The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-29
The Secretary Of the Treasury end
the Dub0nlc Plague.

The incident at Cal,Ro IL satisfac.
torily explained by Secretary McADoo.
N far M the charge Of deliberate
d%lscourtesy 10 the Peruvian authori.
ties IL concerned.
IN 4 somewhat vague mission Of
plensurable politics Mr. McApoo has
been travelling around South America
on the United States man-of.war
Tennessee. The Peruvian Government
nude elaborate preparations to en-.
terrain his party upon Its arrival
from Valparaiso. There was great
disappointment In Lima when the Ten
nessee. after a very brief stay In the
port Of Calino, departed for Balboa
carrying the distinguished passengers
for whom the festivities had been
prepared. The affair was ever repre-.
scented ms u heartless affront Ia me
Of the friendliest Of our sister repub.
lies beyond the canal.
Mr.. McApoo now informs the Treas.
ury Department by wireless from the
Isthmus that the captain Of the Ten.
nessee had been notified by General
COCKTAILS Of the existence at the
Zone Of a quarantine against Callao.
When the Tennessee reached Caliao
the Peruvian health officers reported
to the ships doctor the presence Of
several cases Of bubonic. The captain
Of the Tennessee accordingly forbade
any officers or men to 20 ashore; and
after q few hours IN port the vessel
proceeded northward.
Yesterday the Peruvian Consul.Gen
eral at New York published a state
ment declaring that 1.-THE sanitary con.
ditions In Peru are absolutely nor
NAL, and are the same to-day ms they
were when the Hon. ELiHU Roor
visited Peru"
1t IL possible. Of course, that Consul
General EpuARpo H,oaINsoN has not
yet received medical information that
Is In the possession Of the sanitary
authorities Of the Canal Zone; for It
Is not conceivable that those very
vigilant officers should wantoniy or
without sufficient reason impose a
quarantine against X important a
port M Callao.
Secretary McApoo's despatch 10 the
Treasury Department continues:
.Drs. THOMPSON and ROBERTSON, the
ships physicians, strongly advissd that
no members Of the commission 20 ashore.
The dilemma was frankly explained 10
members OF tho Peruvian Cabinet. who
had come on board. All realized the
s%wkwardness OF the situation. but recoE-
nised the necessity for accepting the
advice Of the ships doctors.
Notwithstanding this. ! went ashore
myself. and arrived In Lima about half
past II A. NJ. where I waa cordially
received by the President. ! explained
to him the unfortunate Developments
which prevented our commission from
coming ashore and carrying out the
plans 70 generously arranged for US.
I returned TO the ship At half past 4
r. NJ. accompanied from Lima to Cailao
by the Peruvian Minister Of Finance and
other high ohicials- While every one
was distressed about the matter, all
recognized that II WA unavoidable"
We are bound to say that this ac-
quits Mr.. McApOo Of any intention 10
affrOnt the Peruvian Government. In
deed, his statement shows that of all
the passengers on the Tennessee he
alone was willing to brave, and in fact
he alone did brave, the dangers Of
infection at Callao and Lima In the
interest Of International courtesy and
for the qualification of the Peruvian
authorities eager to receive him.
Yet this explanation, So creditable
to Mr.. McApoo's personal courage and
devotion to Official duty. leaves un-
solved m mystery OF chronology.
The other passengers and the officers
and Of the Tennessee, by remain
ing on the ship while at Callao on
April %. escaped detention In quaran-
tine upon their arrival at Balboa on
the morning Of April 81. they being
then within the period Of suspicion.
The Secretary of the Treasury had
been exposed to bubonic ~ late as
the afternoon Of April 90, and was
therefore suspect for at least twenty
four hours after his arrival at the
Zone. The report OF his participation
IN entertainments on the Isthmus on
that very day, including n dinner N
Colon In honor Of the party, must be
incorrect for the quarantine system
Of the Canal Zone Is rigid and i'm
partial. and it recognizes no official
immunity in the case OF bubonic.
The Secretary must therefor" have
undergone the quarantine which his
-, companions escaped.