Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-09
MR.. bRYCE'S MISSION
New Ambassador to Receive
Special instructions.
INTERCOURSE WITH CANADA
Believed That Relations With Us Will
Be Closer.
SWETTENHAM'S PERSONALITY
Communications With Colonial Office
Of Unusual Character-Cabinet
Reconstruction Gossip.
swETTENHAM's PERSONALITY
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

special Correspondence Of The Star
| LONDON, January 20. 1907.
| have excellent authority for stating
that before leaving this country to take
| up his duties as British ambassador at
washington Mr. Bryce will be given spe-
clai instructions Of character that may
insure much closer intercourse in the
| future between the United States and the
Dominion of Canada. Mr. Bryce's appoint
ment to Washington. indeed, is regarded
| In the highest Official quarters here as be-
Ing In the nature of a special mission, for
| which reason 1t is not anticipated that his
| stay in the American capital will be of
| indefinite duration, and he will have the
advantage, Immediately upon his arrival,
| of meeting Mr.. Root, fresh from his visit
| to Canada, where he has been in consulta-
ton with Earl Grey. Sir Wilfred Laurier
| and Lord Strathcona, as well as other
prominent representatives Of the dominion.
and much is expected by the government
from Mr.. Bryce's mission.
A constitutional question Of some i'm
portance has been raised by the action Of
| Mr.. Hatdane as secretary of state for
war, in telegraphing direct to Mr.. Root
[ concerning the Swettenham-Davis incident.
! 1t would be difficult to find precedent for
this action, seeing that the highest con-
| stitutional authorities have always held
| that the medium Of communication be-
| tween the sovereign and the representa-
| tives of other nations Is the secretary of
state for foreign affairs. In the present
| instance Sir Edward Grey was sending,
contemporaneously with the Haldane mes
sage to the American minister. perfectly
correct" telegram to the British charge
d'affaires in the United States capital; and
| If aught had been required to be added 1t
| should have gone through the foreign Of
fee. The matter is rendered the more ser1-
ous-apart from the obvious Inconvenience
that would arise from individual mem.
beers of the London cabinet dealing direct
with the like members Of the washington
cabinet-by the fact that the message OF
the secretary for war to MI Root markeo1
governor, and that is peculiarly a matter
for the secretary Of state for theNcolonies.
upon which the Earl OF Eigin is nkeiy 10
have something to say in the cabinet. Con,
siderable friction has indeed been caused
by Mr. Ealdane's generous act.
Those who know Sir Alexander Swetten-
ham are not surprised at the style OF the
letter he addressed to Admiral Davis. He
IL unauestionably an able man, put ne
has habit Of writing vigorous and iiveLy
letters in cases where the s1yte s hiw COM Nc
munications with the colonial once sa-
vor sometimes more of the brisk letter
writer, than the staid governor. ms ms
nrohabiy explains the character OF the
comDosition which he addressed TO tne
admiral. In letters to the representatives
~ 1o1eiGn powers, 1t IL not, however wise
to adopt; a. s sbe same freedom Of style
that he may use in his letters 10 ME 0""
official superiors.
Cabinet Reconstruction.
Tho ministerial appointments which have
been announced were only a fraction OF the
whole scheme Of reconstruction OF the CAD
met and the most interesting announce
ments have yet to come A few days ago
u was stated that Mr.. Winston Churchill
was packing up his traps at the colonal
Office and this was held to foresnanoW me
early departure from ms pieveMs denial OF
This report on the following day, and saio
he was not leaving the colonial omcS. Ane
explanation of this rumor and Mr; Cnurcn-
hrs declaration, given to me today; was was
this: That Mr. Churchill. finding himself
overlooked in the reaNotment OF omces'
threatened to resign his under-secretary
ship, and was packing up nls .la ,p,n,ster
hearing of his hasty resolve, interviewed.
and promised him immediate promotion OF
an important character. =,
The story proves how keen speculation is
az to MI. Churchills future. and how dis
appointing any rearrangement OF omces
would be In which ne was not incluoeo:
Mr.. Churchill had set his heart on the post
G Sad if promised it to him with reservations,
and he would have got 1t had not the Irlsn
menhers made a determined stand against
the appointment. 1t Is pretty well known
that Lord Ripon will soon give up his post
as ~lord privy seal. His successor IN all
probability will be Lord Egin. whose South
African policy has embittered the radical
section against him; In ,o TINS case Mr
The alternative IL that he shall become
homo secretary in place OF Mr.. Herbert
Gladstone, who everybody admits. has not
risen to expectation. ana wnom everyDooy
of lords The home office, as much as
any department. needs reorganization, and
Mr.. Churchill has the necessary courage:
The whole affair shows that young Churchill
has a good estimate Of his own Importance
and can be trusted to look after his own
interests.
The whitley Murder.
Not since the dramatic suicide Of Whit
taker Wright has the imagination Of Lon
doners been 80 touched by a tragedy as it
has been by the shooting Of William White
ley. Though Mr.. Whiteley's personality
was known to but few Of the millions of
the metropolis-for he took no prominent
part in public life, and was rarely seen on
q platform-yet his name was a household
word az 1.-THE peoples provider." and his
murder Is almost the sole topic OF CONVEX
sation.
Whiteley's huge store in Westbourne
Grove, the pioneer of the great stores in
London, was the outcome Of forty-three
years OF ceaSeleSS ACTIVITY On tne part OF
its originator and on the day he was killed
he was In his seventy-sixth year and was
still ''in harness." His early life ON the
Yorkshire moors had fortified him with q
constitutional vigor which not half q CEN
fury Of business life in the metropolis had
undermined. As q youth. living In the
midst OF the famous Badsworth country.
he was q frequent and daring rider with
the pack. He was the baby Of the hunt,
which in those days included John Gully.
the grandfather Of the late speaker Of the
house Of commons. and Lord Hawke.
He started his business career in Wake
life. for after gaining London experience
he was invited to take q partnership in his
old nrm. He returned to Wakefield for
three months: but the insidious charm Of
London possessed him, and he was fam to
quit the country Of Broadacres forever. It
was his boast that his store was capable
Of execu ing any orders given to him, and
stories CT the weird requests successfully
complied with are not wanting.
In the course of his business he had
found himself many times faced with oppo-
sition which was pushed to fierce lengths
He must have made enemies. He had ex-
snoF.foUCnA fvo fjrae fur Wffhin short