The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-08
Two Mistaken Views OF the Case OF
Ambassador Dumba.

We are decidedly Of the opinion
that the Washington correspondent
Of our nelghbor the World misappre-
bends the attitude Of President VII
SON and Secretary LANSING when he
attributes to the Administration n de-
sire 'to hear from the country" as
the phrase goes, before determining
what to do with the .Amba &ador OF
Austria Hungary.
Unless there Is some popular de-
mand to hand DR.. DuMDA his papers"
said the Worlds correspondent yes
terday. ut is believed that President
WILSON will content himself with in
structing Secretary LANSING to ad-
wise the Ambassador that this Govern.
ment will excuse no further activities
OF that sort upon his part" And
again, Unless further revelations
kindle such n popular demand II is
believed he will be allowed to remain
in Washington"
Other reporters at the capital have
been SAYING the same thing.
Now, the obvious fact Is that no
conceivable question which could
come before the Administration Is less
suited for settlement by means of
referendum. 1t would he like wait
ing to hear from ones relatives and
neighbOrS before deciding whether 10
begin proceedings for divorce. 1t is
not II question Of popular demand,
or even of political expediency, bur
solely of personal compatibility and
Of the continued acceptability Of the
Ambassador as a person with whom
TO do business only the members of
u Government, after hearing and
weighing DIR. DUMAS explanations,
can judge or ought to be the judges.
Popular demand has nothing TO do
with the case.
If anybody is in doubt as to the undi.
v1ded responsibility OF our Executive
for keeping DIR. CoNsTANTIN THEoDoR
DUMBA near 1t ut Washington or for
sending him back TO Vienna with a re-
quest for a substitute in the person Of
a more acceptable Ambassador Ex-
t%raordinary and Plenlpotentlary, let II
he supposed that Congress were now
in session. let 1t be supposed thai,
Congress undertook to instruct or
e to advise the President ana the
Secretary OF State about their duty
in this matter. How promptly and
how sharply the Executive would re-
sent and rebuke such legislative in
reference in Il business which con.
cerns the Executive only!
And If such would be the natural
attitude Of Mr.. WILSON'S .AdmInlstra.
ton toward the official representa-
tives Of the people in the Congress,
how much less likely IL It that the
President should he waiting for an
unofficial demand" from the people
before determining whether to disci-
pine a diplomatic offender.
The second mistaken assumption
which appears in contemporary discus.
sion of this incident is that the ten.
sion OF the situation is such as to
make 1t desirable for the President
to refrain from disciplinary measures
that otherwise would be adopted with
alacrity.
That might be true, as TO the In.
creased strain In international relu.
tons, II DR.. DUMBA had been detected
In misconduct or improperly pursu.
ant to instructions from his own GOV.
eminent.
The reverse Is the case. The Am,
bassadOr was discovered proposing "a
his Government and asking author
ity to undertake certain enterprises
which are Justly held to be outrageous
in their conception. The American
position with regard TO the absolute
legality Of that manufacture and traffic
in munitions which DR.. DUMBA pro
posed 10 embarrass or obstruct had
very recently been communicated Ia
DR.. DUMAS Government. In the alb
sencc of evidence to the contrary our
Government has the right to assume
that the American view OF legality
has been accepted at Vienna. We
have, anyway, a perfect right to ex,
pect that this friendly nation shall be
represented at Washington by a per
son whose intellect Is not busy In for
hulating plans for defeating the de
cared rights OF our citizens by mean.
OF underhand proceedings.
Why, then, should the tension OF
the general situation be considered In
deciding whether to allow DIR. DUMB,
TO remain at his post? Why should hi,