Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08
CONTINUED From First Fagel

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matte circles in Washington for many
years, up to the middle of the last GEN.
fury. At one time three foreign Minis
ters were involved in disputes over
what some members Of Congress called
table manners"
Court Dress an Issue.
How representatives of the United
States at foreign courts disturbed the
surface of diplomacy for many years
When william L. Marcy was Secretary
Of State he sent a circular to all our
Ministers and consuls abroad to avoid
pretentiouS uniforms and to appear in
the garb of plain American citizens"
He did not define what that plain attire
should be and the ENJOYS were at sea.
The circular was printed in the London
newspapers, where 1t excited unfavor-
able and jocose comment, and caused
much embarrassment to James Buch-
anan, then American Minister.
He had been invited to an affair at
which he had to be presented to Queen
Victoria. Finally he compromised by
wearing an evening dress suit, far from
plain, and a black hilted, black-scab-
barded court sword. For many years
remarks on whether or not American
Ambassadors or Ministers should wear
silk knee breeches and stockings at
court have tended to disturb the
solemnity Of nations.
A trouble-maker from his youth was
Pierre Soule, French by birth, who after
a stormy career ia Europe, came to this
country. He studied law in New Orleans
and eventually became Senator. Prest-
dent Pierce in 1853 sent him as Minister
to Spain, with The special commission
negotiating for tfls purchase of the
Island of Cuba by the United States.
How Soule could have been expected to
be acceptable 70 any European mon
archy 1t Is difhcult to imagine. He had
been exiled frcm France for con-
spiracy against Louis XVIII and after
having been pardoned got into Difficult
ties again by criticizing the ministry of
Charles K. IndiScreetly, he had per-
nitted the object of his mission to
become known and his reception at
Madrid was cool.
Remark Led to Duel.
At ball q remark made by the Duke
Of Alva was overheard by Soule's son,
who deeply resented 1t and challenged
that Spanish nobleman to q duel. The
new American Minister then challenged
the French Ambassador whom he held
responsible for what was said, as the
incident took place under the roof of
the embassy of France. The Ambassa-
dor was badly wounded in the encou1ter
and made q cripple for life. The Duke
Of Alva had insisted that his remark
was harmless and o few words over
heard by the younger Soule had been
misinterpreted.
Soule, not faring wen in his negotia-
tons was instructed to proceed to
Ostend to confer with two other Amer
lean Ministers, James Buchanan, then
in England, and John Y. Mason, sta
toned in France. The conference was
adjourned to Aix-la-Chapelle, but the
document issued by the trio was known
as thu "Ostend Manifesto" It was to
all appearances drafted by soule and
NAV b considered q marvel Of indis-
creEon. Its keynote was that II Spain
declined to sell Cuba the United States
was Justified In taking it by force
Spain naturally refused the 500, 000, 900
offered.
Drew Republican Attack.
The document was fiercely attacked
In 1855 by the then young Republican
party, and its sentiment was expressed
as Steal Cuba II you can't buy it." In
high dudgeon Soule washed his hands
of the whole affair. An eloquent man
and Q rivalanA WetSteTT and Henry Clay
as an orator. his utGerances stirred
trouble In every direction and often
drew others into embarrassing situa-
tons
Statesmen of the greatest caution are
often betrayed into difficulties by cas-
ual or humorous remarks made at
public and even private dinners. When
Edward VII was Prince of Wales, he
visited this country in 1860 and was en-
tertained at a dinner in Albany. One
Of the British party, the Duke Of New
castle, reported on his return to Eng
land that william H. Seward, also a
guest, had told the prince that he
(Seward) expected soon to be called to
o high national once. I'm which case"
to give the Newcastle version Of Sew
ards remark, cit would become my duty
to insult England, and shall insult
her accordingly"
Evidently the duke did not get the
matter quite straight. Seward insisted
that he never said anything of the kind.
He became Secretary of State in the
Lincoln administration, and later in
connection with the Alabama claims