Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-25
GERMANY DECLINES
TO RECEIVE DR.. HILL
Secretary Root Amazed at the
Announcement.
NO REASON KNOWN HERE
Berlin Reports That He Was Not
Considered Representative
EMBASSY HERE NOT INFORMED
Said to Be Regarded at the German
Court as Unsuitable for Post Of
American Ambassador.
EMBASSY HERE NOT INFORMED

ne German government has declined "a
receive DR. David jayne Hill in the a.
pacity of American amba ssador to sue
ceed Sharlemagne Tower. whose reSrn.
'ion mas been accepted to take effect upon
the qualification of his successor nv
fhii Is at present American minister IN
ne Hague. and was formerry nrsr ...
sistant secretary of state under tho .ad.
ministration of Secretary Hay.
Inc objection to Dr. Hill is: one nu,o,,
personal to Emperor William. who no,
simply caused 1t to be made knoup tho,
the American diplomatist is persona ro,
srata to him. The reason for tbe .,,-
peror objection is connected with the
WISH TO America several wears .po oe
ms brother, Prince Henry. the rankin,
aomiral OF the German navy. DIR 1y;I,
at that time was first assistant secre.arv
VI state and necessarily was brourht
,i''o ohciai contact with the distinguished
ioleien visitors. Just what he did or did
not DO TO give offense is not known bers
Germany's First Intimation.
a perpiexing feature of the c.s. ..
presented by the fact that last Noror,,,.
.he 1erman government let 1t be kno,,n
'"a' Dr. Hill would be cordially received
as american ambassador to RerI;r A.
.nat lime Ambassador Tower. after tho
esluent s,, had sought in vain to dis
the decisio from such a course. reached
fn, Sts utecision that proper consideration
aol ms own private business Interest.
anu tne welfare of his children wbosa
eeoucatlon he deemed 1t necessary to ne
unon ~ N. amerlca. america. obliged him to insist
af1 1t
Dr. Hill was selected to fiIi this i'm.
pI.aht vacancy for two reasons-f,rst
because of his high rank in the world or
hecsa,aa nrs and diplomacy. and. second.
tion Of civil service princinJes in ~.
oip!omatic service. For two wears NJ
ceding DR.. Hill had been an American
s sis,eI. nrst accredited to Switzerland
gagged In a monumental literary uor,.
covering the entire history of the worlds
diplomacy. and these two posts afforded
eAceptionai advantages for the procure
quired for the work AS that task nearea
completion DR.. Hill found himself will
ing TO abandon the field for the higher
dipiomatic post of Berlin. and. as al
les9y stated, the German foreign ONCE
cordially responded to the usual cautiou,
overtures from the State Department
here as to his availability for appoint
ment as ambassador
oo 'ouds uecisiOn or the German EN-
peror has come as a complete surprise to
omcial Washington. 1t is nevertheless
final as far as DIR. 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 In the extraor-
dfnary and personal character of ambas-
sador.
Secretary Root Amazed.
Notice of the action Of the German gov
ernment in DIR. Hills case came to the
State Depa rtment quite unofficially at first
today. there being nothing in the shape of
formal notification. but simply an init
nation of what was 10 follow. Secretary
Root was amazed. because his own In
formation was that not only the German
foreign Office. but Emperor William him.
self, had formally signified a willingness
to receive Dr. Hill when his name was
suggested last fall. Therefore. the first
conclusion reached at the State Depart
ment was that somewhere mistake had
been made.
Secretary Root Immediately commune
cated by telephone with Baron Speck Won
Sternburg. the German ambassador here.
and upon the Secretary's invitation the
diplomat called at once at the State De-
partment to confer personally with the
Secretary regarding the master. But 1t
was said at the German embassy that no
knowledge of DR.. Hills rejection had
reached the embassy officially. and when
the members were asked to endeavor tn
recall any unpleasant incident connected
with the visit to Washington Of Prince
Henry they were at a loss That visit was
in February. 1902. when Baron Speck
Won Sternburg was German consul gen
eraI in Bombay. and so not In position
to throw any light on the subject.
DR.. Hills High Reputation.
David Jayne Hill has for many years
been regarded as an authority on inter
national law. As President of Roches-
ter University he made that fascinating
subject a speciality. and was the author
of several works and lectures thereon and
made II his favorite course. He entered
the service OF the State Department Or
tober - 1895. as assistant secretary. or
state under the administration Of the late
Secretary Hay His record in the state
Depa riment was that of an extremely ef-
fcient officer. and during the frequent
illnesses and absences of secretary Hay
he discharged the responsible duties or
the head of the department OF state IN
manner that elected the warm admiration
of the late President Mckinley. Pres'-
dent Roosevelt also conceived hlgn
admiration for DR.. Hills ability. and y
was with some reluctance that he yieideg
To the doctors desire to go abroad AMI
allowed him 10 leave the State Depare
ment to become minister TO Sw1tZeflai1
January T. 1893 He was transferred
The Hague March -. 1905. in complains
with his own desire TO participate in tt
of the second Hague COM
ference. which project was then undei
discussion. He was one of the American
delegates to that conference and took p
leading part in the presentation OF tt<
American propositions. which terminatA
in what Secretary Root has been pleased
to record as one of the greatest diplo'
matte achievements Of the century.
Important Social Position.
While in Washington DR.. Hill and his
wife filled the most important place in
the social life of The capital. and the
elaborateness and frequency OF tho
extended by them to the
diplomatic corps. to distinguished visit
ing foreigners and to other people OF
note was subject of comment 1t Was
here that the Hills nad car
ried the broad notions of hospitality
into their European homes when they
went abroad.
As having possible bearing on tn.
days developments, the fact is recalled