The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-20
American Minister Said to Treat
Kings as Nero In
cidentals.
PROUD OF HIS s12 SHIRT
Told Ferdinand, Is Report, He
Gould Settle Any Fur
ther Wars.
Special Coore DssposeA 10 TINS srS.

has reached the London office Of THE
Sun from responsible sources would
seem to suggest that the Washington
Government might be interested IN
the sayings and doings OF Charles J.
Vopicka OF Chicago. the American Min
lister to the Balkan States.
| Mr.. Vopicka was sent to the Balkan
States rs the United States Official repre-
sentative handicapped not only by lack Of
previous diplomatic experience but by
name which wouldn't guarantee hin en-
trance TO court circles in any OF the
states to which ne IL accredited. The
Washington Government. II has been
learned. was notified OF this fact when
Mr.. VopIcka was suggested as SUCCESSOR
to Minister Jackson. But what IL a name
Of spprobrium in the languages Of the
near East Is Of sufY,cient dignity In Eng
llsh. II seems. TO be no. at oil on, Of
place with the prefixed title Minister"
The instructions which Secretary Of
State Bryan sent to Mr.. vcpicka to pro-
coed direct to his post after he had de-
livered an offensive speech at Prague.
Bohemia. apparently have had little or
no effect. for the behavior Of the Minister
since he has taken over his post has
staggered tho diplomat!sts OF other ma
tons. who are constantly wondering
what vopicka is going to do next"
Mr.. vopicks who owes his appointment
to Senator J. Ham Lewis. was a brewer
who was very popular with tho Bohe-
mians OF Chicago. He attended a dinner
at Prague, where he made a speech which
showed no appreciation OF his position
as Minister OF the American diplomatic
service. He talked freely and candidly
and made some criticisms OF Emperor
Francis Joseph Of Austria. The speech
was such an extraordinary one that tho
American Consul General at Prague sent
q cable despatch to the American State
Department calling attention to II and in
timating that II Was calculated to Of.
fend . friendly foreign Power. The story
goes that Secretary OF State Bryan I'm
msdiately wired Mr.. vop,cita TO proceed
to his post without further delay.
vissts kisg q. . aI2 shir~.
At Bucharest, where Mr.. vopicka
makes his headquarters, the stories OF
his dolngs are reported TO have caused
Queen Elisabeth ('Carmen sylvan to
remark to one Of her intimates: The
American Minister. I am told. 10 a very
curious person"
At Sofia Mr.. vopicka drove up TO the
palace In a state carriage in all the for
mality with which the arrival OF new
Minister is accompanied. He said to an
American acquaintance rs he got out OF
the carriage. pointing to the soft shirt
he wore: THAT shirt cost me sl2. wore
II when I saw King Charles and King
Peter. and now ! am wearing IL to see
Ferdinand"
Mr.. vopicka was then carrying his Gre
dentials wrapped up in a small silk Ameri-
can flag In which he presented them TO
King Ferdinand
The story OF the rest Of that audience
is almost incredible. but the correspondent
Of THE Sun Is assured that Mr. vopick,
adopted a familiar. confidential tone. say.
ing in effect TO King Ferdinand:
II have met Kings Charles and Peter
and understand that there has been some
difficulty In tho Balkan States. II there
10 any more trouble come to mo. I think
will be able to arrange matters"
Queen "Awaits' HIS Pleasure,
!, Even less pleasant Is the story that
Queen Eleanora OF Bulgaria, who is soon
to pay a visit to the United States, hav-
ing suggested that she would take Mr.
Vopicka on Q visit to the hospitals, in
which she is very deeply Interested, sent
an equerry to ask the American Minister
to appoint day on which he would ar
company her. Mr.. Vopicka replied that
no vas unable to name day at tho
moment. but that he would telephone
Queen Eleanora and let her know. The
proposed visit was naturally cancelled. AS
II Is not customary for royalty to await
the pleasure Of even diplomatic represen-
tstives. The admiration OF the Bulgaria ~
for Mr. vopicka was not heightened when
they learned that no saw the new year
In at a prominent beer hall in Sofia.
The discussions between Mr. Vopicka
and his private secretary. Mr.. Hendricks
over matters have become almost a mat
ter OF common gossip. An Englishman
who told tho story to tho correspondent
OF THE SUN had the misfortune to be
called in as arbitrator between the two
men.
. WASHINGTON, March 1s.--No copy Of
the speech supposed TO have been de-
llvered by Minister Vopicka at a dinner
In Prague while the diplomatic officer
was on his way to Bucharest has ever
been received at the State Department
In fact, II was learned to-day that tho
] State Department recently received from
the Minister q report In which he denied
that ne ever had made such a speech
AZ was attributed to him and which was
understood to have led to the state De-
partment ordering him to proceed TO his
most without further delay.
The understanding here had been that
the American consular officer at Prague
r reported on the fact Of Mr.. Voplcka's
, speech which resulted In the telegram
from the State Department instructing
: the new Minister not to linger longer on
the way to his post
Inouiries ut the State Department at
tina time of the reports of the supposed
Voplcka speech brought from Secretary
BRYAN tho declaration that newspaper
correspondents making the inquiries
! should be ashamed OF themselves for ask
: Ing. The truth of the reports printed at
that tina, however. was never denied by
me '-T'-'''