Evening star., 1940-03-22
Cromwell Incident
Closed by Rebuke,
Hull Indicates
Minister Expected Here
Today or Tomorrow
For Conference

for Conference
Secretary of State Hull indicated
at his press conference today that
his reprimand of Minister James H.
r. Cromwell for making a pro- allies
and anti-German speech in Canada
closed the matter-unless Mr.. Crom-
well does it again.
Should the millionaire diplomat of
two months service repeat the of
tense, 1t was made apparent, discip-
hnary measures Of severe type will
follow.
Secretary Hull said he had not
heard from Mr.. Cromwell following
the reprimand, and had no appoint
ment with him.
Secretary Hull, put ION the spot"
by congressional demands that Mr..
Cromwell be recalled as Minister and
the prospect of an official German
protest, issued his unusually sharp
rebuke last night soon after receiving
the text of the controversial speech
from the Legation at Ottawa.
The State Department announced
the Secretary had found that the
address contravened standing in
structlonS OF American diplomatic
officers against public discussion
OF controversial policies of other
governments.
Secretary Hull has telegraphed
his views to Mr.. Cromwell and has
asked that in the future he observe
the standing instructions, the an
nouncement added.
Speculation Rises.
There was immediate speculation
AS to whether Mr.. Cromwell would
accept the rebuke and continue in
his post There have been reports
that he planned to resign anyway
and seek the Democratic nomination
to the Senate from New Jersey.
Mr.. Cromwell, husband of Doris
Duke, tobacco heiress, said in his
speech at Toronto Tuesday he felt it
his duty to speak out against Ger
many, adding:
Upon this Interpretation of my
duties as a diplomat I am content to
risk my official head. If I be wrong,
then let the executioner be sum-
moned and WELD his AK"
His address emphasized his belief
that the philosophy of totalitarian
governments, which would prevail if
Germany won the war. means the
end of democracy and the free econ
omy on which democracy depends"
while he could see no threat to the
well-being of neutrals if the allies
won.
Such public statements by our
diplomatic representatives are like
ly to disturb the relations between
this and other governments" the
State Department announcement
last night said
When the storm Of controversy
over the address broke on Capitol
Hill Wednesday, Secretary Hull
tersely announced he had asked Mr.
Cromwell and the Legation in
Canada for an official text of the
speech. He calmly waited until he
examined it before acting, then
promptly issued the public rebuke.
Public Reaction Divided.
A sharp cleavage in public reac-
ton to Mr.. CromWellS utterances
was evident in the number of letters
received at the State Department.
About half of them criticized the
Minister, and the other half eX-
pressed approval of his statements
Mr.. Hulls reprimanding telegram
was sent to the legation at Ottawa,
although Mr.. Cromwell had gone to
HIM home in New Jersey since max
ing the controversial speech. The
Minister refused to comment on the
storm raging around his head, but
was said to plan to come here today
or tomorrow to confer with Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Mr.. Hull
The text of the State Department
announcement of Mr.. Hull's action
follows:
The Secretary of State has now
examined the text of the address
made at Toronto on March 10 by the
American Minister to Canada, Mr..
James H. R. Cromwell
COntravened Instructions.
Secretary Hull found that the ad-
dress contravened standing instruc-
tions to American diplomatic officers,
as public discussion of controversial
policies of other governments, par
ticularly with governments engaged
in war, without the prior knowledge
and OermlSSiOn of this Government
, is not in accord with such instruc-
tions. Such public statements by our
diplomatic representatives are likely