Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-04-28
ROLE PLAYED BY
SPAIN NOT JOLLY ONE
For Country to Sit Around as
Chief Neutral Among War
ring Nations Not Easy.
SOME SHARP LINES DRAWN

Correspondence OF The Associated Press.y
Madrid, Spain, April Now that
Spain has taken the center Of the
stage as the foremost neutral, follow
ing the break of relations between the
United States and Germany, il is find
ing that the role of the chief neutral
is not altogether happy one. There
is added honor and prestige as the
Intermediary between all the various
capitals, but here at Madrid the repre-
sentatives OF all these capitals are
ranged in so many hostile camps, with
their own champions and followers,
their own press and shades Of news
and gossip, their own policies, in
rigues and wireptilling, that the gov
eminent has found it convenient and
necessary to draw a sharp line be-
tween these different groups so as to
prevent animosities and embarrass-
mcnts which might seriously inter-
fere with strict adherence to neu-
trality.
The Spanish capital is famous for
the elegance of its official receptions.
with a strict adherence to precedent
and etiquette, and with all the foreign
representatives mingling together. I'M
til recently, the British ambassador
was the dean of these foreign repre-
.sentatives, and, by chance, the wife
OF the German ambassador was doy-
enne of the wives Of ambassadors.
This created something Of strain
when the various groups assembled
and greeted each other in the strict
order of their rank.
German, Dean Of Crowd.
But when new British ambassador
arrived recently, the German ambas-
sador succeeded as dean OF the for
eign representatives, and his wife con-
tinued as doyenne. As such the Ger
man group was distinctly at the front,
not only in precedence, but in virtu-
ally directing all the intercourse of
grand affairs. Even in the ordinary
official meetings with the cabinet
ministers, representatives of the pro-
hostile groups were brought together
in such way that separate audience
rooms had to be hastily found in
order to avoid a clash. but all this is
now overcome by the establishment
of different hours and days for, all the
groups.
Even the national and religious fes.
rivals are undergoing change because
OF neutrality. The kings birthday
celebration was given up this year.
Usually it Is attended by a grand re-
ception of all the foreign representa-
tives at the royal palace, with gala
performances and popular demonstra-
tons and bull fights. But all this was
omitted this year as It was clear all
the foreign representatives could not
be brought together for one common
rejoicing. The lenten festivals also,
which are usually observed with great
ceremony in Spain, are now much re-
stricted for the same reason Of neu-
trality
No Feet Washing This Year.
One Of the most curious Of these
ceremonies is usually on Thursday of
the last week Of Lent, when the king
washes the feet Of twelve poor men
at the palace. 1t Is called the Lava
,orio, is a symbol OF humility, and is
open to the public, who crowd the
palace to witness this unusual scene.
But this year the ceremony was omit
ted, as 1t would bring together the two
opposing elements.
The need for this strict observance
was made plain by several incidents.
Before the new rules came into force
there was reception at which all the
ambassadors were assembled. This
brought together Prince X, an ambas-
sador Of one Of the central powers and
Lord y, the ambassador Of an en-
tente power. There was moments
hesitation, and then the entente am
bassador, to relieve the strain, smil-
ingly extended his hand. But Prince
y. instead of taking the hand, carried
his own hand behind his back. Where
upon the entente ambassador, not to
be embarrassed by the affront, in
creased his smile into a hearty laugh
and remarked:
"oh, ! had quite forgotten we were
at war;"
Change Their Hours.
There have been only two elements
70 keep apart up to the rupture Of re-
lations between the United States and
Germany, but this introduced third
element of countries which had
broken relations, but not gone to war.
This break OF relations kept the am
bassadors apart as much as the ac-
tual existence of war. The need for
separate audiences was made evident
on the night word was received here
that the United States had broken
relations with Germany and given
Count Bernstorff his passports. On
that night the American and German
ambassadors here had appointments
Ut the same hour and place with the
president Of the council. There was
hurried Encouragement OF hours
when word came of the breach be-
tween America and Germany.
y After that the new rules for separ-
ate days and hours for the three eie-
ments were scrupulously observed.
But with all the precautions Spain Is
finding that the important role Of chief
neutral, while having its advantages,
IS attended with many difficulties.
Sound of the Dr0ppinu Coin