New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-09-01
U. S. inquiries
Into CHARGES s
Against Cor1sllls
Diplomatic Recognition of
Two Mem at Newcastle,
England. Is Revoked by
British; Consulate Closed
Coercion AccusationMade
Subjects of Crown Forced
to Take Shipping Board
Vessels, London Asserts

FROM Che Tributes Trashislotoa B1re4s
| WASHINGTON, Aug. 81 Il Chncellass
tion of the exequaturs OF Amerieaa
Consul Fred C. Slater and Vice Consul
Russell M. Brooks, at Newcastle, Eng,
by the British government on the
grounds that they eoerced British sub
iects to Eatronize American Shipping
| Board vessels IS being Investigated by
the State Department, it was officially
disclosed to-day. The consulate has
| beer closed by order of the Washing
! ton government.
The action Of the government of
Great Britain in withdrawing recogni-
zion in the case of the two American
officials was said to be not unprecc-
dented, and the British Foreign Office
was declared TO be wholly within its
rights to terminate the services Of any
consular Office within its borders.
Mr.. Slater has been transferred to
Corunna, Spain, and Mr.. Brooks has
been sent to Dresden, Germany, to
await the result of the investigation
which American Ambassador Harvey
has been directed TO make Of the case.
Notice of the cancellation Of the
permits was conveyed to the State De-
pertinent through Ambassador Harvey
and in communication placed before
Acting Secretary of State Phillips by
tAe British Embassy here.
Complete details Of the charge that
Consuls Slater and Brooks were un-
duly active in soliciting traffic for
American flag vessels will be sought
in the inquiry to be made by Ambassa-
dor Harvey 1t was explained that one
Of the functions of American consular
officers was to give assistance 20 legiti
mate American interests III expanding
their trade in foreign countries, just
as foreign consuls in American terri
tory represent the interests of their
nationals. 1t was said that this gov
/ ernment has been in the past con. :.
taken by The British to foreign cSnsuls
whose activities went beyond their aG-
lSthority,
LONDON, Aug. 81 fBy The Asso-
ciatei Press) The action Of the Brit
ish government in withdrawing the
axequatur of the American Cons'll at
Newcastle was taken, it is off Tally
stated, after the American government
was duly notified of such intention,
partly under the terms of the Anglo
and partly under the recognized prin-
ciple of international law that gov
ernment can withdraw the exequatur
Of foreign consuls whenever in it's
Judgment it has reasonable cause for
this.
In 1855 the American government
similarly revoked the exequaturs of
the British consuls in New York,
J Philadelphia and Cincinnati, because
! they had allegedly helped to recruit
for the British army in America. @
sThe Daily Express gives the fol-
loving account Of the tuation from
San ,Iuthoritative American source"
Request was made by the British
government a month ago that the two
! Aine rican Consuls in Newcastle be
changed for the alleged reason that
they We're using their influence to cause
holders of British passports to the
United States to travel by American
steamship lines.
at is alleged. they told passport
holders they would have an easier
time going through the customs and
immigration examination when they
landed in New York or other American
ports. An investigation was made by
Consul Leslie e. Reed, of the Consul
Generals Office in London, and. after
hearing witnesses, he reported that the
charges were Incorrect and the two
consuls had not been guilty of such
| practices.
"Nothing, therefore, was done by
the American government to remove
the consuis, and the British govern
ment, at the end Of a month from the
! time it made the chargee, Cancelled the
authority given by It to the two con-
| suls The United States government,
therefore, closed the consulate at New
out By Che consul al Hull.s