The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-25
BRYCE GETS READY
FOR HIS new WORK
RoyaI Warrant is Not Yet For
maIIy Signed
IMPORTANT WORK AHEAD
Looks as Though the United States,
Great Britain and France viii Go
to the Next Hague Conference
With Understanding.
IMPORTANT WORK AHEAD

London, December 2A-James Bryce, the
retiring secretary for ireland, who is to
succeed Sir Mortimer Durand as British
ambassador at Wash ngton, is arranging
to leave for the United States in about
three or four weeks. In the meantime
he has started on a tour for the purpose
of closing up his business affairs, first
going to Dublin, where he is now con-
ferring with the Lord Lieutenant. the
Earl of Aberdeen, concerning the trans
fer of Irish affairs.
The preparations for Mr.. Bryces de-
parture for Washington are proceeding,
although his appointment as ambassador
has not yet been officially announced.
The delay is ascribed to the formalities
leading up to the King, signing the royal
warrant, and to the necessary appllca-
tion to the chancellor of the exchequer
for the dissolution of Mr.. Bryce's parlia-
mentary service.
AS soon as these formalities are con-
cluded the announcement of Mr.. Bryce's
appointment to the Washington post Will
be made.
The early departure of Sir Mortimer Du-
rands successor is designed to give the
latter several weeks in Washington prior
TO the adjournment of Congress, thus
permitting a renewal of the acduaint-
ances made on the occasion of his las.
visit, when he was given the privilege
of the floor of the house of representa-
tives and was invited to occupy a seat
at the speakers desk.
Personal Appearance Is Changed.
Tho r,areonaI aDpaoranca ~ NIr p,xsca
has considerably hanged since then, his
iron grey hair and close cropped beard
having turned white. However this has
not aged him perceptibly as he continues
to display those striking characteristics
of intellectual vigor and engaging per-
sonaity which have given him the repu-
tatlon of being one of the most agree
able conversationalists in England.
The closing of Mr.. Bryce's London home
points to the probability that Mrs. Bryce
will accompany her husband to Wash
ington.
The opinion is growing stronger in Off
cial and diplomatic circles here that Mr.
Bryce will be named head of the British
delegation to the next The Hague peace
conference, and it is pointed out that this
will be another evidence of Great Bri-
tans desire to cooperate with the United
states as .Mr. Bryces presence in Wash
ington prior TO going to The Hague will
permit of an arrangement for the pursu-
ance of a joint policy there 1t is ex
pected that France will join in the same
movement as result of the Anglo
French entente. thus permitting the
United States, Great Britain and France
together to exercise an important in
1uence on the final results to be acted
upon at The Hague.
VIII Submit Drago Doctrine.
Reports recently have been in clrcula-
ton in certain capitals of Europe to the
effect that Great Britain was opposed
to the American plan of submitting The
Drago doctrine to The Hague tribunal.
but the official exchanges going on here
have not disclosed the slightest opposi-
tion on the part of Great Britain to this
step. on the contrary, the Indications
are that Great Britain is ready to sub
init the question of the Drago doctrine
(Which provides that no power can collect
a debt of its citizens from another power
by force of arms to the conference. nut
reserving final action thereon until Il
has been discussed. No further arrange
ments, however. regarding the question
to be submitted at The Hague have yet
been made.