The Washington times., 1915-12-08
REASONS ARE EXPECTED.

sticking to washington and refusing
to be pried away, President Madison
wrote to Washington Irving, who was
American minister at Madrid. threaten
ing that unless the Spanish govern
ment recalled him its minister would
be summaTily deported. And In do-
ing this Mr.. Madison sent to Mr.. Irving
for transmission to the Madrid govern
ment a detailed statement OF the AZ
legged offenses of it's minister!
Thus 1t appears in this case, more
than century old, the United states
waR unable to enforce It's demand Ior
recall; that II did, voluntarily, send
detailed statement OF reasons for
demanding the recall: and that, even
going this far, II was not able to get
rid OF the offensive diplomat for two
years, and even then that Spain won the
moral victory, for II merely promoted
its minister to what was considered a
better post and ordered him there,
The next case OF this kind concerned
relations with Chile. Patrick Egan
was President Harrison's minister there
in 1882, when revolution was in prog
ress. Mr.. Egan leaned toward the side
that ultimately lost, and managed TO
arouse the animosity OF the forces that
turned up in control. The new govern
ment demanded his recall, and Presi-
dent Harrison, through Secretary
Blaine, vigorously insisted that he could
not be recalled unless II were shown
that he had committed ofrenses against
the proprieties Of his position. Ehe
Chilean government never made q
showing that was convincing to Wash
tERton, and Mr.. Egan remained at mis-
post.
On Both Sides.
1t will be observed that in these two
cases the United States has been on
both sides. In the Spanish case 1t
presented to another government the
reasons why its minister should ue
recalled. In the Chilean case 1t de-
manded from another government the
reasons why an American minister
should be recalled and finally refused
to make the recall. Both cases are
exactly what Germany needs now as
precedentS
The third American case. and much
the most notorious, Is that OF Lord
Sackville-W West. British minister here
during the second Cleveland campaign.
He wrote a letter to an American citi-
zen concerning internal politics IN the
United States advising the American
who had formerly been a British sub
iect-to vote the Democratic ticket.
This letter was published, and the state
Department demanded the British min.
istcr's recall. ACCOMPANYING Its demand
with An explanation of the circnm-
stances. The demand was promptly
granted: hut here. again, appears the
fact of explaining the reason.
So recently as the Spanish American
war period there was a similar case
The Spanish minister here wrote an un-
fortunate letter to a Cuban. In 1871 re-
fiecting on President Mckinley. 1t got
into print. was acknowledged rs au-
, thentIc and was made the basis OF a
demand for the minister's recall In
this case, once more. the United States
stated the grounds for It's demand
transmitting copy of tho offending
letter.
It appears in short, that all the prece-
dents in American experience are
against the American position in the
Won Papen and Boy-Ed cases. and In
favor Of the attitude OF the German
government. That fact has not deferred
the Wilson Administration from de-
manding the recall of these Diplomats;
and Il Is commonly believed In Wash
inEton that this disregard OF precedents
indicates that the Administration Is get
| methods.