New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-05
Minister Did Not Stipulate
ut Should Be Kept
Confidential
PRINTING OF NAMES
"INCENSED" GERMANS
Officers Had Promised "lnfor-
mally" to Keep U. S. Legation
Informed About Cavell Case.
Hmm The Trihun. Bnreau. |

Washington, Nov. Am official
summary OF the recent report OF Brand
Whitlock, Minister TO Belgium, was
made public by the State Department
to-day 10 correct certain misleading
statements contained in an unofficial
version published on Tuesday. While
Mr.. Whitlock's report is confidential,
and il was not originally intended 20
publish any part Of 1t officially, the
State Department was annoyed by the
unwarranted conclusions drawn in the
unofficial version.
Mr.. Whtlock does not, as was stated,
criticise the British government for
making public his report on the Cavell
case, nor does he deny that German
officials informally promised an officiai
of the American Legation TO keep him
informed Of the progress OF the Caveil
case. He does state that the publica-
ton Of his report by the British au-
thorities "incensed" the German Of
fcials in Brussels and caused him en-
barressment. He explained 10 them,
he saws. that his report to Ambassador
Page was transmitted "for informa-
ton" and adds that his explanation
was apparently satisfactory and re
lieved the tension.
The report to the State Department ~
dated October 80, and reached the de-
partment last Sunday.
The department is convinced that the
Cavell report was intended for the
British government, and was signed by
Mr.. Whitlock as the representative OF
British interests in Belgium. SO tar
as is known, IL was not stipulated that
il should be withheld from the public,
but State Department officials believe
the British Foreign Office should have
foreseen the embarrassment its publ
cation would cause Mr.. Whtlock;
The Cavell report mentioned the
names of German officials, virtually
accusing them of bad faith and dis
courtesy toward the secretary of the
American Legation, Hugh S. Gibson. II
was the publication of these names
that "incensed" the German officials.
The summary Of Mr.. Whitlock's report,
as given out by the Safe Department
to-day. reveals there was no inaccuracy
in the reports of the Cavell case cabled
from London. The American Minister
confirms the report he transmitted to
Ambassador Page, and reaffirms by i'm
plication the charge Of bad faltn
against the military authorities IN
Brussels.
The publication of an unofficial yer,
sion Of the report was not authorized
By Secretary Lansing, and the state
Department is innocent OF knowledge
as to its source. II was given out by
an over-zealous official, who apparently
believed charge Of bad faith against
Great Britain would tend to placate
Germany, and avoid the imminent
necessity of recalling Mr.. Whitlock.
The State Department reasserted TO-
day that there was no political signiti-
canoe in Mr.. Whitlock's return to
America. He has no instructions to do
so. other than authorization granted
him some time ago to come home II he
thought it advisable, because of his
health.
II Is not denied, however, that Mr..
Whitlock's return relieves the govern
ment Of almost certain embarrassment,
and while il is the stated intention OF
the department 10 return him, many
officials believe he will never 60 back.
Berlin, Nov. 4 (by wireless TO Say
vile. n. Y.-Among the items given out
for publication to-day by the Overseas
News Agency was the following:
Foreign newspapers report that the
German government asked the with
drawal of Brand Whitlock, the Ameri-
can Minister at Brussels. These re-
ports are absolutely untrue. The Ger
man government has had no reason to
ask for the withdrawal Of Mr.. Whit
lock"