Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-25

horace ". Knowles, legal adviser TO the
Haitian Commission, had filed protest
with the Government against further mill
tary occupation of Haiti by United States
Marines.
King Peter and Horace G. Knowles thir-
teen years ago were the two angles OF a
diplomatic triangle Of which l unwittingly
happened to be the third.
My part in the episode was innocent and
wholly unprecedented. And yet 1t came
very near producing serious diplomatic
rumpus between the two countries.
King Peter Of Serbia, a grouchy, self
important and sullen old monarch, was, at
that period Of his career, as touchy as an
exposed nerve in decayed tooth.
HORACE G. KNOWLES is Della
IL warean. He is a member Of the bar
in Wilmington. He still holds it as his
For q dozen years or more he was In the
diplomatic service Of the Government.
In zoos he was Minister to Rumania.
His official headquarters were in Bucha-
resdt.S rest kumasa IN though he was also ac
Five years previous King Alexander and
Queen Draga Of Serbia had been brutally
assassinated and their bodies flung from the
windows of the old palace in Belgrade.
When Peter came to the throne he not
only admitted the murderers to his councils
but even permitted them to wear the white
cross displayed as evidence of their par
ticipation in the assassination.
For this reason, for some years after
reaching the throne. he was ostracized by
the Governments of Europe.
1t was case of Carranza and Mexico In
the Balkans.
''If. in your travels. you ever get over
my way be sure to drop in on me- said
Horace G. Knowles one night in 1907 in
Wilmington at the close Of a lecture.
We had known each other for years.
He had called to inform me of his selec-
tion as Minister TO Rumania; to say
good-by, too, for our paths were as widely
divergent as our wanderings.
THE summer of 1908, oddly enough, found
lfme with three members Of my family
in Belgrade, capital Of Serbia.
We had toured the Western Balkans and
were on our way to Bulgaria
Max X. Moorchcad of Pittsburgh, was
American Consul in Belgrade.
l telegraphed Minister Knowles in
inquired If he expected to be in Belgrade
within the ensuing few weeks.
He replied that he intended leaving Buch-
Arrest within ten days for the Serbian capital
and would meet us there.
announced this fact to Consul Moorehcad
and his wife at lunch the following day
at the consulate.
It was Minister Knowles first appearance
in Belgrade. OF course, his presentation to
King Peter would undoubtedly be part Of
his visit.
Consul Moorehead informally communi.
Gated the contents of my telegram to the
palace officials: 1t was not an official COM
the recognition of the American Minister,
instantly fixed date for his reception.
Meantime I proceeded on to Bulgaria.
In Sofia. the capital Of Bulgaria. I re-
ceiyed telegram. from Minister Knowles
saying that his visit to Belgrade would have
to be delayed for week and for me not to
hurry back to Belgrade.
Having completed our Bulgarian tour we
returned to Belgrade to find beautiful
diplomatic mess sinmering in the big gray
stone palace.
CONSUL MAX MOOREHEAD mean.
~ time had received an official telegram
from the American Minister announcing his
intention to visit Belgrade
This was n week later than the date he
named in his private telegram to me.
The coming OF the American Minister was
a ray of sunlight in the gloom that over
hung the Ostracized Serbian court.
King Peter had, metaphOricaly, been
booted out Of European royal circles Now
the United States was to recognize him and
1t was big red feather in his chapeau.
When Consul Moorehead. therefore, car
ried the official news that Minister Knowles
would arrive week later than expected,
officialdom in the gray palace turned flip
fon;
There was no occasion for any demonstra-
ton.
The telegram to Consul Moorehead was
official. The first telegram to me was per-
sonnl. Its contents should not have been
used as basis for any official action
TING PETER flew into rage Within
1A twenty four hours Consul Moorehead
was informed that the recenton to the
American Minister was postponed indef-
nitely.
1t was hintcd that date for his prcsenta-
tion had been fixed in accordance with the
previous notification.
Now that the Minister had found it con-
venient to disregard the etiquette of the
court and postpone his coming his Majesty
found it impossible to fix any definite date
upon which to meet the American Minister
That was the fact. though it was not
expressed in snch an undplomatic way.
Consul MoOrehead communicated the facts
to Bucharest Minister Knowles had, how
ever, started for Belgrade.
The night Of his arrival in the Serbian
capital Consul and Mrs. Moorehead. with
the members Of my party, had arranged a
reception and dinner at the Grand Hotel.
The cafe was brilliant with lights, and
the varied and picturesque uniforms of
Serbian officers and the cleaning shoulders
Of the rather daring decollette of Serbian
ladies Of the upper class.
\ Hungarian gypsy orchestra crashed out
jerky jazz-like music.
None Of our party was in evening dress
We occupied a table at the far end of the
cafe. I had posted the head waiter and the
instant Mr.. Knowles appeared at the en-
trance with his wife our party rose to its
feet.
There was vast crnning of necks and
quiet chatter ms the Minister followed the
ObscQuious lackey down the wide aisle and
shook hands heartily with all Of us.
! fancy American stock fell good many
points in those few moments.
The idea Of IN Ambassador or Minister
appearing in a travelling costume of gray
tweed.
The eight Americans at the table there,
the only representatives of the United States
in Serbia that night outside the mission.
aries, had mighty good time for strangers
in strange land despite the comment and
curious inspection.
HING PETER was stiff -necked and re-
~ fused to receive the American Minister
His dignity had been hurt lie fancied |
think, that the American Minister had pur-
posely sighted him, just as all Europe had
done
The incident assumed n serious air at last
Mr. Knowles was compelled to make reDre-