The Washington herald., 1906-12-24
POLITICS IN RECALL
Durand's Leaving Not Cred
tied to WOman'S Gossip.
HIS PARTY NOW OUT OF POWER
Holds Esteem of American People,
Because of His Democratic Man
toms Of This COuntry-ErroneOu
Reports Are DisprOven.

Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, King Ed
wards Ambassador in washington. is
maintaining a digniied silence in regard
10 the many reports that are being circu-
/ lated as to the reasons for his recall
/ from this Capital. Those who know him
( find nothing surprising in this attitude.
/ for the British envoy is first and last a
gentleman, and he has a proper regard
/ for the pToprieties surrounding his Off
cial status as the representative Of a
great power.
! According to current rumOr. a woman
/ is at the bottom Of his withdrawal from
the United States. Whether this is true.
/ the very fact that a woman's name has
/ been connected with the matter is suffi-
cient reason for the attitude Of the Am
/ bassador In declining 10 discuss the sub
( ject.
/ The woman in the case is Lady Susan
Townley wife Of Walter Beaupre Town
ley, the British Minister to Brazil Mr.
/ Townley was stationed here as counselor
/ Of the British Embassy for part Of the
/ time that Sir Henry Mortimer Durand
was Ambassador. The Lady Susan is sis
/ ter to the Earl OF Albemarle and a mem
/ Der Of a family close TO the London for
eign Office and King Edward. knowledge
/ Of her influential and prominent family
connections and her differences with the
/ British Ambassador and his wife. with
some additional knowledge Of things that
were said by Lady Susan has been re-
garded in Washington as a sufficient
/ evidence Of the truth Of the reports that
/ the recall Of the Durands was due TO the
/ Earl OF Albemarle's sister.
Politics and Not Gossip Responsible.
As a matter Of fact there is nothing
[ TO show that the gossip which the Lady
Susan is supposed to have started in Eng
/ land concerning the Ambassador has any
thing 10 Go with his recall There were
/ private personal reasons why Sir Mortimer.
as he IS generally called here. wanted 10
return 20 England. Furthermore. Sir
Mortimer is a Conservative. while the
present ruling party in Great Britain is
/ Liberal. and politics plays an important
part IN the assignment Of Englaud's diplo-
matte Representatives. I'm spite of the
/ opinion 10 the contrary. Nobody here
familiar with the manner in which Sc
/ leCtions for British diplomatic missions
are made doubts for an instant that the
appointment Of James Bryce as Ambas-
saGor 10 the United States was due to
/ his knowledge ofAmerican institutions and
I the high opinion held of him in this country
1 Mr.. Bryce is not a member of the
1 permanent diplomatic service Of Great
+ Britain. Neither was Lord Pauncefote.
/ Of Preston, who was Ambassador here
. for M ~. rH.a-
| been a judge in the far East. and AZ the
/ time Of his appointment 10 the Wash
I ington mission was an under secretary
/ OF state for foreign affairs Sir Michael
1 Herbert, who succeeded Lord Pauncefote,
and who died while filing the Washing
ton mission. was a member of the diplO-
matte service. but he owed his transfer TO
Washington To the fact that he knew
( President Roosevelt and had influential
relatives close 20 King Edward
Townley Talk InconseguentiaI.
It is a matter OF common knowledge
/ in Washington that there were differ
Iences between Sir Mortimer Durand and
[ the Townleys. II is said that the Ambas-
sador, as the officially accredited repre-
sentative Of a foreign government at this
Capital, felt obliged to resent the fast
I
/ Der Of his official stan on the personal
characteristics of President Roosevelt and
other public men. This. it is declared.
| caused resentment on the part of Lady
Susan. but those IN q position TO know
are satisfied that anything that was said
about Sir Mortimer and Lady Durand
when she returned TO England had moth
/ ing whatever TO do with Sir Mortimer's
recall
There have been indications that Ger
tain London newspapers, fond Of gossip
ing about the personal ms and outs of
/ government affairs, were melted to make
reflections on Sir Mortimer Durand by
information conveyed 10 them from a
prejudiced source. All that has been said
to the British Ambassadors discredit
however. is not of a serious character
Most people would regard ii idle and
silly.
II has been charged that he was not
as close 20 President Roosevelt as Baron
Speck Won Sternburg, Emperor Williams
Ambassador. This is U.QuestiOnable
Baron SteTnbuTg was an Intimate friend
of Mr. Roosevelt when both were in
Washington in subordinate capacities
They were In the habit Of taking long
walks together, climbing cliffs along the
Potomac. and enjoying themselves as
strenuous men will In the days Of their
youth. Il is true also that Sir Mortimer
Durand did not play tennis on the White
House court, where his diplomatic col
league. Mr.. Jusserand, the French Am
bassadOr is seen frequently.
In Sympathy with Americans.
But If he did not climb cliffs or play ten
MS With the President. as some English
journals seem to think he should have
done to be successful in Washington. Sir
Mortimer managed to win the regard and
esteem Of the greater portion of the
Americans with whom he came in contact
through his democratic manner and his
outspoken liking for American men and
women. He showed himself to be a man
of simple tastes. fond Of skating. horse
back riding, and other forms of outdoor
exercise. He was seen frequently taking
long walks with a big St Bernard dog.
to which he was greatly attached Those
who came to know him found that he
was student, a man Of widespread
knowledge. and able to hold his own on all
disputed questions before the public His
manner was digniied, but never cold. No
man of his rank IN Washington was more
approachable, and it is claimed by his
friends that his greatest fault was
natural dlffidence which served to some
extent to hide the feelings of a kindly
and considerate heart.
One Of the stories that has been going