Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-12
SIMS WAS R%EPRlMANDED

SIMS WAS REPRIMANDED
In an address. delivered a few days ago Secretary
Daniels recalled the interesting fact that it is but q few
since Admiral-at that time Commander-sims. who
has 80 s~plendidly upheld the best traditions Of the naval
service in his handling Of the American fleet in European
waters during our participation in the war. was officially
and publicly reprimanded under the direction OF a presi-
dent Of the United States for remarks which he had made
injudiciously and improperly on a public occasion.
The offense was committed at a dinner given to some
500 ,eamen under command of Commander Sims by the
mayor Of London on December 3. 1910. In respond
ing to the lord mayors address Of welcome. the American
officer said:
II the time ever comes when the British empire
is seriously menaced by an external enemy. 1t is my
opinion that you may count upon every man. every dol
lar, every drop Of blood Of your kindred across the
For this the officer was reprimanded by order OF
President Taft. The following is quoted from the letter
to the secretary Of the navy directing the 'reprimand to
be made:
An important part of the education OF a naval
officer, therefore, is instruction in international law
and diplomatic usage. He is under special obligation
to see to it that what he does or says shall not en-
barrass his government in its foreign relations.
Whenever he is called upon in a foreign country
to make a speech in public, 50 that what he says will
necessarily be brought to- the attention of the people
of other foreign countries, 1t is his obvious duty to
avoid invidious comparisons and to limit his speech
and his expression of friendship for the country
whose guest he is, to language that will not indicate
a lack Of friendship toward other countries.
am aware that upon the sudden spur of the mo-
ment and under the enthusiasm of a cordial welcome,
grateful words crowd to the lips of the guest. the
whole effect Of which it may be difficult for him to
measure. It should be-. however, the business and
training of a naval officer under such an impulse to
restrain himself within the limits OF diplomatic in
tercourse. To depart from 1t is not only to blunder.
but a fault for which his government cannot excuse
him. Commander Sims cannot escape censure on the
ground that what he said Of his personal opinion:
under the circumstances he must speak as an off,
cial representative, and he should have known tina,
the words he used would at once call for severe COM
ment in other countries than Great Britain and might
involve this country in explanation and disclaimer.
involve this government in explanation and disclairn-
And now this officer has just been made a full ad
niral Of our navy for distinguished service in a war which
brought into play most impressively that cordial cooper
alton of which he had spoken but a few years ago. 1t
true, az Secretary Daniels points out, that the Unite
States did not enter this war in defense of Great Britain
1t was rather a war in which the two nations acted joint
ly, with others. in defense of the great principles Of lib
erty. 1t is a further satisfaction to note that the recor
which has been made by Admiral Sims justifies the &C
ton of the government in not permitting a single error Q
judgment, such as that described, to initiate against tn
future progress of a gallant and capable officer.