New-York tribune., 1911-04-02
London. March II.

late Lord B2Cncelotc Wil'sc iio"'''! oAi
rrelshmen and all Americans hold in
deem respect. as of n great Ambassador;
one Of the greatest; and one who did
q great service to both countries. Lord
pauncefote was Of the old school, and
when he came in contact with the
esperities of the new he was sometimes
uncertain how 10 deal with them. When
say the new school ] mean the New
World: and the asperities Of the New
World I have in mind at this moment
are those of the New York custom
House. True that flaming sword which
guards the portals of the American
Paradise is not supposed TO be meant as
terror to Ambassadors, but sometimes
Is: and was on one occasion TO Loro
pauncefote. This was long before the
rlgors of Mr.. Loeb's reign had startied
Europe: but the experience may still pe
found instructive.
had sailed from Liverpool on the
oceanic with Lord Pauncefote and his
family. 1t was during the early life OF
that fine ship. and she was not yet on
altogether easy terms with the Atlantic,
which perhaps she thought at first dis
snnointing. She was wet ship forward,
md the Atlantic had no more respect for
diplomatic privileges than we were
presently to find on the dock in New
York The Paunccfotc cabins were wet'
and others had to be assigned them, and'
on the whole, Lord Pauncefote and his
marty had an uncomfortable voyage.
thought myself happy in cabin on the
upper deck. looking out on an angry
world of waters, but presently discovered
that the architect of the ship had' lor
this cabin, trusted TO the winds ana
waves for ventiiation and Ventilation
there could now be none, for no ports
could be opened in the face OF the north-
vest gale which then ragged. | dare say
that has been remedied since. and 1t ala
not lessen my liking for the ship. for at
sea you take things, as the sailors wouid
have you. by and large.
once in port, | said goodby TO Loro
Pauncefotc on deck. assuming that ne
an Ambassador would pass scathiess
and unhindered through the iron gates
Of the Custom House. and he gone long
before ! could get my luggage examined.
1t happened. however. that my belong
ings came ashore early, and the civil
officer of the customs did net then act
on the maxim that a passenger Is pre-
suned to he a smuggler till he proves
he Is not But as | turned TO go | saw
some distance away Lord Pauncelote
the centre Of an agitated group hhmseH
acitated. and minions Of the law sur
rounding him. and ! went over 10 see
what could have kept him all this time
on the dock and what was happening
To nv question H.3 Excellency answered
thus:
"I have been left here because the Gus
toms officer refuses TO allow my luggage
10 leave the dock till l have answered
his questions and signed declaration.
have told him l am the British Am
bassador and that owe" me he has no
jurisdiction, but he persists. l have al
readv missed the train on which ] had
engaged seats TO Washington / cannot
abandon my servants and luggage put
neither can allow my rights as Amoas-
sador to be set aside by an inspector
He will not listen 10 reason. and What 10
do know not"
thought that this officer. who would
not listen to reason. might perhaps hsten
10 me. and between him and me 'ooh
place this dialogue
Are YOU the officer in charge OF the
customs on this dock
Yes. sir"
will YOU tell me your name?
He told it, and l grieve TO say l have
FORGOTTEN it, But 1 gave him mine IN
exchange, and the dialogue went on:
..You know Lord Pauncefote is British
Ambassador"
Yes
You know an Ambassadors personal
effects are exempt from duty and from
ali Custom House demands ??
"Yes. be | have only asked him 10
sign a declaration OF the number and
nature Of the pieces he has with him and
other purely formal particulars"
Don't you know that you have 40
right to put single question to him, or
10 http 44lll A'i' a S4HS4N AAiDii'N''N 'O'
any purpose vhatever?'
II am doing what | think my duty"
'srhen If you know no better than to
hold up an Ambassador on the wharf, do
YOU know what is going TO happen to
YOU? am going to telegraph the facts
to the Secretary Of State at Washington
and ask him to see the Secretary of the
Treasury at once and tell him what his
officer is doinr. and l promise you that
before sundown your official head VIII
be off your official shoulders
j: was promising good deal but
felt sure the Secretary of State would
see that the immediate removal OF the
officer who had outraged the sovereignty
Of Great Britain In the person or her
Ambassador would be the only reparation
Gt to accompany the apology our foreign
minister would have TO offer TO the Brit
ish government. I took, perhaps,
higher tone than had right TO take
with this officer for. ignorant as he was
and insolent as he had been to Lord
Pauncefote. he was none the less an
officer OF the government. and / was a
private citizen. But my threat had its
.ooc, and his face Whitened as h3