respect for his high office; as a result the
officials and people Of Panama do not
take kindly 90 the exactons of the Ameri-
can Minister. They refuse TO conform.
they viii not cool their heels in his ante
chamber nor keep a vigil on the stairs
until he is ready to receive them and so
a tempest in a teapot RACES furlouslv on
the isthmus. and Mr.. Squiers has been
summoned TO Washington 10 talk the
matter over and tell what Il Is all about
Meantime. the friends Of Senior Obaldia
are delighted at anything that will keep
the minister away until after the coming
election. for Il Is openly said that he
favors the candidacy Of the present sec
retary of state. Senior Arias. and Il IS
feared his interest might have some ef-
fect Mr Squiers says that everything
Is quiet In Panama and he. doubtless.
knows more concerning the conditions
there than do the officials in Washington.
one hundred and fifty marines. however.
have been recently dispatched to Join the
several hundred Of their comrades already
In the Canal Zone, there is a battle shin
at Panama. several others within call.
and II looks as though the United States
Is providing for a time when everything
may not be as quiet as Mr.. Squiers re-
ports IL 20 be. and this time. according
to the predictions OF the political proph-
cts VIII come when the elections take
place the middle of July.
Officials Well Treated.