New-York tribune., 1911-04-22
THEDAyIN WA SHINCTON

question whatever that the reciprocity r'S'-
! luton would be passed by large maJority'
| but the President was reluctant TO see the
essentially Republican policy cordially IN
dorsed by practically all the Democrats ana
supported by only minority OF the Ke-
publican membership. He appreciates that
| the agreement Will encounter vicissitudes IN
the Senate and he wanted to see II come
over from the House with all the strength
possible back OF H. As has been said, the
reciprocity agreement cannot be defeated IN
| the Senate on a straight vote. In fact, on
such a vote IL would command the support
of almost two-thirds OF the Senate, bug IN
addition TO the thrty-two Senator'S WHO
are against ie there is a considerable num-
| Der hiding under the bushes and each
with his knife out" as one Senator puts
IT, and these will. Of course. resort to every
parliamentary expedient TO XIII the Dill
Many will ostentatiously support IL, whiie
at the same time they seek so TO amend II
as to insure its rejection by the President
or by Canada or its failure in conference,
and no stone will he left unturned in the
effort to prevent its effective approval.
LEVER WANTS TO acknowledgements
ativc Lever. OF South Carolina. introduced
in the House to-day a resolution calling
| on the President TO explain the reason for
Ambassador Hill's resignation. and espe-
cially il il had TO DO with the potash con-
troversy now In progress between THIS
country and Germany. Mr.. Lever has IN
cluded in his resolution the customary
words III not incompatible with the pup
lie interests and it is quite possible tha'
! the President viii lind ii Incompatible Win
such interests 20 explain TO Congress the
occasion Of DR.. Hills resignation. In SO lar
as the potash question is concerned. an OIL
| fetal statement was furnished to the press
| by the Department OF State asserting that
| the ambassadors resignation was in no
way connected with that controversy. 80
il would be embarrassing for the President
| to send to Congress an explanation contra
dieting that statement The somewhat ex-
tended statement which Mr.. Lever fur
nished TO the press in connection with MS
resolution seemed TO indicate that he is
prompted by regard for the commerciai
| fertilizer interests. which are extensive in
the South As matter OF fact. the posi-
! tion Of an ambassador Is so dehcate-so
many things. such as lack OF popularity
with the sovereign 10 whom he is accred-
| ited the unpopularity OF his wife, some
minor violation OF the official etiquette to
which an exaggerated Importance is given
| by the court, etc. may minimize or even
destroy his usefulness-that II is practicaliy
impossible for the administration to be held
10 account in a public way whenever an
ambassador resigns. OF course, no such
occasion may exist in the case OF given
| ambassador. and no specific reason such as
is referred 10 by Representative Lever may
have played a part, but once the precedent
was established there would be nothing
to prevent Congress. by process OF ELM
| ina ton. from determining in every instance
the precise grounds which actuated the Tx
ecutvs in calling for a resignation, ana
! the results would certainly be disastrous
| TO the foreign relations OF the Unitod
States.