Wilson Apology For Envoy's Act.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 15, 1913:
President Expresses Regret to England for Ambassador's Attack on Foreign Office.
STERN REBUKE TO DIPLOMAT
Administration Sorry That the American Official Was Guilty of Such Impropriety.
LIND HAS PLAN FOR MEXICO
Went There with Written Instructions Covering Washington's Peace Proposal to Huerta.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, Aug. 14.— Through Walter H. Page, the American Ambassador in London, President Wilson expressed regret to-day to the British Government for the statements made yesterday in a communication to the press by Henry Lane Wilson, the American Ambassador to Mexico. In that communication Ambassador Wilson said he doubted that the British Foreign office was responsible for a statement cabled to American newspapers asserting inferentially that the Huerta Government had been recognized by Great Britain because Ambassador Wilson had made a congratulatory address to Gen. Victoriano Huerta on the General's accession to the Provisional Presidency of Mexico.
    This unusual action by the Administration was intended as a rebuke to the Ambassador to Mexico. To show that it was so intended Secretary Bryan gave the following statement to reporters:
    A copy of the telegram to the American Embassy was sent to Ambassador Wilson. Mr. Bryan added that the President does not go further at this time because he takes it for granted that the action which he has been obliged to take in this matter will be to him a sufficient reminder of his official duties.
    The apology made by President Wilson to the British Government was contained in the following cable message to Ambassador Page in London:

President Wilson's Apology.
    The interview given to the press yesterday by Mr. Henry Lane Wilson, whose resignation as Ambassador to Mexico has been accepted, to take effect Oct. 14, having been brought to the President's attention, he directs me to request you to call at the British Foreign Office and say to Sir Edward Grey that he disclaims all responsibility for Mr. Wilson's action in the matter, and for the language employed by him in his interview, and that he regrets exceedingly that a diplomatic official in the employ of this Government should have been guilty if such an impropriety. BRYAN.
    The transmission of the message of regret followed an inquiry conducted by the State Department to ascertain whether the statement cabled from London and printed in American newspapers on Wednesday morning had been given out officially by the British Foreign Office. That inquiry was made through the British Embassy in this country, which cabled to London for particulars. The dispatch of Secretary Bryan to Ambassador Page was sent when the response was received.
    Although officials of the State Department, following their present policy of excessive reticence, gave no information as to the character of the response from London to the inquiry as to the genuineness of the statement attributed to the Foreign Office, it was said to-night that the explanation of the British Government in regard to the circumstances under which the Huerta Administration was recognized by Great Britain, Germany and France was obtained by Ambassador Page from Sir Edward Grey, the British Minister for Foreign Affairs and communicated to the press by Mr. Page. There is no official confirmation of this assertion.

Interview Angered President.
    President Wilson and Secretary Bryan were angry when they learned last night of the prepared interview given to the newspapers late yesterday afternoon by Ambassador Wilson in Washington. They took exception particularly to the Ambassador's assertion that he doubted the genuineness of the statement cabled from London, because it seemed to be contrary to the traditions which the British Foreign Office had adhered for 200 years. Furthermore, they regarded it as a breach of diplomatic etiquette and a direct slap at Great Britain for the Ambassador to Mexico to say that "the action of the Government of Great
    Britain (in not recognizing the Huerta Government) was not in the slightest degree affected by the so-called congratulatory speech made by me on behalf of the Diplomatic Corps."
    In the statement cabled from London it had been intimated broadly that Germany and France had followed the example of Great Britain in recognizing Huerta on account of that congratulatory address by Ambassador Wilson. In his prepared interview the Ambassador said the congratulatory speech was drawn by the British and Spanish Ministers in Mexico City at the request of the entire resident diplomatic corps, and that he purposely had declined responsibility for the wording.
    Ambassador Wilson also said that for more than a month after the reception at which the speech was made "the British Government maintained an attitude of hostility toward the Government of Gen. Huerta, and when final recognition was accorded it came as the result of a complete reversal of policy."
    President Wilson and Secretary Bryan regarded those statements as indiscreet and as a reflection on the Government of a friendly nation. Early in the day, after a conference between the President and the Secretary of State, Mr. Bryan set his inquiry on foot.

Dismissal Rumor Denied.
    It was reported this morning that the President and the Secretary of State were of the opinion that Ambassador Wilson should be dismissed from the Diplomatic Service. The offending official still is Ambassador to Mexico, on a leave of absence of two months, which was begun to-day, and which will end with his retirement on Oct. 14. It was learned to-night, however, that at no time did the President consider the advisability of dismissing the Ambassador, although there is a strong suspicion that he would have done so had he deemed it expedient.
    Thereby hinged a phase of the incident which, although not supported by official evidence, was a subject of gossip in Washington to-night. The story ran that officials of the Administration believed that should the Ambassador be dismissed at this time, he would give information to the House of Representatives concerning the situation in Mexico, past and present, which might embarrass the Administration in its efforts to restore peace south of the Rio Grande.
    Certain persons here are of the opinion that the Ambassador is just as eager to quit the diplomatic service as the Administration is to have him go.
    Ambassador Wilson dined at the Chevy Chase Club and spent the evening there, returning to his hotel in the city at 11 o'clock to find there the note from Secretary Bryan inclosing a copy of the cablegram to Ambassador Page, and Mr. Bryan's short statement to the press. The Ambassador carefully read the cablegram and the statement without making any comment. When asked if he desired to make a statement in regard to them, he said he did not, but intimated he might have something to say on the subject to-morrow. He had a conference this evening with Senator William Alden Smith of the Foreign Relations Committee.
    Mr. Wilson added that he could not say when he would be able to leave Washington and take his vacation, but he hoped to do so in a few days. He still has a great deal of business with the State Department before he can get away. He has not decided what his movements will be in the next two months.
    The statement by the Constitutionalist junta in New York charging Ambassador Wilson with having obtained a large commission for promoting the claim for indemnity to China for Chinese killed in Mexico was called to his attention. He read the dispatch giving an account of the charges and said:
    "So the Junta will not give out any details. That isn't bad. There are no details. That is all an old story and a dead horse. I have no more to say about it."