The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-26
The Great Choate-Reid Duel.

notentiarv near the Court OF st. James's
concerning the proper behavior OF
diplomat assigned to the particular post
which he Is about to occupy
The nomination Of Mr.. WHITELAW
REID as Ambassador was sent by Presi-
dent ROOSEVELT to the Senate on Mon
day. March @. On Wednesday, March 8.
the nomination was confirmed with a
promptitude and unanimity indicating
eagerness on the part OF the Sehate 10
secure for the country Mr.. RElD'sservices
at London. Seventy-nine days have
elapsed since the date OF continuation,
and the Ambassador is yet bidding us
farewell, prior to his actual departure.
The limit prescribed by Section TAO Of
the Revised Statutes for preparation
and the receipt Of instructions. during
which new diplomatic officer is entitled
to compensation for his services, Is
thirty DAYS, plus the time needed for
direct transit between the place OF his
residence, when appointed. and his post
of duty. In Mr.. REDS case this addi-
tional time allowance, with compensa-
ton, would be about one week, making
thirty-seven or ,hrty-eight days in all.
Az we have observed, it is seventy-nine
days since the Senate confirmed his
nomination.
No one will understand us as intimatins
by means of the foregoing computation
that Ambassador REID is laggard in the
matter OF assuming his important diplo-
matic functions near the Court OF st.
Jamas's, or that in any sense he has been
subordinating public duty to private
convenience. On the contrary. we sim
oerely believe that the delay has been
irksome to him. He would like to be at
his post. He Is impatient to begin the
task assigned to him by the President
and the Senate. 1t is not only an honor
able post, but also one that is exceedingly
coneenial to his tastes and talents. There
is not . suspicion Of Sinking or pro-
crsstination on the part OF Mr.. REID;
his fellow citizens may be sure that he
would have been in London weeks ago
but for the singular circumstance that
the date of his departure was not de-
terminAble by his own volition. He has
been morally poweress to sail for the
scene Of his future usefulness until some
body on the other side Of the Atlantic
was ready to have him come, We refer
to Ambassador REDS predecessor, the
Hon. JOSEPH HODGES CHoATE
During the seventy nine days since Mr..
REIp's confirmation, Mr.. CHoATE, also.
has been busy with leave-takngs His
friends in Great Britain, official, social
and personal, have heaped honors upon
him in fashion that must have con-
WINGED the retiring Ambassador that
there was nothing perfunctory in this
hearty and prolonged farewell 1t is
an Unprecedented evidence of the popu-
larity which an American Ambassador
can earn in Great Britain without truck
ling and without compromising in the
slightest either his own personal dignity
or the interests Of his Government. No
wonder Ambassador CHoATE has been 80
long in getting away!
Here, too, there is naught to criticize.
Admirable service during six years Of
ambassadoral activity near the Court
of st. James's has certainly entitled Mr.
CHoATE to fix his own time for departure,
dentally fixed also the date of his sue
cessor's advent Mr.. CHoATE has ac-
cordingy, proceeded leisurely from
town to town, from country house to
country house, from square mahogany
to round mahogany, charming every
body by his calm cheerfulness, oratorical
graces and amenity Of manner, and MAX
ing the British Islands sorrer than ever
that he is about to leave.
Having contemplated this agreeable
picture of tranquil and deliberate leave
taking we are perhaps better able to
appreciate the Hon. WHITELAw REDS
ideas on the subject of the demeanor
that BELTS an American Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipo,entiary in
England. Al the Republican Clubs
dinner on Tuesday evening MIR. REID,
after abiding to "the laureled and ra-
diant CHoATR," earnestly directed at
tention to the circumstance that nobody
can recall single notable speech ever
made abroad by 1.-The silent BENJAMIN
Colonies, or of those earlier Ministers
of the Republic, JOHN JAY and CHARLES
FRANCIS ADAMS He also expressed
the just opinion that the most injurious
and most treacherous fault an Ambas-
sador can commit is to imperil the inter-
ests OF his own country, whether merely
through judgment warped by the subtle
influence Of his foreign associations or in
the deliberate hope OF remaining persona
ordta in the country in which he tempo
rarily resides" And he reminded his
hearers that although neither JOHN JAY
nor CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS was ex-
actly jollier, and perhaps neither
was at the moment exuberantly popular
In the capital to which he vas accredited
they retired with the sincere respect of
both countries, deserve to be honorably
remembered in the annals Of both, and
are sure at least Of lasting names and
the gratitude of coming generations in
the Land they served"
Mr.. REID further took the trouble to