The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-29
US. ASKS GAFFNEY
TO QUIT AS CONSUL
PrO-German Activities of Rep
resentative at Munich
Force His Recall.
ADMINISTRATION CRITIC

W~AsHiSGToN, Sept. 2s.-Thomas st.
John GafYney. United States Consul
General at Munich. Germany, has been
invited to resign from the consular SER
vice.
This action was taken by the state
Department to-day at the Instance oil
President Wilson. 1t is the result OF
many complaints about Gaffney's par
~tisanship in relation to the war In
Europe, and was expedited by recent
publicity. He had been a prominent
figure In Irish-Americsn politics.
Soon after the outbreak OF the war
complaints began to reach the state
Department that Carney was manifest
ing favoritism for Germany unbecoming
to the representative OF a neutral coun-
try. His attitude was regarded as the
more reprenhensible because of the fact
that he was charged with the care OF
the British consulate In Munich. His
intense anti-British expressions and ac-
tons. as reported to the Department,
were a cause OF some embarrassment
to the United states Government.
Ganney Warned.
A warning was sent to Gaffney that
he must not let his personal sentiments
ppear in the discharge OF his duties,
officials, and particularly influential
friends OF Gaffney who interviewed a,
Washington in his behalf. hoped that
this would prove sufficient and that there
would be no further cause for complaint
against him. Recent reports to the STATE
Department. however. have indicated
that such was not the case.
Attention was directed toward Can.
ney's case recently by the publication
of the fact that Denis A. Spellissy. q
lawyer OF New York, who Is also treas.
urer OF the American Committee oi
Irish National Volunteers, sent Il lettei
to Gaffney through the Austro-Hun'
garian consulate in New York. instead
Of through the state Department. Thi:
procedure was regarded by officials her,
as most unusual. both on Spellissy's par
and also on the part OF the consulate.
Gaffney was charged with writing let
tiers to publications in which h. ex,
pressed strong anti-British sentiments
II was also brought to the attention
OF the state Department that he wrot,
a letter OF commentator to a publica
tion which printed a series Of article!
attacking the neutrality OF the Washing
ton Government.
Recently a report reached the stat
Department OF his having entertained a
dinner in Munich Sir Roger Easement
who at the outbreak OF the war lief
the British consular service and heade,
a movement seeking 10 bring about tn
liberation OF Ireland by Germany. I
was considered particularly iTprope
for Gaffney to entertain a former Br!tis'
official who had turned against IN
British Government while he wa
charged with the care OF British inter
ests in the Munich consular district.
1t Is said In official quarters tina
the State Department has been mos
| reluctant to remove Gaffney from hi
post on accoun OF the state OF inter
national affairs. 1t was known tina
| Gaffney is well liked by the German
and this Government has for a Ion
time been trying to avoid taking AN
action which would cause irritatio
against the United States In Germany.
The charges made against Gaffne
include rudeness and incivillty to Amer
lean citizens. Endorsement Of a Gerlna
newspaper attack upon the then Secrt
tary Of state, William j. Bryan dis
obedience OF Instructions, public espouss
of the cause Of Germany and publ
hostility to that of her enemies.
Consul-General Gafney is a natura
lied American citizen. born In Llnericl
Ireland. May II. 1864. He was admitte
to the New York bar In 1889 and WI
appointed Consul-General at Dresden
Germany. In 1905 by Theodore Roos.
Welt. He has been at the Munich pc,