The Washington herald., 1915-09-18
Delay IN the Dumba Case.

1t will make no material difference to the gov
ernment people of the United States whether
the government of Austria Hungary peremptorily
recalls Ambassador Dumba, whose presence here
as the representative of his Emperor is no longer
acceptable, whether it recalls him for a con-
ference, which it is understood is the course to
be adopted by Vienna. This method does, how
ever, indicate . polite and subtle defiance of
rights and desires. 1t is either underhanded
expression of resentment of our action in de-
manding the recall of diplomat guilty of plot
ting against our industrial welfare, or it is an
expedient adopted to uphold the prestige of the
Vienna government in the eyes of the people, to
lead them to believe that their government is
indifferent to offense committed against the
United States, that, at most, it will make Sep-
aration its own terms. All the while the United
States is to continue to believe that Vienna
ceives request in friendly spirit and is anxious
that there shall be no breach in the cordial rela
tions between the two nations.
The recall for conference was suggested by Am
bassador Dumba himself, apparently after confer
ence with Ambassador Bernstorf, and both of
them were annoyed when the cabegram was made
public in this country before it reached Vienna.
The proceeding is characteristic of all the diplo
matte dealings of Berlin and Vienna with Washing
ton, which have been marked by constant striv
ing to take advantage of our friendly disposition
and willingness to accomplish end by the easiest
route The result is that we are always being
asked to yield point and the more yield the
more frequent the demands. The Teutonc
diplomats are forever advancing and encroachng,
while we are backing away.
The Ambassador of Austria Hungary commit
ted grave offense against the country in which
he is the accredited representative of his gov
ernment. Very promptly and properly Secretary
Lansing notified the Vienna government as fol-
lows:
BY reason of the admitted purpose and intent
of Mr.. Dumba to conspire to cripple legitimate in
dustries of the people of the United States and to
the fragrant violation of diplomatic propriety in
employing American citizen, protected by an
American passport, as secret bearer of official
dispatches through the lines of the enemy of Aus
tria Hungary, the President directs us to inform
your Excellency that Mr.. Dumba is no longer ac-
ceptable to the government of the United States
as the Ambassador of his Imperial Majesty at
Believing that the Imperial and Royal Govern
ment will realize that the Government of the
United States has alternative but to request the
conduct, the Government OF the United States ex
presses its deep regret that this course has become
necessary and assures the Imperial and Royal Gov
ernment that it sincerely desires to continue the
the United States and Austria-Hungary.
No more and no less could possibly be desired
1t was plainly duty that one friendly nation owed
another to recall its offending representative with
out equivocation or delay; but this Austria-Hun-
gary has not done. Instead there has been un-
delay and now it is proposed to recall
him for conference.
From the beginning the government at
WASHINGTON has had ample justification for hand
ing Ambassador Dumba his passports; such al
course has since been doubly justified. AS before
said it makes no material difference how Ambas-
sador Dumba goes but it will mean another fouting
of our diplomacy if Austria Hungary is permit
ted to take her time and dictate terms in the
end Mr. Lansng's note is a model of frmness
and drectness, as many OF the notes have sent
to Berlin have been. But shall have to
follow words with action or stop the flow of
words.