The Washington times., 1915-12-08

There is little doubt about the gen.
eral right of a governpent 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 diplo-
matte agent. But despite this, the rec"
ord of the United States in these mat
ters commits 1t to the theory that when
the recall OF an ambassador Is asked
the reasons for that REQUEST may De
expected to accompany the request.
modern to support this statement
Earliest among them is that OF the
Marquis de Casa Hruto, VINO was
Spain's minister here in 1SO5. There
was q difference between this country
and Spain concerning our commercial
relations with Santo Domingo, then q
colony of Spain. The Spanish minister
gave publicity to some views ABOUT
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
that washington took umDrRge. More
over, the offending minister did not
return. He remained in this country
until 1t was intimated to him, from
the State Department. that II would
be nice II he would avoid embarrass-
ment by leaving. Instead, some months
after the affair started, having Deen
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
personal note to him indicating that
his presence was "dissatlsfactory'' ana
renewing the wish that he leave.
The Spanish minister replied with q
OOnd dnaI nf antrif He said ha had mt
come here to plot against the United
States, that he felt innocent OF any Of
fense. and that he intended to remain.
Later he sent q supplemental reply IN
which he formally objected to tho 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 Old
oven more than this: he displayed his
note to the diplomats, and then gave 1t
to the newspapers to publish!
Dignity In Danger.
The Washington Government con-
frented a situation I'm which its dignity
was in grave danger. Presently a COM
munication camo from the Spanish min
lister of foreign affairs, who said that
unless reasons were assigned for ask
ing the recall of Spain's minister. Il
must be regarded as a disrespectfIJ
mode of address to the Spanish govern
ment and q violation OF the rights OF
embassy, and insisting that a specie-
cation of the minister's offense. with
proofs, be submitted.
It will be noted that this Is exactly
what the German government asked al
the opening of the Won Papen-lIoy-F;d
incident. There Is shrcwd suspicion IN
Washington that Germany's diplomacy
has been studying into this ancient in
cident for the case seems exactly Il
suit Germany's needs of the present
moment. Anyhow the Spanish minis
ter didn't leave. though charge DAT
country's business here, and was per.
mitted to transact II. Finally. in 1907
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 till
then, and the affair really never reach
ed a determination.
But while the Spanish minister WA