Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-10-28
british Ambassador at Madrid RI Re
transferred to the United
States.
OFFICIAL Announcement Of
APPOINTMENT NOT Yet MADE
expected Monday When King Will
Ills OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of
successor to Late Sir Herbert u
surpr1se-New Representative Re-
sarded as an Astute Diplomat.

LONDON, Oct. 26.-The appointment
Oh Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, the
or1tlsh ambassador at Madrid, as Brit
ISM ambassador to the United States,
10 succeed the late Sir Michael Her.
oert' IS announced on good authority
mere. Official announcement of the
appointment, however, will not be
MADE until Monday, when the king will
formally sign his commission.
Sir Henry Durand left London Fri
Gay Tor Madrid, where, at his own de-
sire, he will personally announce his
promotion
Selection a Surprise.
The selection of Sir Henry to sue
coed Sir Michael Herbert was a sur
prise to most people here, chiefly be-
cause he has never had any official
connection with Washington
it is said that Sir Henry has fire.
quently expressed great liking for
Americans and adesire to go to the Unit
ed States. His promotion comes more
or less in the ordinary course of dip
lomatic changes, but one of the strong
est recommendations which appealed
to Foreign Secretary Lansdowne was
Sir Henry's reputation of being an ex-
cellent lawyer. A similar qualification
had much to do with the late Lord
Pauncefote's selection.
The new ambassador will speedily
bid farewell to the Spanish court and
proceed to the United States without
delay.
Lady Durand is not very strong, but
1t is hoped that the American climate
will benefit her health and enable her
TO completely fulfill her duties as host
ess of the British embassy. The
daughter of Sir Henry and Lady
Durand is much liked in Madrid So
ciety. Their son is an officer in a
lancers regiment
Others Considered for the Post.
Sir Henry Howard, the British min
lister at The Hague and LuXumberg,
and Sir Nicholas O'Connor, the Brit
ish ambassador at Constantinople,
were among others considered for the
post, but Sir Henry Durand was finally
selected as the most suitable.
While British minister to Persia Sir
5
as being the most astute diplomat
Great Britain ever sent to Teheran
In addition to his diplomatic Sue
cesses in Persia, India and Afghanis-
tan, Sir Henry is an expert shot and
had many adventures with big game
while hunting in India. where he was
closely connected with Gen. Lord Rob-
erts, now field marshal. serving as his
political secretary during the famous
Cabul campaign.
In Spanish diplomatic circles sur
prise IS expressed at Sir Henry's with
drawal from Madrid.
Sir Henry. who was born in 1850, is
a son of the late Maj. Gen. Sir Henry
Durand. He married in 1875 Fila
Reve, daughter Of Telgnmouth Sandys,
Esq, of the British civil service. Sir
Henry was appointed to the British
privy council in 1901. He is the author
of life of his father Sir Henry Du-
rand, and Of "Helen Treveryan."
A Significant Feature.
Washington. Oct. 26.-The signifi-
cant and important feature Of the Sc
lection of Sir Henry Mortimer Durand,
British ambassador at Madrid. as am
bassador to Washington is the fact
that it is the first time the British gov
ernment has sent an ambassador d.
rectly to Washington. Heretofore
WASHINGTON has been looked upon as
post ranking at the foot of the en-
bassies, hence it has been the custom
to promote minister to the embassy
to be am hassadOr here. So the action
of the British government in this case
marks a growing sense of appreciation
of the Importance of Washington as
diplomatic post
Temple of Fraternity Dedicated.