Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-08-28
Excuses That DO Not Explain.

Excuses That DO Not Explain.
Acting Secretary OF State Castle. again
functioning as the administration ex-
palmer. tells the country that the reason
he answered the Communication Of Gov
ernor Roosevelt, Of New York. to President
Hoover in a chatty letter addressed to
Dear Frank" was that the Governors
message was written under a false premise.
The inference is that he wished to set him
right in friendly personal way.
Considering that the public had been
informed variously that the Governors
letter had not been received that it was
under consideration and finally that it had
been referred to the State Department in
asmuch as i, concerned matters between
this country and Canada. Mr.. Castles eluci-
dation leaves much to be desired. There
was nothing informal about Gov. Roose-
velt's inquiry Of the President. Ii was
strictly official matter. sppertaining to the
proposed St. lawrence canal project in
which New York has vast interest and
the alleged false premise" was that nego-
tiations were under way between our
Federal Government and that OF Canada
Governor Roosevelt was not acting in the
capacity Of Dear Frank" but as the Chief
Executive Of State. looking out for the
interest of that State in accordance with
his official duties incidentally the alleged
inaccuracy Of the Governors information
appears to be diplomatic technicality
that the lay mind has difficulty in under
standing. There we're communications be.
tween the representatives Of the two gov
ernments on the subject. Mr.. Castle men,
tons in his explanation that Minister Her
ridge Of Canada on his last visit indicated
that be would take up the subject actively
on his return to Canada. Obviously the
matter must have been broached to him
by our officials. In fact. among the nu-
merous and contradictory statements on
the matter are several admissions that
there have been discussions Of the boun-
Diary canal project between government
officials OF both countries. These have, of
course. been intefspersed with denials, but
The denials have been no more numerous
than the admissions. and neither more nor
less authoritative.
The country 5 naturally puzzled at this
furtiveneos about perfectly legitimate
transaction. There can be no legitimate
occasion for secrecy in the diplomatic ex-
change relative to the power project. and
no creditable reason why perfectly jusIi-
fed inquiry from the Governor OF New
York 10 the President Of the United States
should have fultered our Government into
such a maze Of evasions. contradictions.
and-when the facts could no longer be
cOEcealed-labored explanations.
The Washington Herald thinks there is a
clue in the circumstance that member Of
Secretary OF State Stimsons former law
firm is director Of the corporation charged
with trying to block Governor Rooseyelt's
plans for bringing the ST. Lawrence power
plant under the jurisdiction of the State
Power Authority
The Washington Daily News comments
ION the basis Of the record the average
citizen is apt to think the White House and;
State Department were guilty Of deliberate
deception" The News adds we do not
make that charge because we have no way
Of knowing the intent and motive Of the
official involved" This paper. however.
pointed out that If the country is to trust
White House statements, the President
must clear away the doubts, regardless OF
who was responsible. The only answer to
this is the latest jug-handled Castle expla-
nation.
The episode, following as il does the
wobbly utterances Of the White House in
reference to such subjects as the Wicker
sham reports. the Treasur, deficit and the
extent of unemployment. suggests some
thing very wrong about the system in vogue
IN the Presidents office Il may only reflect
an attitude Of uncertainty, that has been
the occasion Of frequent comment, or be
the result Of the Hoover multiplicity of
secretaries. who do not coordinate very
well.
Whatever the reason. one thing we do
know is that no administration in this
country's history had to do so much explain
ing. or was so unfortunate in presenting
excuses that do not explain.