The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-29
Rbullienee of Sims.

III j. not permitted US 10 know che meas
ure of fragrant violation Of international
comfy which has been perpetrated BY
Commander W s Sims. Z. s. y. The
former naval aid Of President Roosevelt
and now the commanding officer Of the
Z, S. s Minnesota. one of the battle
ships of the Atlantic fleet. which has
been visiting British waters Commander
Sims accompanied the enlisted men Of
the American naval command on the oc-
casion Of their entertainment al a ban
quet by the officials OF the city Of Lon
don at Guildhan on December 3. There
were the inevitable speeches. which might
have been imparualy described a. fe-
licftous were it not for the casual. II
not careless, remark of Commander Sims.
who is quoted as saying:
81 wish to express an opinion on this
subject which is entirely personal. and il
IS ms IL the time ever comes when the
British empire is seriously menaced BY an
external enemy. il is my opinion that
You may count upon every man, every
dollar. and every drop of blood Of your
kindred across the sea"
This would, ordinarily. have been rec
ognized as a handsome testimonial to the
British hosts, and certainly It was a gen
erous assurance OF support which could
not fail to arouse enthusiastic apprecia-
ton on the part of the recipients.
But il so happens that the German
newspapers have been making somewhat
ugly comments on the failure Of the
American ships TO visit German waters.
although that section OF Europe is we'll
nigh isolated in the winter season.
Ii was only by chance, indeed, that the
Atlantic feet went 10 British waters in
stead OF to the Mediterranean. so there
really is no occasion for the Germans to
get excited over the situation. knoWI-
edge Of this fact would probably not in
terfere with the German desire to make
as much as possible out Of the visit Of the
American ships 10 Great Britain. and It
was unfortunate that the willingness to
mlsconstrue the American purpose has
been promoted by Commander Sims assur-
anee Of the sympathy and aid Of his coun-
trymen in case Of an attack upon Eng
land.
OF course. the request made by the
Navy Department of Commander Sims for
an explanation increases the impor-
lance Of the Guildhan incident, and adds
a significance to that officers aIlusion
which it might not otherwise have pos
sessed.
So far as Commander Sims is con-
oerned, he is able to refer to the authentic
report Of his speech wherein he stated
expressly that his sentiment was an ZEN
tirely personal opinion, to which he is
entitled. although he might be expected
By his superiors in Washington to exer-
else prudence in its public expression.
Probably any International difficulties
which may have been created by the
speech Of Commander Sims VIII be over
come by the reiteratiOn that the opinion
is an entirely personal one. and does not
commit this nation 70 any awkward ALI
anee at a critical iuncture IA the British
German situation; while any demands
from Berlin viii be satisfied by the usual
rebuke Of Sims and the departmental sur
prise that IAN officer of his experience"
and so forth-all in the usual language in
which q government deoIores the mis-
takes of its officers.
The entirely personal opinion Of Com
mander Sims should not make a breach
between the United States and Germany.
and this government ought to be able 10
eXtricate nself with dignity from any
perilous position in which d sensitive Ger
man press believes Commander Sims has
placed his government.