Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-15
AMBASSADOR HILL RESIGNS.
President Accepts and Post at Capital
of Germany Is Now Vacant.

Washington, April 14.-David Jayne
iili of Rochester, y. Y, ambassador
of the United States to Germany. has
resigned his post. The resignation has
been accepted by President Taft.
Neither in Mr. Hill's letter of resig-
nation nor in the Presidents letter of
acceptance is any reason given for
the ambassadors action The Presi-
dent thanks Mr.. Hill for his services at
Berlin and says that he is glad to
know that he will remain there until
July l. when the resignation goes into
effect.
Mr. Hills letter to the President fol-
lows:
washington. d. c., April l., 1911.
Dear Mr.. Presidcnt-I have the hon
or To remind You that at the begin
ming of your term of office as Presi-
dent. | expressed to the secretary of
state my readiness to terminate my
mlSsion as ambassador to Germany
which Your predecessor had intrusted
10 me. II was your pleasure soon aft
efWards t. communicate to me in per-
son your wish that I should continue
at that post. and | was very happy
especially in view of the short time
had been at Berdlin, to receive this
mark of your confidence. The half OF
Your administration having already
passed, II appears to me fitting that /
should express to you my grateful ap-
probation of the consideration you
nave shown me and that | should at
this time place my resignation in your
hands II take effect July next, which
] now do in order that. if YOU desire
10 do SO, You may be able to make an
other appointment to that post
1T has been a great pleasure to me
TO serve my country in this honor
able and highly responsible office,
which | have endeavored to fill to
the best of my ability.
Please accept, my dear Mr.. Pres
ldens. the assurance of my great es-
teem and loyal sentiment
Your obedient servant.
DAVID J. HILL"
The Presidents Letter Of acceptance
reads:
f"The White House, Washington,
7rl rs. 1911
-" My Dear Ambassador:
I'm acknowledging your letter of the
18th inst, it is with great reluctance
that | accept your resignation and re-
lieve you of a mission which YOU
have discharged IN a manner which |
/ 50 highly appreciate both as to the
actual work of the embassy and as
To your relation TO the government to
which YOU are accredited.
Il am glad that it will be conyen- |
lent to you to retain your post until !
the first of next July and / remain. |
my dear Or. Hill. with renewed ex- /
precision Of appreciation and with |
every good wish,
Very sincerely yours,
'WlLLIAM II. TAFT"
Ambassador Hill was ordered home |
from Berlin several weeks ago to dis
cuss. according to an announcement |
by the state department at the time |
the potash controversy between the |
United States and Germany, which |
for long time has been the subject
of diplomatic interchange in which Mr., |
Hill has been intimately engaged. |
state department officials declined to-
day to discuss the resignation
The retiring ambassador has been
connected with the state department
Tor more than Il years. entering the |
service as assistant secretary of state
in October, 1898 He Was appointed
minister to Switzerland in 1903 and two
years later transferred to The Neither
lands. Since April 2. 1908, he has been
ambassador to Germany
While Ambassador Hills resignation
was great surprise to official Wash |
inSton and the diplomatic corps here,
ii was argued today that the fact that
he is to remain at his post until July
l indicates that there was nothing |
urgent in the ambassadors action.
The opinion is general that Ambas-
sadnr Hills retirement is in accord |
with the custom of past administra-
tons to appoint new ambassadors to
all of the important posts. Changes
have been made heretofore by Presf- |
dent Tart at all such places except |
Great Britain and Germany, In the |
case of Great Britain President Taft |
offered the mission to Dr. c. W. |
Eliot. president emeritus of Harvard |
University. who declined.
1t was stated here late today that
while the resignation of Mr.. Hill had
come as a surprise to the general
public he has had such step i'm con-
temptation for sometime.
1t also was stated that Ambassad dor |
Hill probably will retire to private
life. Mrs. Hill is at present in Wash
ington. but Mr. Hill is rot expected |
to return from New York where he
went Yesterday. until sometime to-
morrow. Mrs. Hill would not discuss
her husbands resignation
Reports of friction between Mr.. Hill
ank the state department We're in cir
ion today, but absolutely no con-
frmation was obtainable from any
source.
ASKING TOO MICH