South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-28
rALKATIvE AMRAssADoRs.

Official foreign representatives at
Washington are approaching the
verge OF trouble. we are afraid with
their mouths as their worst enemies;
some Of them through criticism of
our government and others through
criticisms. or from speaking lightly Of
each others governments. The cases
Of Ambassador Jusserand. Of France.
and Count Won Bernstorff, German
ambassador are particularly in point.
For instance. here's Jusserand.
Frances ambassador, who gets senti-
mental over the subject OF human lib
erty and psblicly tells the ID. A. r..
this:
The problem Of human liberty
will be solved now as ii was
solved in the trenches at York
town
II we remember Alright. the solution
at Yorktown consisted Of Americans
knocking the dayaghts out Of the
British
1t is true that we gave the British
an awful licking that time. and that
human liberty was promoted thereby,
France. and it's awful bad taste in
Ambassador Jusserand TO throw up
that licking TO his allies.
If it is proper for French diplomats
10 harp on British defeats il is proper
for British diplomats to trot out de-
feats OF the French. at Waterloo. for
instance, and then where will the ally
10
surely perpetrated a faux pas, if we
know anything about French and the
Britishers dissemination TO have lick
ings rubbed into them. He has talked
not wisely but too much
Now as 10 the case of count Won
BernstOrff:
1t would seem that only a policy Of
self-restraint and the great patience
of the executive department Of our
government, could possibly be respon-
sible for the German ambassador
still holding onto his job. Under ord
mary conditions the count would
hardly remain here another week, and
it might be a good lesson to Germany
and to certain German Americans as
well, if some such action were taken.
He has done everything automatically
10 make himself persona non grata, as
the diplomats phrase it, and in any
other time than the present, word
would go TO Berlin in short order ask
ing for the assignment of a new man
20 this post. Pres't Wilson, indeed.
seems very anxious to avoid any oc-
casion of offense TO any of the warning
nations and is stretching his neutral
ity TO the utmost
II is not the recent note protesting
against the export of arms which alone
has given offense, although that pro-
test might have been worded in a
much less offensive way. The dis
courtesy in that affair lay in making
public this diplomatic note before
even our secretary Of state had seen
it. our government has had previous
~ ample cause for complaint on ac-
count of the activity of the embassy
here and its naval attache. Capt. Boy
Ed. in the traffic in fraudulent pass
ports, and the carry on of spy work
with the embassy as headquarters and
funds transmitted through diplomatic
channels This was taking advantage
OF the special ammunities and per
ogatives accorded 10 foreign diplomats
TO abuse our neutrality in aid of mill
itary operations. II is strongly sus-
pected that the embassy had a hand
in supplying Information TO its ships
by wireless in their sea-raiding oper-
atoms and getting provisions 10 the
rowing cruisers while they were still
at large
Lately our government has had oc-
casion 10 complain of the political ac-
tivities of Won Bernstorff in putting
out through newspaper channels
quasi-diplomatic proposals on the sub
ject OF peace. This newspaper copy
has been not only Inspired but die
tated by the German ambassador. but
when asked 10 authorize it or assume
any diplomatic responsibility the am
bassador has calmly denied any
knowledge of ii. The purpose in Civ
ing out the alleged peace overtures is
regarded by she state department and
by the president as purely political
intended 20 influence public opinion in
the United States thing which an
ambassador is supposed TO scrupu-
lousy avoid
Ambassadors Bernstorff and Jusser-
and have served their countries too
successfully as diplomats 10 allow
themselves 20 run amuck in such
times as these, Ii would be Well
nigh calamity for them 10 mar their
splendid records merely by letting
their enthusiasm carry them on into
the realm of too much Sab.