New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-03
BRITAIN'S NEW ENVOY.
Il CORDIAL GREETING.
ambassador Durand ReceiUcd by
President Roosevelt.

Washington. Dec. Sir Henry Mortimer
nurand the successor of Sir Michael Henry
Herbert as the ambassador of Great Britain TO
the United States was formally received by
President Roosevelt at the white House at 2:3O
o'clock this afternoon. In accordance with Gus
tom Colonel Thomas W. Synons. the Presidents
military aid called at the British Embassy for
the ambassador in the Presidents state car
rage. and escorted him to the White House.
Members Of the embassy staff followed I'm other
carriages. The ambassador was received by
Secretary Hay and conducted TO the Blue Room.
where he introduced to the President and
Secretary Loeb. Ambassador Durand pre-
scented his credentials President Roosevelt
and received with great cordially. The
formal exchange Of addresses then occurred. the
speeches being notably felicitous and gracious.
siT Mortimer addressed the President as follows:
Mr. President: have the honor to inform you
that King Edward VII my august sovereign,
has directed ne 10 present TO you In person this
letter accreciting me his ambassador to the
United States of America His majesty has
further directed me 10 assure you OF his earnest
desire that the friendly relations which exist
between the United States and Great Britain
may be maintained and strengthened, and
have received his majesty's command to keep
this object constantly in view.
/ am deeply conscious. Mr. President. of the
responsibility laid upon me, and I am we'll aware
how hard it Will be for me TO prove worthy of
The high mission with which I have been
with a warm admiration for, but without any
personal knowledge OF, the great nation
which you have been called TO preside; and
feel my lneXperlence the more keenly because
succeed British Ambassador here who
had passed q considerable part Of his life in this
country, whose sympathies with your people
were therefore based upon thorough under
standing, and, 1 may add, whose singular charm
Of character endeared him to all who knew him.
! can only say, Mr.. President, that with Gods
help VIII 90 my pest 10 carry out the outy
iutrusted TO me No duty could be more in &C
cord with my wishes. and it will be very real
happiness, when my work here comes to an end
II / can feel that l have been able TO help, how
ever little, in bringing about an increase Of the
good viii between our two nations believe
that upon that good viii depends in no small
degree the welfare of the world
In reply, the President said:
Mr.. Ambassador: It affords me sincere graft
6cation TO receive from your hands the letter
whereby His Majesty King Edward VII ac-
credits you as his ambassador to the United
States Of America.
Through you, the personal representative of
your sovereign, cordially reciprocate his ma
jesty's desire that friendship and good Will be-
tween our two countries shall be strengthened
and perpetuated, and with the concurrent
efforts of the American government doubt not
that success. will attend your endeaVors TO full
III his majesty's desire to this beneficial end
Following, as you do Mr.. Ambassador in the
steps Of one whose genial sympathy with
people and whose intimate knowledge Of this
country stood him in good stead by enabling
him TO gain the confidence and esteem of this
government and to win the affection of all with
whom ne was brought INTO association l cannot
doubt that you, being inspired by the same good
purposes and animated by the same kindly feel
ings viii achieve no less than did your lamented
predecessor and merit equally with him the
high regard Of this government and Of my coun-
trynen. II is fitting that this should be- and
that, mindful of the ties Of kinship and speech,
moved by like aspirations Of progress in the
paths OF peace and sharing reverential trust
in the Almighty will that guides destinies,
our two nations and peoples, through their
ministering agencies. should strive to reach a
harmonious accord in all that affects their COM
mon interests.
AT the close Of the ceremony. which was brief,
Ambassador Durand chatted informally with
the President before returning to the embassy.