The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-05-25
DIPLOMATIC CRISES
Breaking off Relations Does Not
Always Spell War.
WE HAVE HAD MANY CLASHES.

L
One Of Our Disputes With France
Brought us to the Very Verge Of
Hostilities, but the Quarrel Mas Am
icabIy ssttlsd-our Break With Italy.
Several times before our break with
Germany this country severed diplo-
matte relations with foreign powers
without war as result We had
number OF diplomatic crises with
France. and we also broke with Vene-
zuela, Nicaragua, Mexico and Italy, yet
hOstilities In each case were averted.
During President Madison's admin
istration American commerce had suf-
fered severely from the enforcement Of
the Berlin and Milan DEGREES, issued
by Napoleon. and when peace was.
finally declared in Europe In 1915 this
government at once sought monetary
compensation for the damages done Its
citizens. While the French government
readily admitted the justice of the
claim, it seemed In no hurry to pay 1t.
til President Jackson referred to the
subject with unusual harshness in his
first annual message to congress.
This action resulted in treaty be-
tween the two nations, binding the
French government to pay to the Unit
ed States the sum Of $5,000,OO0 In six
annual installments. But the payments
10 n1
dent Jackson to send another fiery
message to congress, which put France
in q rage and resulted in the ministers
Of both countries being recalled. Pres
ident Jackson then abruptly demanded
the payment Of the money.
The reply Of the French government
In turn enraged this country. "We
will pay the money" wrote the French
foreign minister, when the govern
ment of the United States Is ready on
its part to declare to us, by address
ing its claim to us officially in writing,
that it regrets the misunderstanding
which has arisen between the two
countries. that this misunderstanding
is founded upon mistake and that it
never entered into its intention to call
in question the good faith of the
French government nor to take men-
acing attitude toward France. If the
United States does not give this as
surance we shall be obliged to think
that this misunderstanding is not the
result Of an error"
The excitement In this country and
France soon approached that frenzy
which precedes war, and the presi-
dents message contained nothing to
allay it.
War preparations were made with
frantic energy, large French squad
ron appeared in the vicinity Of the
West Indies, and in congress John
Quincy Adams made a speech so thrill
Ing In its eloquence that when the
venerable orator resumed his seat "the
very walls shook with the laundering
applause he had awakened" But that
was ALL A few weeks later Presi-
dent Jackson informed congress that
he had accepted the offer of Great
Britain to act as mediator in the dis
pute, with the proviso that the apology
demanded by the French government
was out Of the question, and in May,
1896, the entire incident was brought
to an appropriate conclusion by France
paying the money due Of its own nc
cord without awaiting for the action
Of the arbitrator. Lewis Cass then
went to France as minister plenipoten-
tiary, and King Louis Philippe showed
the true affection he felt for the Unit
ed States by ordering painting of
President Andrew Jackson to be hung
in the palace of the Tuileries.
Our diplomatic relations with Italy
were severed during President Benja-
min Harrison's term.
Members of the Malta, an Italian &C.
cret society, had perpetrated series Of
murders in New Orleans. The activity
Of Chief Of Police David G. Hennessey
drew upon him the enmity of the con-
spirators, and he was murdered.
The jury acquitted six of the nine
who had been arrested In connection
with the conspiracy and disagreed as
to the other three A mob then stormed
the jail and lynched those who had
oNNh "NHNittSNs diOhS WIN oOhC OthCio
suspected.
Italy demanded reparation and the
punishment OF those guilty Of being
implicated In the hangings. Our gov
eminent expressed regret, but ex-
planned that the state in which the
crimes were committed had jurisdic-
ton and Washington could not guar
antee to punish those accused of TAX
ing part I'm the'lynching.
That did not suit Italy. Baron Fava
the Italian minister, was recalled, and
diplomatic relations between this coun-
try and Italy were severed. After the
first heat Of resentment had passed ne
gotiations were resumed, and we set.
tied by the payment of $4,000 In.
demnity to the families Of the victims
and expressing our regret to the Ital~
ian government.