The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-08-15
HENRY |. WILSON
gets REPRIMAND
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

was made in explanation Of the purpose
Of Great Britain In recognizing thu
Huerta government The statement called
attention to the fact that the recognition
had been only that Of a provisional gov
eminent pending an election and ended
with this paragraph:
1.-THE French and German government,
also recognized Huerta after a reception
by him of the whole diplomatic party
at which a congratulatory speech was
made in their behalf by the American
Ambassador"
Ambassador Wilson considered thi.
statement by inference questioned thu
correctness Of his action at the recep'
ton. He was angered by it and In II.
own statement characterized 1t as q
rank subterfuge unworthy Of the tradi'
tons of the Foreign ONCE.
The Ambassador believed that IN max
ing his statement he was-scting well
within his own rights. and diplomatic
usage as we'll He said Wednesday nigh;
that he believed the British Foreign Of:it
would regard 1t merely as an expression
Of his personal views and that Grea'
Britain would not be disposed to hoid
the United States responsible for HE
utterance. The Amba ssador took tha
view that the affair was one between
himself and the Foreign Office. involving
"a question OF fact. and expressed the
opinion that II would not result in IN
terchanges between the two governments.
President Il Displeased.
Yesterdays developments showed tina;
directly the opposite was the case. Earl.
in the day ii was evident that the Presi-
dent was very much displeased at tee
issuance of the Amba ssadors statement
1t was learned that he and Secretary
Bryan had agreed that some steps should
be taken to reprove the Ambassador.
and at the same time to convince Great
Britain that the Ambassador had spoken
without authorization. The only ques-
ton was whether this action should take
the form of a reprimard or dismissal
The President was not disposed to
overlook the TACT that Mr.. Wilson's
status is that of an official Of the State
Department on leave of absence. and
that as such, any utterance from him
criticising a friendly power might be
construed as having official character,
and thus threaten unpleasantness to the
relations between the United States and
the offended power
Secretary Bryan was called to the
White House at noon for a conference
with the President The President di-
rected him to ascertain IL the statement
attributed to the Foreign ONCE was au-
thentic. and that pending the receipt of
this Information he seek the advice of
Chairman Bacon. Of the Foreign Affairs
Committee Of the Senate, A. to what
should be donA ~
Cables to Page.
Mr. Bryan sought first 10 get the in
formation from the British Embassy
here. but. on finding it closed. cabled
to Ambassador Page at London to make
an informal inquiry as to the statement
and report Immediately. Meanwhile, the
President and Mr.. Bryan decided that
the question of the authenticity Of the
British statement mattered little in that
thsy believed the improperly involved in
Ambassador Wilson's statement would
stand. although the British statement
never had been issued. Before Ambas-
sador Page reported that the statement
had been made officially at the Foreign
ONCE. the President had decided what
the administrations course would be.
The fact that the President took the
initiative in apologizing to the Foreign
ONCE for the language employed by Am
Wilson in advance Of any rep
from that office that 1t had
been offended. coupled with the emphatic
tone in which the apology was made,
convinced official Washington thai he
attaches great importance to the For
eign Offices statement itself. as we'll as
to the attitude OF friendliness toward our
policy which he believed the
statement indicated. The President
places high value on the moral support
Of the powers for his Mexican policy,
which he believes is his.
Refers to "OficiaI Duties"
The Statement given out by Mr..
Eryan last night referred to Ambassa-
dor Wilson's Official duties" Friends
Of the Ambassador were at a loss to
know what these duties were. 1t was
pointed out that his resignation has
been accepted, after he requested II
time and time again. and that he has
been given leave of absence, to last
until October II, when his resigna-
ton goes into effect. 1t was stated
that the Ambassadors only Official
1uty." to all appearances. was to keep
himself out of Mexico, this having been
the sole restriction placed upon him
by the President in accepting his res
gnation.
Despite the reports that he was to
be summarily removed for his COM
nent of Wednesday, Ambassador Will
son yesterday stood pat on his posi-
ion.
What I said" he announced yester-
lay, was stated as an individual and
will be SO construed by any one with
common sense. I am replying to an al
eyed statement from the British Foreign
Office relating to me personally in con-
lection with Mexican affairs. I am a
rec agent and have a perfect right to
on any statements concerning
ne personally. I was careful to distin-
yuish between the British government
md the Foreign Office. and my statement
was well within the limits of diplomatic
Usage"
State Department was inquiring into the
Of the report from the British
Foreign Office, the Ambassador said:
1T is none Of the State Departments
The State Department deals
With the British government, and not
With the Foreign ONCE. Ny comment
lealt only with an alleged report from
he Foreign ONCE, and I was careful TO
ay that I did not credit the report"
Ambassador Wilson declared that he |
lad been scrupulously careful not to !
on the policy of the admins |
ration in Mexico or to make any pub |
lie statement except matters in which |
le was personally concerned.
No Danger mt Guaymna.
The State Department yesterday re-
,eived numerous dispatches of minor !!
Importance from diplomatic representa-
ives in Mexico. 1t was reported that |
ince July there has been no danger |
o lives or property at Guaymas and |
hat preyious inform ation which jpdi
ated alarming conditions was without
1t was stated that order
ad been restored at the sacked city of