The Washington times., 1909-11-30
Calling of Secretary Knox's
Bluff Said TO Have
Been Responsible.
EDWARD rs NAMED
TO ACT AS JUDGE
Both Countries Agree to Let Brit
ish Ruler Dispose Definitely
OF Case.
BY IAMEs Hay, il.


Washington there is today a lot of
gossip about the way in which the
State Department of this country
has conducted its affairs as they re-
late to South and Central America
in the past few weeks.
Here and there ar ambassador
can be seen laughing in his sleeve,
and the charge is heard IN many
quarters that the Department of
State has not carried off things with
that eclat which is supposed to at
tend all the efforts of this country.
The shotgun policy of Mr.. Knox
! is coming in for criticism.
CHILE CALLS BLUFF.
In the first place. it is a matter
Of general comment that the little
country of Chile called the bluff"
put up by Mr.. Knox when he In
formed the Chilean government
that within a certain length of time
the Alsop claim would have to be
submitted to The Hague under cir
cumstances outlined by this Govern
melt
Mr.. Knox instructed Seth Low
Pierreront, who has charge of the
American legation at the Chilean
capital. to tell Chile that, if it did
not come across in the way de-
manded, the American legation there
would be closed.
Up To King Edward.
To this, Chile made response. it is de-
claTed today. by wiring senor Don AMI
bal Cruz, her minister here. TO be ready
to pack mis- trunk and sail for home 1t
the end Of the period set forth in the
uItimatum. On the last day OF the time
allowed, news came from Chile thar
that government and the United States
had agreed 70 submit the Alsop claim
20 arbitration by King Edward Of Eng
land.
This result, the diplomats say. was
merely TO save the face OF the United
States. although it is apparent to the
diplomats that Chile called the An,eri-
can bluff without tremor. NO official
explanation Of the submission OF the
claim 10 King Edward mas been ad
vanced by the State Department. but
It Is admitted that the King is to settle
definitely ali the details OF the claim
An Embarrassing Position
The fact Of the business IS that thi,
Government would have been in a most
embarrassing position had it not been
for the timely and acceptable interfer-
ence OF Baron de Rio Branco, the min
ister for foreign affairs for Brazil
Diplomatic relations between this Gov
erument and Chile were on the verge
OF being shattered. when Branco. ac-
cording 70 the unofficial talk here
stepped in with the suggestion which
relieved the State Department OF de
Gliding whether it should go TO war vita
p pretty much all Of South America OF
accept ChHe's refusal to abide by the
ultimatum-
Branco's government is exceedingly
J friendly to the United States. He saw
- the difficulty and made the suggestion
that some outside ruler settle the claim
. His suggestion came from his knowledge
: that all of South America, even Peru
? who is generally at daggers' points with
: Chile. was ready to back up Chile's d.
e termination TO resist the ultimatum.
A Sad Affair
The State Department. according tc
the unofficial explanation OF the SAD
I anair, accepted BrancO's advice and
l thanked him very kindly.
This. it Is pointed out. is distine'
4 come-down from Mr.. Knox's first uiti
matun that the claim Drust be paid II
fuu or submitted to The Hague undel
certain conditions.
For the past week, the State Depart
= ment has intended TO send a specia
2 commission to Central America 70 in
2 vestigate political conditions in tha
: part Of the world. The department wen
: so far as to make no secret of the mat
ter. and the names OF several men wer,
y mentioned for the place. The commits
q sion was almost settled fact.
Then the representatives OF the Soutf
/ anu CeulIdl ALAleIlCdn countries 50
busy on the telephone that leads 20 th'
State Department, and the nervous tons
in which they spoke made the depart
. ment think that, after all, it might no
' be well to send any commission ar ali
: Accordingly. definite announcement 6
{, now made by the department that IN,
commission viii not be appointed
This is the second time that tAe com
mission talk has been heard. II wa