The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-23
TRIBUTE TO BRYCE
Shows High Sense of Duty,
Says London Graphic.
UNDERTAKES DELICATE TASK
Is Sent to show Desire of England tn
Cultivate Closest Relations with
the United States-Ambassador Puts
Aside Other Interests and COndi-
tIOns To Serve His Country.

The selection Of the Hon. James Bryce
as British Ambassador 10 this country
his eminent fitness TO fill the dignity. and
his ability 20 dispel any misgivings on
the part Of the people of this country as
regards the attitude Of England should
the United States become involved in a
dispute with Japan, are discussed In the
London Graphic, February 9, in an ar
ticle signed by Lucien Wolf as follows:
Mr.. Bryce, who leaves England in the
course of the coming week 10 take UP his
post as British Ambassador at Washing
ton. viii carry with him the good wishes
OF host Of friends belonging to both
political parties. To begin a new profess
sion and a new career at sixty-nine is
characteristic not only Of Mr.. Bryce's
courage, but Of his sense Of public duty
It is an open secret that our relations
with the United States of late have not
been unbeset by anxiety The embassy
Of Sir Mortimer Durand left much to be-
desired and this was all the more unfor-
tunate in view Of the growing feeling III
the States that I'm the probable-some say
'inevitable'-con1ict Of American and Jap,
anese interests in the Pacific, the Anglo
Japanese alliance would tell against
America.
Pledge of Friendship.
In these circumstances. the govern.
ment rightly resolved to send an ambas.
sador to Washington, who. by his higf
rank and character and pronounced
American sympathies. would be con.
vincing pledge Of the earnest desire OF
this country 20 cultivate the closest rela-
lions with the United States. BY falling
Ia with this arrangement. Mr. Bryce ha.
periodically put aside many interests and
ambitions which are, ! imagine. much
nearer to his heart than anything the
Washington Embassy can offer him, and
which, at his age. he can scarcely hop,
20 take up again. It is a fine example OF
public spirit.
The appointment Of SIR Bryce IS, ]
believe, quite unprecedented in the mod
ern history Of British diplomacy.
Although I'm 1859 a notification was u.s.
sued by the foreign Office. al the instance
of Lord Clarendon. that the secretary OF
state reserved 10 himself the power q
recommend any person. even though not
iu the diplomatic service. sfor amba ssa-
dorial posts. such recommendations have
been exceedingly rare. and there is not
one which is on ell fours with that Of Mr.
Bryce. The nearest approach TO it is that
of the appointment of Sir Henry I.ayarC
20 the Madrid Embassy In 1859.
Layard Case Was similar.
sir Henry. like Mr.. Bryce. had served
as under secretary for foreign affairs and
he was also at the time a member of ths
government-chiefc commissioner OF work.
but he was not member or the cabinet
and the object OF his appointment was not
20 serve any high political end. but only
10 get rid of an embarrassing c0IIeague
Moreover. Layard had had some practical
diplomatic experience. having at one time
acted in an unofficial. or at any rate un.
Eierarchical. capacity under tha Great
Eltchi al Constantiuoplc
Lord Dunerins appointment 10 th,
Russian Embassy in 1879 Is another Illus
tratiou of the application of Lord Claren
don's rule though it is not perfect
parallel % tlat OF AIr. Bryce. Lord Duff
FERN was at any rate. e member OF ths
civil service. though not 81 the foreign
branch. and many wears earlier be had
been employed ON diplomatic missions o
"a kind. Besides Sir Henry Lavard and
Lord Dufferin. there are no ambassador.
IN the British service recruited outside o
the diplomatic line.
"Curiously enough. the lower ranks o
the service have been most frequently
supplied in this way. Sir William Whit,
was not originally of the carriere. but N,
was regularly promoted from his acct
dentally obtained consulship M Wsrsa "
through the legation az Bucharest. 90 tn,
embassy al Constaut.nopI
Two other Instances.
THE career Of Sir Claude Macdonald
England's present Ambassador at Tokyo
has developed on similar lines. and so ha.
that Of Lord Cromer. who began life il
the army. and now holds the rank of min
lister plenipoteEtiary. The cases of Lore
Pauncefote and Sir Mortimer Duraud ma,
also be cited. Neither WAS graduated u
the regular diplomatic service.
Lord Pauncefota was a colonial ser
want before he joined the foreign office
! and Sir Mortimer Durand was i'm the In
dian service and went to Washington bl
the curiouSly ciTcuitouS way of the Cal
cutta foreign Office. the TehoTan Lega
ton, and the Madrid Embassy.
Except in France the practice of Sc
lecting ambassadors outside the diplo
matte service is almost unknown on III.