The Washington times., 1915-12-08

sticking TO washington ana 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 summarily deported. And In 90
ing this Mr. Madison sent to Mr.. Irving
for transmission to the Madrid govern
ment detailed statement OF the af-
legged offenses of its minister!
Thus it appears in this case. more
than a century old, the United States
wa2 unable to enforce its demand Tor
recall; that 1t did, voluntarily. send
n detailed statement OF reasons Tor
demanding the recall: and that, even
going this far. 1t was not able to get
rid of the offensive diplomat for TWO
years, and even then that Spain won the
moral victory, for 1t merely promoted
It's minister to what was considered a
The next case OF this kind concerned
relations with Chile. Patrick Egan
was President Harrison's minister thcre
in 1892, when a 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.
Blaine. vigorously insisted that he could
not be recalled unless It were shown
that he had committed offenses against
the proprieties of his position. Eht
| showing that was convincing TO Wash
irgton, and Mr.. Egan remained at MS
post.
On Both Sides.
1t will be observed that in these two
cases the United States has been or
both sides. In the Spanish case II
presented to another government the
reasons why It's minister should No
recalled. In the Chilean case II de
landed 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 n!
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 cii-
Zen concerning internal politics IN the
United States advising the Amcrican-
| who had formerly been British sub
! iect-to vote the democratic ticket
| This letter was published, and the State
/ Depa artment demanded the British min,
istcr's recall. accompanying its demand
with An explanation OF the circnm'
stances. The demand was promptly
granted: but here. again. appears the
| fact of explaining the reason.
So recently as the Spanish American
war period there was similar case
| The Spanish minister here wrote an un'
fortunate letter to n Cuban. In 1897. re.
| fectinE on President Mckinley. 1t Eo'
| into print. was wlcdced rs nu'
, thentic and was made the baslS or d
/ demand for the minister's recall lr
! this case. once more. the United States
| stated the grounds for its demand
! transmitting a copy of the offending
! letter.
II appears in short. that all the prec"'
dents in American experience are
! against the American position IN the
Won Papen and BoYEd cases. and ir
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 it is commonly beloved in Wash
inCton that this disregard OF precedcnts
indicates that the Administration Is get
| ting decidedly dispeascd with German
| methods.