New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-20
Ey.AmbasSador to Mexico
Makes Public Letter in Which
He ASSaiIS Secretary.
DEFENDS HIS OWN RECORD
Attributes to Former Chief
Tempestuous Haste, Partisan
Zeal and Pique, and Dis
credits His Ability.

Secretary Of State Bryan with which
Henry Lane Wilson followed his resigna-
ton as American Ambassador TO Mexico
was made public here to-day by Mr.. Will
.on. IL was written in Indianapolis on
August 2S. and in 1t Mr. Wilson says:
81 have the honor to acknowledge the
rAce,pt OF your note Of August IA. trans
hitting a copy Of Geographic instruc-
zion OF the Department of State TO the
American Ambassador in London, direct
Eng him TO disclaim all responsibility on
the part Of this government for an inte~-
view attributed TO me. The closing para
s,anh of the instruction referred 10
states that the President regrets exceed
,ngly that a diplomatic official OF this
government should have been guilty Of
such an improperly.
THE last paragraph OF your note to me
states that the President does not go
farther at this time because he takes IT
for granted that the action which he has
been obliged 70 take in this matter will
he 10 you a sufficient reminder of your
Official obligations
Mr.. Wilson calls attention to memo
rsndum OF his, dated August Is. agree
ing 10 refrain from public comment on
tbe instruction to the Ambassador IN
London or the note to himself. but ADDS
that ne must respectfully decline TO
accept as deflnitive or just the action OF
the President or the Department over
which you preside" in this matter There
e." ne writes, "a Just limit TO patient
silence, and shall not permit myself 10
he made the victim Of a hasty and un-
rer,ted rebuke without placing on rec
ord with you my earnest and solemn pro-
test"
Tells Of His Interview.
Mr.. Wilson then reviews the circum-
stances leading up to the instruction 10
the Ambassador In London. He says ne
did not believe the statement on when
his interview was based came from an
official British source. and had decided
10 maintain an attitude Of reserve, until
the next two days. he read in the press
articles, evidently inspired from admin
,stration sources, containing expression
q, qualification over the supposed propi-
tatory legislation" of the British govern
ment.
ut seemed apparent 10 me that this
was the first evidence Of your intention
TO publicly question my official acts" Mr.
Wilson continues. land l accordingly
gave TO the press the interview referred
10"
This interview, Mr. Wilson declared.
could not possibly be construed as an ex-
pression Of the views Of this government
a. Mr.. BRYAN already had announced Mr..
Wilson'S voluntary resignation. He con-
tnues:
'sThereupon. with tempestuous haste
and apparently prompted by partisan
zeal, you dispatched an instruction 10
the American Ambassador in London d.
recting him 70 apologize for language ut
tered by me which was not in the least
degree offensive. and which was based
entirely upon the assumption that the
supposed expression Of the British gov
eminent was d malicious fabrication.
You thus hastily proceeded without as
certairng whether either the supposed
expressions by the British government or
my comment thereon was veritable; ana
as has since been developed, your action
caused the greatest possible surprise TO
the government OF Great Britain, which
Old not know ii had been offended and
had no official knowledge of the views
attributed to It.
Calls Bryan Unjust.
Thus, through pique. you have spon-
taneously and unjusty discredited DIP
lomatic officer of his government ana al
the same time have exposed to the Brit
ish Foreign Office the spirit of hazardous
adventure which presides over the De
partment OF State and the possibility OF
errors at any moment in future diplomatic
exchanges.
That the President Of the United
States, whom know to possess high and
patriotic ideals, and whose lofty purpose
ought never 10 be questioned by any
American citizen should lend himself TO
the Tasty criticism OF an old and tried
Official Of the government. upon totally
unwaranted and since discredited sources
o. Information. convlnces me that he has
been badly advised, and that you, Mr..
Secretary. who have been identified with
The movement fer higher and better
ulngs In this country, should, except as
Inc result OF investigation and calm con-
liberation. find reason for the censure OF
plain and truthful statement OF fact
which had TO do solely with matters that
are OF record in the Department of State,
ard probably on the records OF all foreign
Offices with representatives accredited to
Mexico, by assuming An attitude which
involves the correctness Of the official
Procedure OF a diplomatic officer under
your control. inspires me with serious
doubts as TO your future success IN deal
ngs with delicate international anairs.
ar. Wilson next reviews his seventeen
years Of diplomatic service, saying an
nyestigaton Of his work would show
'nat II was in the highest degree usefui
10 Humanitarian, commercial and politi-
Cal ways and that the records OF the
oAts Department bear ample evidence
I" the general satisfaction which his ef-
iorts won
ne maintained policy Of friendly CO.
opelation with the Msdero administra-
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