New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-25
SIR II. DURAND CHOSEN
British Ambassador at Madrid to 90
to Washington.

London. Oct 24.-The Associated Press -
able to announce the appointment Oh or he"'I
Mortimer Durand, the British Amoassaoor q"
Madrid, as British Ambassador TO the Chi'eu
States. to succeed the late Sir Michael HerDer~
Official announcement of the appointment. now
ever. will not be made until Monday, "heh '"0
King will sign his commission Sir Henry Du-
rand left London yesterday for Madrid. whsre'
at his own desire. he will personally announces
his promotion The new Ambassador will soon
bid farewell to the Spanish court and go AZ
once to the United States. In Spanish aipIo-
matte circles surprise is expressed at Sir Henrys
withdrawal from Madrid.
The selection of Sir Henry to succeed Sir
Michael Herbert was surprise 70 most people
here chiefly because he has never had any OIL
cial connection with washington. 1t is learned
that Sir Henry has frequently expressed a great
liking for Americans and desire TO so 20 the
United States His promotion comes more or
less in the ordinary course of diplomatic
changes but one of the strongest recommenda-
lions which appealed TO the Foreign Secretary.
Lord Lansdowne, was Sir Henry's reputation OF
being an excellent lawyer. A similar quaiihca-
ton had much to do with the late Lord Paunce-
totes selection While British Minister to Per-
STA Sir Henry was regarded in st. Petersburg as
being the most astute diplomat Great Britain
ever sent to Teheran-
sir Henry Howard. tne BrltlSh MAAiiSeOA ~
The Hague and Luxembourg. and Sir Nicho-
las O'Conor, the British Ambassador at Con-
stantinople were among others considered for
the post.
In addition to his diplomatic successes IN PER
sia, India and Afghanistan. Sir Henry IS an ex-
pert shot and has had many adventures with Dig
game while hunting in India.
Lady Durand is not very strong, but IL Is
hoped that the American climate will benefit her
health and enable her to fulfil her duties as
hostess Of the British embassy. The daughter
of Sir Henry and Lady Durand is much liked
In Madrid society. Their son is an officer In q
Lancer regiment.
The Right Hon. Sir Henry Mortimer Durand has
been Ambassador and Consul General of the British
Government at Madrid since 1900 He went thther
from Teheran. where he had been Minister for six
years. born in 1850. his parents being Major
General H. NJ Durand and Anna daughter of Sir
J. MCCaskiI. x. G. e. He was educated at BACK
heath School and EtOn House. TOnoridge- AFTER
being called the at LincOlnS Inn in lSI2. ne
entered the Bengal Civil Service, but later passed
TO the political department OF the Indian Gov
eminent, and assigned to the states OF Raj
putana. He political secretary TO Lord Roberts
during the Afghan war OF ls1s-h In $50 ne was
present the conference between Lord Dunerin
and the Ameer of Afghanistan and in the following
year he accompanied the Viceroy to Nandalay dur
OF the iatCns wi the Chinese the boz der OF
Thibet. after the in that country IN 1SSS. was
his task. and four years later ne was lntrusI I1
with the mission to the Ameer of Afghanistan. He
resigned the Indian Foreign SecTetaryshp In 1884 20
become Minister 70 Persia. Sir Mortimer was mar
ried in 1870 to Ella daughter OF J. Sandys OF LIN
Durand." whose History o. the First Afghan
War he edited. and OF Helen TrGvelyan