The Topeka state journal., 1908-03-27
EFFECT THE SAME.
Although Germany's Objection to Hill
Is Unofficial.

Washington, March 27.-The state
ment issued from the foreign office at
Berlin In relation to the case of DR..
Hill, being entirely official, must, of
course, be accepted by our government
on it's face as amounting to a denial of
the report that DR.. Hill is personally
Objectionable to the German emperor.
AS already Indicated in these dispatch
es, there was every reason why a mat
ter of this kind should be handled in
an unofficial manner, it being perfect
ly apparent to any experienced diplo-
matist that to make a formal and Off
cial declaration that a foreign diplo-
matte representative was Objectionable
would be certain to hurt the pride of
his own government and arouse the
bitter 4animosity Of his own people
against the objectors. Therefore the
records show that only in very rare in
stances in recent years have rulers
made their objections to ambassador
or minister in such form that they
would be spread upon the records as
official. Probably the last instance in
the history of the United States foreign
relations was that Of Senator Blair of
New Hampshire, whom the Chinese
government formally refused to accept
as minister. But the objection in that
case was formal for .ile reason that it
was based not on Senator Blair's per-
sonal character or conduct, but entire
ly upon his official actions and speech
es in connection with a great public
measure, namely, the Chinese exclusion
act
It is true that there have been other
instances since that event where
Americans chosen for diplomatic ser
vice have failed of reception at the post
intended for them, but that result has
followed not from another such "off1-
ciaP' action as referred tofn the foreign
office statement, but simply through
the conveyance through personal chan
nels Of a quiet intimation that the
nominee was Objectionable. The case
is similar to that arising in a social
club when the friends of an intending
applicant for admission are quietly given
to understand that there are objections
against him. OF course an immediate
withdrawal follows in order to avoid
the dreaded black ball." which in
diplomacy would find its equivalent in
an Official declaration that minis |
ter or ambassador was persona non
grata. Something Of this kind is un-
derstood to have been the course fol- |
lowed in DR.. Hills case.
Was Once Accepted.
Paris, March 27.-Dr. David Jayne
Hill, the announced successor of
Charlemagne Tower as American am
bassador to Germany, who is now In
this city on personal business, received
any light on the alleged refusal of
Emperor William to receive him at
Berlin. DR.. Hill is aware that Baron
Won Sternberg, the German ambassa-
dor at Washington. transmitted EN-
peror Williams approval of his ap-
pointment last November and he de-
clines, in the absence of official 1nfor-
nation, to admit that there is any pos
sibility of the emperor having changed
his attitude.
liveliest interest in diplomatic circles
in Paris The refusal to receive an
ambassador after asserting to his ap-
pointment is said to be unprecedented
in the annals of diplomacy and Justin
able only on the strongest personal
grounds. A prominent foreign diplomat
said in this connections: Il
"The incident can not be accounted
for on the theory that Emperor Will
lam has some personal objection TO Dr-
Hill: otherwise his refusal to receive
him would be not only offensive, but
a breach Of good manners. The sug-
gestion contained in the Berlin dis
patches that the emperor desires
h,-i1Iiant and wealthy American at Ber-
lin. capable of adding lustre to MS
court. savors of a spirit of d1ctatlon
which any country would resent: II
DIR. Hill were an obscure man sucn an
objection might be understood, but IN
asmuch as it is recognized abroad that
nr Hill is an able and accomplished
dinlomat and scholar, this suggestion
is almost an affront, not only TO Dr.
Hill but to America.
.a'o foreign diplomats it always has
seemed strange that the United states
hsa not pursued a policy OF sending
abroad able and modest men like Or.
Hill who are capable of representing
tha;r country with dignity and SIM
nIicity. rather than men of wealth who
seek to rival in their social functions
the maguiflcence OF the old world.