The New York herald., 1922-09-03
NEWCASTLE WANTS
CONSULATE TO STAY
City Officials and Business
Men Protest Closing OF
u. s. Offices.
KNEW OF NO INQUIRY
Lord Mayor Says He Never
Heard Of Irregularities
in Viseing Passports.
WILL CONSULT COUNCIL
British Ship Plot and Anger
at American Subsidy
Bill Hinted.
WILL CONSULT COUNCIL

NEwcAsrLE-oN-TYNE. England. Sept.
2 (AsGodated Press).-Business and
shipping circles here were aroused
to-day over the closing OF the Ameri-
can Consulate, which to strike heavy
blow to the Tyne shipping business
with America and may also result in
Tyne ships. now stopping at American
ports. being directed to Canada.
Officials here are deeply concerned
over the situation. and Lord Mayor
Mulligan intends to bring the matter
before the City Council, with a view
to getting the consulate reopened. The
j Tyne Improvement Commission, which
has of5icial jurisdiction over the whole
Tyne shipping area. also is taking
action.
Municipal officials disclaim knowledge
OF any investigation and Of the charges
resulting In the withdrawal of the exc
quaturs OF Consul Slater and Vice-Con-
sui Brooks. Officials expressed intense
surprise over the whole affair, and the
general opinion seems to be that the
charges were preferred by agents OF
British steamship lines. who charged
sulate in favor Of American lines.
City Sees Blow at Prestige.
News that the consular business at
Newcastle was being transferred to
Hull has served to add Nel to the al.
ready considerable conflagration. as
business men here claim that this Will
mean not only a large monetary loss
but blow to the city's prestige.
The Lord Mayor, In discussing the
subject to-day with the correspondent.
disclaimed all knowledge of irregulari-
ties at the consulate. "It was with the
greatest SURPRISE" he said. that l
learned from the press that the con-
sulate was being closed. I have had
the happiest of associations with the
American Consuls here for the last
twenty yedrs. and particularly during
my present year of office. Only ten
days ago I had tho pleasure OF paying
an official call on Mr.. Slater and we
had a most happy interview. only
hope this is temporary difficulty
which will be got over. as It Is I'M
portant that we have consulate. both
for Newcastle and for American inter-
ests. Newcastle suffers In prestige and
dignity and the loss OF the consulate.
Moreover. the transference to Hull will
nean considerable monetary loss to
Newcastle. 1t is almost unthinkable.
l shall bring the matter before the next
meeting OF the council
Amdavit for Consulate.
The correspondent was told that John
W. Allison. who moved from Newcastle
to lo6 Paul street. Ypsilanti. Mich. had
made striking affidavit in favor OF the
consulate recently. He was said to
have booked passage on an American
liner at the suggestion Of the consulate
after his wise was granted. Later he
l. t.Az - L.
an affidavit saying he was forced to
book passage on the American line In
order to get his wise. This he declined
to do He reported the matter to Mr..
Slater. making an affidavit that he
booked passage voluntarily and that
nothing was said to him about passage
before the wise was granted.
The newspapers here are grasping
eagerly for any information on the case.
The Yorkshire Post published q remark
able article purporting to be an inter-
view with a friend of Mr. Slater, who
said Mr. Slater. while at Riga, married
a Russian lady OF noble family. who
accompanied him to a new appointment
at Nassau, Bahamas. Unable TO endure
the climate there. said the article. she |
returned to Russia and her husband had
not heard from her since the revolu-
tion. The article also said Mr.. Slater
had had mental breakdown. for which
years leave was granted.
Mr.. Slater's response to this article
was that his wife was born in Illinois, |
that he had never been in Russia, that
he had never been granted leave on ac-
count OF Illness and that his only pre-
vious post had been In Canada.
The Consul has received orders from |
London that all invoices from the New |
castle district be passed by the Consul
at Hull NO consular bills OF health |
urn
Newcastle for the United States and Ali |
ships leaving the Newcastle district |
must mail their crew lists to the Hull |
Consul for wise. This is expected to |
cause a days delay in sailinEs entail |
ing a monetary loss estimated at from |
100 to 900 day.
Sir William Noble OF Cairns, Noble a |
Co. one OF the biggest business men |
of this section and a large shipowner.
went further and told the correspondent /
that shipping would be diverted from |
this port to those having Consuls. He
was inclined TO wonder whether resent- |
ment against the American ship SUBJ
sidy bill had had anything to do with
the crisis IL so. he said. the British |
Government should disclaim any inten-
ton or desire 20 interfere with the
working of the subsidy bill.
Special Dispatch 10 THE Nkw rosK HERALD
New York Herald Burrau. |
Washington. ID. c.. sept. ..
The State Department to-day with
held comment upon the progress OF the
investigation into a complaint OF the
British Government that American Com |
suls at Newcastle England. we're pro-
noting business OF tho Shipping Board
among British subjecta
Oficiais OF the department said that
Ambassador Harvey soon is expected to
inform this Government fully concern
Ing tile matter. The Ambassadors re-
port may reach here In few days
Pending receipt OF II there will be no
discussion OF the incident, by officials
mere.
ysEADs NATIONS JEWELLERS.