The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-27
TURNING DOWN OF
HILL A MYSTERY
Roosevelt Had Made Private
inquiries Before TAX
ing Action.
NO OBJECTION OFFERED
kAiSER'S ACTION CAME AS A
GREAT SURPRISE.
NO OBJECTION OFFERED

Berlin, March 26.-The intimatiOn
that DIR. David Jayne Hill was not re-
garded as adapted to the post of
American ambassador to Germany ap-
pears TO have been made at the sug-
gestion of Emperor William. His
f7ajesty, since it was announced last
November that DR.. Hill would succeed
Tower, has received various impress
sions adverse to DR.. Hill II is difficult
to trace the origin OF these opinions.
Some came from members of the suite
of Prince Henry, who saw much OF
DR.. Hill during his visit 10 the United
States six years ago; some from the
German legation at The Hague, where
DIR. Hill is at present minister. while
others doubtless were obtained in
quarters not yet apparent. 1t is clear,
however, that the personal conviction
grew i'm the emperOr's mind that DR..
Hin would not adequately and agree
ably represent the United States at
This court. Something in the nature Of
a private and personal message was
then conveyed to President Roosevelt
Little Things Put Together.
No particular incident seems TO have
taken place between DIR. Hill and
Prince Henry There were. however
L
bat which, taken together, led to the
forming of an unfavorable estimate of
DIR. Hill by Prince Henry and his en-
tourage.
Emperor William, if he was aware
how the members of Prince Henrys
party looked on DR. Hill, apparently
aid not connect these Impressions with
the American minister at The Hague
when this diplomat was selected by
DF-AGfHafaF Irz-s.r~.T~
Tower here. otherwise some impression
would have been made earlier.
Point Overlooked.
1t seems TO have been overlooked
that DR.. Hin was not announced as the
prospective am Lassador to Germany
until after President Roosevelt made
private inquiries through Baron Won
sternbure. the German ambassador at
Washington. as 10 whether DR.. Hill
would please the German government.
II appears that 4 reply was sent to the
baron's dispatch saying that DIR. Hill
would be persona Grata.
The government view is that this pri-
Vate message cannot be regarded as
official and that the usual procedure
would require formal inquiry and re-
ply
In the diplomatic corps the DISPOSE
NiDi = W SoiSluti llldL some one mas
committed an indiscretion. There is
difficulty in believing that the matter
could not have been arranged in a less
direct way.
Hiil's Visit to Berlin.
DIR. Hill visited Berlin privately
early in March on his way to Dresden
10 see his daughter who is i'm school
there.
While in Berlin he looked over one
or two residences offered him for rent
and engaged apartments at the hotel
AdlOn for a couple of months. begin
ming i'm September. He also made ar
rangements for servants He dined
with Ambassador and Mrs. Tower
lunched with Consul General and Mrs.
Thackeray, and saw a number of ac-
quaintances, who congratulated him
on his transfer
The foreign office today issued a de-
NAL TO the statement that official ac-
ton had been taken by the German
government on the proposal to send
DR.. Hin to the Berlin embassy. II is
probable that the foreign office either
has not been informed by Emperor
William of the message he sent to
president Roosevelt or else it is de-
sirous of tranquilizing an unpleasant
situation by emphasizing the fact that
the German government has taken no
official step against DIR. Hill The
situation is naturally one of embar-
rassment to officials and of CONSEQUENT
confusion 10 the public mind owing to
the distinction between the official
and ''unoficial' action.