The Washington times., 1915-12-08

There Is little doubt about the gen.
eral right of a government to ask tho
recall of an Objectionable diplomat.
with or without reasons. There Is no
doubt at all about its right to OBJECT.
in the first instance. to having an op-
jectionable person sent to 1t as dipio-
matte agent. But despite this. the rec
ord of the United states In these mat
ters commits it to the theory that when
the recall of an ambasS2dor Is asked
the reasons for that request may Dc
expected to accompany the request.
There are cases both ancient and
modern to support this statement.
Earliest among them is that OF the
Marquis de Casa Yrujo. who was
was a difference between this country
and Spain concerning our commercial
relations with Santo Domingo, then q
colony of Spain. The Spanish minister
the affair that offended the Washing
ton Government. and this country asked
that he be recalled.
Spain replied that the minister had
.been granted permission to return
to his country, which was very diner
ent from recalling" him; so different
that Washington took umprage. More
over, the offending minister did not
return. He remained in this country
until it was intimated to him, from
the State Department. that IL would
be nice II he would avoid embarrass-
ment by leaving. Instead. some months
living elsewhere in this country. ne
returned to Washington. and on the
evening of the day that he arrived In
this Capital President Madison sent a
his presence was "dissatisfactory' ana
renewing the wish that he leave.
The Spanish minister replied with a
good deal of spirit. lie said he had not
come here to plot against the United
States. that he felt innocent OF any OF
fensc. and that he intended to remain
Later he sent a supplemental reply, in
which he formally objected to the style
of President Madis"n's note. and said
that he expected TO. communicate Its
contents to the members OF the diplo.
matte corps in Washington. He did
oven more than this. he displayed his
note to the diplomats. and then gave ii
to the newspapers to publish!
Dignity In Danger.
The Washington Government con.
rcnted a situation in which it's dignity
was in grave danger. Presently COM
munication camc from the Spanish min
lister Of foreign affairs. who said that
unless reasons We're assigned for ask
ing the recall OF Spain's minister. 1,
must be regarded as a disrespectfu
mode of address to the Spanish govern
ment and u violation OF the rights OF
embassy. and insisting that specie'
cation OF the minister's offense. with
proofs, be submitted.
1t will be noted that this is exactly
what the German government asked al
the opening of the Won Papen- -Boy-Ec
| incident. There Is shrcwd suspicion ir
Washington that Germany's diplomacy
has been studying into this ancient in
cident, for the case seems exactly tc
suit Germanys needs OF the presen,
moment. Anyhow. the Spanish minis
ter didn't leave, though n charge DAT
faires was placed in control of hi!
| country's business here, and was per
mitted to transact it. Finally. in 1897
| two years after the first demand fol
his recall. the minister WAS assigned by
| his government to he minister at Milan
| He left Washington then. and not til
| then. and the affair really never reach
| ed a determination.
But while the Spanish minister wa!