The Washington herald., 1906-11-18

Considering the peculiar relations that
exist between the United States and
Great Britain, and the extraordinary com
plexity of the questions that are continu-
ally cropping up between the two ma
tions, the post of English Ambassador
at Washington may well be regarded as
the most important Office in the diplo-
matte service Of King Edward It's in
cumbent is required to fulfill the duties
Of his mission in such manner as tC
promote harmony and good will with the
government and people TO whom he is ac-
credited. without however, sacrificing any
Of the interests confded to his care; to
execute the instructions received from
his chief. the secretary Of state for for
eign affairs In London, and 10 satisfy
those British colonies which, by reason OF
their proximity 10 the United States, are
bound TO become from time to time in
volyed In controversies with the latter.
This is never an easy matter. For some
times the interests OF the colonies clash
with those OF the mother country, while
at other times the colonies put forward
pretensions and claims upon the United
States which the imperial government in
England does not feel disposed 10 ap-
prove. Indeed, the British Ambassador at
Washington Is always exposed to the dan
ger Of being help up to obloQuy in Eng
lands North American or West Indian
dependencies for having neglected to
champion with sufficient vigOr issues
which It has been impossible to reconcile
with the views OF the foreign Office. One
Of the most thorny problems. in fact. con-
fronting the administration IN London, is
the question whether popular sentiment
in the colonies shall be contented at the
expense Of American good WILL or wheth-
er the importance Of retaining the latter
shall be regarded as superior TO all other
considerations. 1t Is this that renders the
post Of English Ambassador at Washing
ton so difficult a one TO fill II is only
men OF altogether exceptional qualities
that can be selected for the Office.
These qualities Sir Mortimer Durand
possesses in a very marked degree. and his
announcement that he Is about 10 retire
from the service Of his government, which
has kept him buslly employed away from
home for nearly twoscore years, has been
received here with such expressions of
genuinely sincere regret from all parts
of the country that they cannot but prove
a source Of consolation TO himself, 10 Lady
Durand. and TO their daughter for the
sorrow which they must necessarily feel
in parting from the many warm friends
whom they have made here. More than
three years have elapsed since Sir Morti-
ner arrived in America, the first envoy
Of the loftieSt rank in the diplomatic ser
vice who had filled the Office of a full
Hedged Ambassador in a European capital
before being appointed 20 the United
states. and who regarded his transfer
from a fTst-class embassy abroad to
Washington in the light OF "A highly priced
promotion. He had been chosen for the
post by Lord LansdOwne, then head Of the
foreign office in Downing street, and who
had learned TO appreciate his merits while
viCerOy OF India. Indeed. in the farewell
speech which Lord Lansdowne delivered
a. Calcutta in January, 1894 just before
leaving India. ne dealt largely with Sir
Mcrtimcr's perilous mission 10 Cabui iH
the previous year. and spoke with empha-
sis Of "the admirable qualities Of tact, pa
tience. and sincerity which he had dis
played in so conspicuous a degree
throughout an extremely delicate negotia-
ton" These are eminently the virtues Of
an ambassador, and precisely those that
were most calculated 70 earn for Sir Nor
timer among Americans the friendly con
ndence enjoyed by his two predecessors.
Lord P1mCefOte and iSr Michael Her
bert Then. too. there is nothing that ap-
peaIs so much to the American people,
and 10 the English-spealyinS race IN gen
eTal. rs the virtue of courage, and of this
Sir Mortimer has given several notable
manifestations. enjoying the distinction.
unique among Englands Ambassadors
abroad. Of having been mentioned in the
dispatches for conspicuous gallantry
under fire, when assisting Gen. Sir Charles
Macgregor to recapture the British guns
at the battle Of Sherpur. He likewise took
part in the historic march from CabUl to
Candahar as the political member Of the
staff Of Lord Roberts. and at the request
Of the latter received. although n civilian,
the military decoration conferred by
Queen Victoria for that splendid feat in
the history of India
StlIl more admirable was the pluck
which he displayed in connection with
that subsequent mission 70 Cabul, the
successful fulhllment of which was laud-
ed by Lord Lansdowne as above de-
bGE41su. WH6n IeSiEIllIE the NlCeTDNAitF
Of India. The previous embassy to Cabul,
under the Inflated Sir Louis Cavagnari,
had succumbed to Afghan fanaticism, be
ing massacTed to the last man. Yet. in
spite Of this. Sir Mortimer refused to ac-
eept any military escort, pTeferring to
rely on the honor Of a ruler whose Mos
lem creed taught him that no faith need
be kept with a Christian Confidence
begets confidence. Trusting his safety.
and that Of his mission. to my care, 7
have protected him" These were the
words Of the Afghan sovereign, Abdur
Rahman, the most remarkable Ameer Of
his line, and the opinion which he ex-
pressed OF Durand was to the effect that
he was "a very clever statesman.
II was also known, when Sir Mortimer
came here, that he had first won fame
out IN India by his services on the North
ern border line of the Indian empire,
where he developed a marvellous skill in
the management Of the turbulent tribes
OF the mountains, that may be said 10
buttress the frontier. There he became
versed in the endless intTicacies Of Rus
sian intrigue among tEe semi-barbarOus
races and princes Of Asia, and won the
good VIII of the authorities Of Calcutta
by accomplishing results without trouble
or noise. Il was this. indeed, that led to
his being summoned to Calcutta. where.
after acting for a tine as private secre-
tary % the viceToy, Lord Lytton (knOwn