The Washington herald., 1914-01-06
NO OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION
OF TRANSFER OF BRITISH
MINISTER FROM MEXICO CITY

Officials of the State Department yes
terday afternoon said no official adyices
had come confirming the reported an
nouncemen- at the British foreign office
that Sir LiJnel Garden. minister to Mex
leo, is to be transferred to -theSleeation
at Rio de Janeiro. There was, of course,
no disposition to question the report be-
cause Of the lack of official advices. 1t
lis taken for granted that the transfer is
in Difference to the feeling of the govern
ment regarding the attitude of Sir Lionel
toward the American polic:- in Mexico.
The State Department went so far as to
have detailed inquiries made regarding
Sir Lionel Gardens official antecedents
and his alleged anti-Americanism when
holding other diplomatic posts in the
Caribbean countries. The British minis
ter's statements in Mexico City, and his
reported sttfrude toward the Wilson pol
icy in Mexico are regarded as the prime
causes of the decision reached by the for
eign Office ID transfer him.
1t is not assumed here that Secretary
Bryan addressed any official communica-
ton to the British government regarding
Sir Lioners attitude. There is no doubt.
however, that he let it be known to the
British government tina. the President
was SURPRISED that Great Britain should
have as niHIster to Mexico a man who
apparently. was unable t, make his pub
lie expressions conform to the diplo-
matte standards between two friendly
governments
Transfer n Demotion
1t is accepted as fact beyond question
that no diplomat OF Sir Lionels capacity
and achievement would wish to be re-
lieved in the midst of a crisis such az
exists in Mexico at this time. The Mexi-
can situation is regarded as second in
Importance in the field of international
affairs only to the Balkan situation. and
II Is confidently asserted here that none
of his colleagues will consider that Sir
Lionel has received the most emphatic
approval of his government in the
transfer.
On behalf of Sir Lionel, II is asserted
here by men in a position to know that
he is not the intriguing diplomat, al
ways scheming to take advantage of the
Omitted States in Latin-America, which
he has been represented to be. He is
declared to be an extremely able man,
whose vigor on behalf of British inter-
ests has often brought hin. into diplo-
matte conflict with representatives Of
the United States.
For several months Sir Lionel has been
maintaining a discreet silence in Mexico
City. In fact his indiscretions, which
are believed to be the cause of his
transfer. al occurred last summer It
is believed here that the British For
eign ONCE wished to delay the transfer
a considerable period. so as not to give
the impression that the change was be-
ing made because Of resentment felt in
the United States.
No More ships to Mexico.
The dispatch of a new British Min
lister to Mexico City will again bring
to the front the question of British
recognition of President Huerta. 1t is
said at the State Department that since
Great Britain recognized Huerta as
provisional President, and recognized
MS government as a provisional gov
eminent, there is nothing for her to
do but continue that recognition.
Secretary Daniels declared yester-
day that no additional warships will
be sent to Mexico at present. Such
battleships Of the Atlantic feet as are
not now already in Mexican waters
viii sail on January 10 for Culebra.
Porto Rico. and Guantanamo, Cuba. for
the annual winter exercises and war
games Only in case Of some extraor-
binary occurrence, it was said. will
any addition to or change in the list of
now in Mexican waters be
made until after the winter exercises
The vessels to 60 South next satur-
day are the Wyoming, flagship of Ad-
mira1 Badger, comma chief:
Florida. Utah, Delaware. and South
Carolina. The torpedo fiotilla, consist
ing of eighteen destroyers. will Join
the feet en- route to Culebra
A report received at the War DEPART
ment yesterday explained that the rea-
son eighty-four federal soldiers were dis
armed and sent back across the border
near Ojinaga was that they did not cross