The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-26
BRYCE is PRESENTED
British Ambassador Greeted
by the President,
GIVEN CORDIAL RECEPTION
Affair characterized by fnformaIity.
Chief Executive Scarcely Waits
for Formal Presentation - Usual
Speeches Made and Tfme-hOnOred
Conventions Observed.

The presentation OF Mr.. James Bryce,
the new British Ambassador to the
United States. took place at the White
House yesterday afternoon. President
Roosevelt had arrived only half an hour
before from his visit TO Massachusetts,
but after a somewhat hasty luncheon, he
was ready to meet the Ambassador at the
appointed time
The presentation was concluded with
more ceremony than any that has taken
place at the White House for some time.
The Presidents own carriage was sent TO
Stoneleigh Court. where Mr.. Bryce Is liv-
ing until the repairs TO the embassy ars
completed, and the Ambassador was es-
corted to the Presidents house by Col.
Charles S. Bromweil, superintendent OF
public buildings and grounds, the officer
I'm charge Of state functions at the White
House.
The Ambassador was followed by all the
members Of the British Embassy staff,
seven in number, but the third carriage
was detained for some reason, and four
Of the secretaries and attaches were ten
minutes late ia reaching the White
House.
Met by Capt. Lee.
The Ambassador was met on the north
portico Of the White House by Capt Fitz-
hugh Lee, tr., of the Seventh Cavalry,
one of the Presidents aids, and by Col
Bromwell. who escorted him to the Blue
Room. In the Blue Room the Ambassa-
dor and his staff were met by Secretary
of State Root, and two or three minutes
later President Roosevelt entered the
apartment from the state dining-room
and greeted the Ambassador cordially.
scarcely waiting for the formal presen-
tation by the Secretary Of State.
The usual formal speeches were made.
and the tirne-honored conventions of such
occasions were observed, but the affair
was marked by much infOrmality before
Mr.. Bryce took his leave He and
the President had met during a prior
visit Of Mr. Bryce TO this country and
they chatted informally and spiritedly
on various subjects. The interview
lasted about twenty minutes. and shortly
his leave returning to Stoneleigh Court
as he came, in the Presidents carriage,
accompanied by Col Bromwell.
Ambassador In Uniform,
Ambassador Bryce was attired in the
fun dress uniform worn by British diplo-
mats of, the first rank, and all the mem
beers OF his stan wore the appropriate uni
Df no
Ambassador wore an overcoat heavily
trimmed with fur. Col. Bromwell and
Capt. Lee wore the uniforms, respectively.
of a colonel OF engineers and d captain
or cavalry in the United States army.
Altogether, it was a brilliant assem-
blage, but che f0rmsllty Of the occasion
was relieved just after the party left the
White House by a snOwballing match
between Capt. Lee and Archie Roosevelt.
the Presidents third son. who was lying
in wait for him outside the porte cochere.
Mr.. Bryee's speech.
In presenting his credentials. Mr. Bryce
said in part:
Mr.. President: I have the honor. by
command OF the King. my august sover-
eign. to deliver to you letter accrediting
me as his Ambassador to the United
States of America.
when he intrusted TO me this high
mission his majesty directed me TO as
sure you Of his earnest wish that the
cordial relations which happily exist be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States should be maintained and strength
ened and has impressed upon me the
1rrrr- Of ,7of-u rrrf,.eor-o-
power for the attainment OF this end.
mo one can be more sensible than I am
of the responsibility which such a com
mission imposes, and however unequal 20
so great d task I may feel myself to be,
il shall be my constant effort to discharge
it in the spirit which his majesty has
indicated to me, and in which my three
last predecessors, all distinguished men
and true friends 70 the United States.
sought TO fulfill their duties"
The President Replies.
In reply, the President spoke in part,
as follows:
Mr. Ambassador. / have the pleasure
TO receive from your hands the letter
whereby His Majesty King Edward VII
aceredits you in the high capacity of his
Ambassador to the United States of
America.
The excellent relations which have so
long existed between the governments of
the United States and OF Great Britain
offer conspicuous assurance that In the
fulhllment Of the important mission with
which you are charged you will find
agreeable the task of contributing TO
the maintenance and strengthening OF
these relations, auspiciously aided by the
like earnest desires on the part OF this
government and by the good will which
happily exists between the people of the
two countries
IN coming among US you but transfer
your life-woTk to new fields Of practical
opportunities like those for which you
have labOred earnestly and honOrably
through useful lifetime and I trust the
continuance of your efforts in the mis-
sion to which you are called will be as
congenial to you as they are acceptable
to US
For yourself, Mr.. Ambassador, I be-
speak a no less cordial welcome by our
community than your distinguished pred
ecessors received"
New Bids Asked For.