The Washington herald., 1914-07-20
NOT FIRST
. OFPICKWICKIANS
Annals of U. S. Diplomacy
Full Of Stunts Similar
to Deposed ENJOYS.
TICKLING THE WORLD
Crane, Leishman, Hover. Shuster. and
VOpieka All Drew Laughter
of Nations.
TICKLING THE WORLD

The spectacular adventures OF George
Fred Williams in Albania have thrown
the Pickwiclclan side of American diplo-
macy once more into the limelight, Mr..
Williams has contributed to the gayety
Of nations at the expense of the dignity
Of our diplomatic service. He has had
many predecessors in the same style OF
gayety, many who have been guilty Of
some faux pas or shocking gaucherie Of
the brand which a trained diplomatist
would not commit to save his soul.
No chronicler of events need bark fur
ther back than a few years to remember
numerous blunders to the debit account
Of our diplomacy. Theodore Roosevelt
had the celebrated Bellamy Storer case
TO deal with, a case in which many of
the wounds incurred are yet unhealed,
and in which unquenchable animosities
were elgendered.
Crane Case Recalled.
President Taft escaped any serious trou-
bic with the diplomatic service, although
observers Of the passing show have not
yet forgotten how Charles r. Crane, of
Chicago. duly appointed and confirmed as
Ambassador to Russia. was recalled al
most at the very hour he was sailing for
the Far East from San Francisco, be-
cause Of some indiscreet references to
Russo-Japanese relations.
The cultured Viennese had some fun
with Richard c. Kerens. whom Taft ap-
pointed his Austrian Ambassador be-
cause of the quaintness of some OF his
acts. and John A. G. LeIshman, of Pitts
burgh, who was appointed Ambassador
to Germany when David Jayne Hill fell
into the bad graces Of President Taft.
caused the State Department many
anxious hours
President William apd - Gtato
Bryan have had their share of trouble
also. coming to a head with the George
Fred Williams episode. There is no evil
dence to show that the gallant diplomat
from Dedham, Mass, committed his IA
nous break through ignorance OF dip
lomatic conventions or etiquette. There
is every reason to believe that Mr.. WILL
Jams knew exactly what he was doing
and chose the course he did because OF
a highly altruistic and idealistic ambition
to help the Albanians throw on the yoke
of what Williams calls foreign oppres-
sion.
Knew What He Did.
Apparently he knew It was none Of his
business to interfere in the domestic
affairs Of a Balkan prlncipality. but he
blithely ignored the path OF safety and
sacrificed himself on the altar OF Al
banian liberty"
The resignation of Williams ended an
other stormy chapter of American for
eign enterprise. The first one came when
the valorous William Morgan Shuster
was chosen by Persia as her treasurer
general, with a view to having her finan.
ces reorganized by an American expert
Mr. Shuster. animated by a true desire
to lift Persia out OF the morass of debt
and the shadow OF European domination
rapidly embroiled himself with Russia
England, and the other Rpwers. He made
a gallant fight for Persia, but was un-
able TO meet a group OF world powers
single handed. and returned to the United
States after a turbulent six months.
Charles ]. Vopicka- a Chicagoan, who
was appointed some months ago as
Minister to Bulgaria, has not attempted
to mix in the political muddle of the Bal.
kan States, but reports Of his breaks
OF diplomatic etiquette have caused much
fun in administration circles.