The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-29
NOTABLE HONOR
To A RETIRING
AMBASSADOR

Washington. Dec 29.-The departure
from Washington yesterday afternoon of
Sir Mortimer Durand, the retiring British
ambassador, was made the occasion of
remarkable demonstration. More than 1C0
government officials and diplomats with
members of their families and a good-siz-
ed contingent OF society people assembled
at the Pennsylvania railroad station to
say farewell TO the ambassador and his
wife and daughter. something unprede-
dented in this capital.
No departing diplomat was ever so high
ly honored before The tribute was in
tended as an official and personal rebuke
to those who have circulated reports that
Sir Mortimer and Lady Durand were not
popular I'm Washington. There was par
ticular reference i'm the demonstration TO
the statements about the Durands attrib.
uted to Lady Susan Townley, wife OF tho
present British minister 10 Brazil. who
lived here last winter while her husband
was attached 10 Sir Mortimer Durand's
stan.
The presence of Secretary of State Roof.
who was accompanied by Mrs. Root, was
regarded as emphatic evidence of the ad-
ministration's regret over the departure
of the ambassador: Secretary of War
Taft. Secretary OF the Navy Metcalf and
Associate United states Supreme Court
Justice Moody were also present.
The party began TO congregate half an
hour before the train was due to leave.
The diplomatic corps turned out in large
numbers including the heads of all the
important European missions. some Of
whom were accompanied by their families
and the embassy staffs.
The party was admitted inside the gates
and gathered around the car OF the am
bassador Sir Mortimer arrived from the
embassy a few minutes before the train
departed. He was greeted most heartily
by those who came to say good-by. He
was accompanied by Lady Durand and
his daughter. Miss Josephine. For fully
10 minutes Sir Mortimer and the two
ladies were shaking hands and making
their final adeus to their friends Finally
they made their way through the crowd
and boarded the train, standing in the
vestibule chatting with persons who gpth-
cred around. When the train began to
move there was a general lifting and
waving OF hats and futtering of handker-
chiefs. Lady Durand got down on tho
lower step OF the car and waved a fare
well to the crowd.
Among those present were: Assistant
Secretary OF War oliver Brig. Gen. Clar-
ence Edwards, Baron Mayor des Plan
ches. the italian ambassador; Baron
Speck Won Sternberg, the German ambas-
sador: Baroness Won Sternberg. NJ. JUS
serand, the French ambassador. and
Nine. Jusserand; Baron Rosen. the Rus
sian ambassador: Baroness Rosen and
their daughter. Baroness Elizabeth Ro-
sen; Baron Hengelmuller the Austrian
ambassador; Senior Joaquin Nabuco. the
Brazilian ambassador: Viscount Aoki. the
Japanese ambassador. and Vscountess
Aoki; Sir Cheung LANG Cheng. the Chi
nese minister; ex-Secretary of State John
w Foster, Senator Spooner and Rear Ad-
miral Cowles, L. $. N, President Roose-
velts brother-n-law.
There were many secretaries and at
taches OF diplomatic establishments pres
ent also, and score OF society people.
The Japanese ambassador and his whole
embassy STAFF and the ladies OF the en-
bassy were with him when he entered the
station
The Durands will sail on the Umbra
from New York this afternoon. The en-
bassy here is left i'm charge OF Esme How
ard, who will be charge d-affaires until
the arrival OF the Rt Hon. James Bryce
who has been selected TO succeed Sir Nor
timer.