The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-28
b0UTELLE'S LIPS
ARE NOW SEALED
Washington Cablegram Shuts
Mouth of Our Minister to
Switzerland
REFUSES TO READ OR
ANSWER QUESTIONS
"Must Not be Quoted and
Don't Put it That Way"
Are Extent of In
terVleW
(By John l.. Eddy.)

BERNE, SWITZERLAND, July 81.
The lips of United States Minister IL.
s. Boutellc. of Illinois, have been seal
ed by cablegram from Washington
and the minister refuses to say whe-
Their he wrote the note produced by
Edward Hines in the Lorimer inves-
tigation AT Washington, but hides be-
hind an ambiguous statement which
he says he gave the Associated Press
last Tuesday and to which he has
since made this addition;
Until ] have read the evidence 1t
would be highly improper ror me To
comment on the testimony, the wit
nesses, or any feature of the case"
The Asso ciated Press statement,
with the added aforethought, which
probably was the result of later in
formation from Washington. was al
ready prepared and lay conveniently
in a drawer of his desk when / called
at the legation to-day.
That's positively all will have to
say until / have read the evidence"
he said, handing me the paper.
DO you mean until you have read
the official transcript of the evil
dence?" ! asked.
Must See Transcript.
Yes; / must receive the official
transcript first, and / presume they
will send me also a Photographic re-
production Of the writing exhibited
by Mr.. Hines
Then you have heard from Wash
ington?' I suggested.
Now, see here. you must not quote
me on that. What ! have written
here is positively all / arm going to
say until my testimony Is given to the
committee. ! am ready at any time
TO tell them anything know about
it,"
After all, then, you won't make
statement when you have received
that official transcript"
NO. sir: not to anybody. 1t would
be highly improper. There are other
people involved in this than myself. )"
And they must be protected"
ventured.
Don't Put 1t That Way.
Now, don't put 1t that way. All
YOU must say is that Henry Sherman
Boutelle handed YOU this statement
and that he felt, In view of his po-
sition here as representative OF the
United states government, and in view
of the fact that his testimony will
likely be required in an official in
vestigation now being conducted It
would be highly improper for him to
discuss the matter In any way what
ever in advance OF this testimony.
AS Eeuteile declined to give any
further information, except under the
pledge Of secrecy which / did not
, feel at liberty to give. owing to the
great public importance of the mat
ters involved. I wrote out substantial
ly and submitted the following uues-
tons telling him the Internationa al
News Service would gladly publish
his replies
First. your statement to the As
sociated Press does not deny that You
submitted Iorimer's name to Presi :
| dent TAFT or that the President APP
proved of him, Was Isorimer's name
among those mentioned to the Pres
ident7"
Second. Did You. tell Hines or any
one else that President Taft approved
OF Mr.. Lorimer?
Third. Have YOU received any re-
quest to return to America to testify .
Fourth, If requested, will you re-
turn?
I Fifth. At the time the possibility
OF YOUR appointment as minister to
Switzerland was under discussion.
had you any reason to believe that
/ you would likely he called upon as
"A witness before the investiga ton corr
mitteep
! sixth. Do YOU recall having writ
ten note similar to the one Mr..
/ Hines says YOU wrote
! Minister Routelle read the first
question and then, throwing the pa :
| per on the table, declared:
| II refuse to read them"
Later he placed the questions in
his pocket and if he makes anv re-
plies they will be transmitted when
received