Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-04-24
PROMINENT
.NEUTRALIS SPAIN;
ROLE DIFFICULT
REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS Ma
TONS IN so MANY HOSTILE CAMPS
SHARP LINE MUST BE DRAWN.
CLASHES OVERCOME BY ESTABLISH
MENT OF Different HOURS AND
DAYS FOR MEETINGS.
(By Associated Press.)

as the foremost neutral, following the
break of relations between the United
States and Germany she is finding that the
a happy one. There is added honor and
prestige as the intermediary between all
the various capitals, but here at Madrid
the representatives of all these capitals
are ranged in 80 many hostile camps, with
their own champions and followers, their
own press and shades of news and gossip,
their own policies, intrigues and wire pull
ing, that the government has found il con-
~venient and necessary to draw a sharp line
between these different groups so as to
lprevent animosities and embarrassments
which might seriously interfere with strict
adherense TO neutrality.
The Spanish capital il famous for the
elegance of its official receptions with n
strict adherence to precedent and Ell
quette, and with all the foreign represent
~tatives mingling together. Until recently.
the British ambassador was the dean Of
these foreign representatives, and, by
chance, the wife Of the German ambassa-
1 uOi a utstHhC vi Tic WIVES Vi umDu>~d-
doris. This created something of a strain
when the various groups assembled and
greeted each other in the strict order of
their rank.
But when a new British ambassador ar
rived, recently, the German ambassador
succeeded as dean of the foreign repre-
sentatives, and his wife continued as doy-
enne. As such the German group was dis
tinctly at the front, not only in precedence,
but in virtually directing all the inter
course of grand affairs. Even in the or
binary official meetings with the cabinet
ministers, representatives Of the two hos
tile groups were brought together in such
a wey that separate audience rooms had
to be hastily found in order to avoid q
clash, but all this is now overcome by the
establishment Of different hours and DAYS
for all the groups.
Even the national and religious festi-
walls are undergoing change because Of
neutrality. The kings birthday celebration
was given up this year. Usually il i at
tended by a grand reception of all the for
e,gn representatives ut the royal palace,
with gala performances and popular dem
onstrations and bull fights. But all this
was omitted this year a ii was clear all
the foreign representatives could not be
brought together for one common repoicing.
The lenten festivals also, which are usually
observed with great ceremony in Spain,
ere now much restricted for the same rea
son of neutrality.
One of the most curious Of these cere-
monies is usually on Thursday of the last
week of lent, when the king washes the feet
Of twelve poor men at the palace. 1t j.
called the lavatorio, is a symbol of humil-
ity, and is open TO the public who crowd
the palace to witness this unusual scene.
But this year the ceremony is omitted, as
it would bring together the two opposing
war elements.
The need for this strict observance was
made plain by several incidents. Before
the new rules came into force there was a
reception at which all the ambassadors Of
one of the central powers and Lord Y, the
ambassador of an entente power. There
was n moments hesitation, and then the
entente ambassador, TO relieve the strain,
smilingly extended his hand. But Prince
X, instead of taking the hand, carried his
own hand behind his back. Whereupon
the entente ambassador, not to be embar-
raised by the ~affront, increased his smile
into a hearty laugh, and remarked:
'Oh, | had quite forgotten We were at
war"
There has been only two elements to
keep apart up to the rupture of relations
between the United States and Germany,
but this introduced a third element of
countries which had broken relations but
not gone TO war. This break of relations
kept the ambassadors apart as much as
the actual existence of war. The need for
separate audiences was made evident on
the night word was received here recently
that the United States had broken relations
with Germany and given Coun Bernstorft
his passports. On that night the Ameri-
can and the German ambassadors here had
appointment ut the same hour and place
with the president of the council. There
was q hurried Encouragement Of hours when
word zane of the breach between America
and Germany.
After that the new rules for separate
days and hours for the three elements
were scrupulously observed. But with all
the precoution, Spain is finding that the
important role of chief neutral, while hav-
ing its advantages, is attended also with
many difficulties.
electromagnetic are used for coupling
and switching railroad cars in Berne.