The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-26
Distinguished Diplomat Ap-
pointed Ambassador Is
Persona Non Grata.
OFFICIAL NOTICE HAS
NOT BEEN RECEIVED
German Government Had STATED
DR.. Hill Would Be Acceptable,
Rejection Came, Therefore,
as a Surprise-Attitude
on Protective Tariff
May Be Cause.

yASHINGToN, D. c., March 20.
y " The German government
Nh/ has declined TO receive DR..
wv David jayne Hill in the ca
pacity of American ambas-
sador to succeed Charlemange Tower,
whose resignation has been accepted to
take effect upon the qualification of his
successor. Dr. Hin Is at present Amer
lean minister to The Hague, and was
formerly First Assistant Secretary of
State under Secretary Hay.
The objection to DR.. Hill is purely
personal to Emperor William, who has
simply caused 1t to be made known that
the American diplomatist is persona
non grata to him. The reason for the
Emperor's objection is connected with
the visit to America several years ago
of his brother, Prince Henry, the rank
ing 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 Of
Tense is not known here. perpleX-
ing feature of the case is presented
by the fact that last November the
German government let 1t be known
that DR.. Hill would be cordially re-
ceived as American ambassador to Ber-
lin.
Author and Diplomat.
Dr. 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 and sec
ond because his promotion would be In
execution of civil service principles IN
the diplomatic service. For two years
preceding, DR.. Hill had been an Ameri
can minister, first accredited to Swift
zerland and then to The Hague. To-
days decision OF the German Emperor
has come as complete surprise to oftl-
cial Washington. 1t is nevertheless
final as far as DIR. Hill is concerned.
Notice of the action of the German
government in DR.. Hills case came to
the State Department quite unotHcia!y
at first to-day, there being nothing in
the shape of a formal notification, but
simply an intimation of what was to
follow. Secretary Root was amazed
because his own information was that
not only the German foreign office. but
Emperor William himself had formally
signitied a Willingness to receive DR..
Hill when his name was suggested last
fall.
1t was said at the German embassy
that no knowledge of DR.. Hills rejec-
tion had reached the embassy officially.
Distinguished Career.
David 1Jayne Hill has for many years
been regarded as an authority on In
ternational law. and President Roose-
welt entertained a high admiration for
DR.. Hills ability. DR., Hill left the
state Department to become minister
to Switzerland January Z. 1903. He
was transferred to The Hague March
15, 1906, in compliance with his own
desire TO participate in the proceedings
of the Second Hague Conference. which
project was then under discussion. He
was one of the American delegates to
that conferences, and took leading
part in the presentation OF the Amer
lean propositions, which terminated in
what Secretary Root has been pleased
to record as one OF the greatest di-
plomatic achievements of the century.
While in Washington, DIR. Hin and
his wife filled the most important
place in the social life of the capitol.
AS having possible bearing on to-
days Developments the fact Is recalled
that DR., Hill was political author of
great force. During the Mckinley cam.
paign he wrote and spoke frequently.
and his brochures figured extensively
in the Roosevelt campaign. He was re-
garded as an expert on economic sub
jects and wrote with particular vigor
and strength upon matters relating To
the protective tariff, which suggests
that possibly therein might be found
the germ of the objection now 'odged
against him, ~
After a conference between Ambas-
Continued on rkird Paeal