New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-26
A GREAT DIPL0MATIST
SIR Ed1card Grey at the Foreign
Office.
LONDON. October II

commanded recognition Of his abilities as ira
most resourcefuI and high-ninded diplomats.
In Europe He has taken up Lord Beaconsasld'.
work In a more English and less Oriental way.
and has become the champion OK international
engagements and the defender Of the reforming
Turk. Some Of his euogists overstats the casa
when they give him credit for averting cor
| fict IN the Balkans. The powers did not want
war and Russia was not prepared 70 support
servia and Montenegro in an attack upon Ans
tria-Hungary. settlement was inevitable so
long as the Young Turks did not lose self-con-
troll and Russian dip1omatists consented to be
disinterested; but Sir Edward Grey has faeHi-
tated the arrangements for a conference for re-
storing confidence IN European treaty law ard
by strongly supporting the reformed admins
tratfon in Turkey. Treaty breakers are forced
to obtain the sanction Of the powers 10 their
violations of solemn engagements and to pro-
| vide conpensations for the sUltan's government
Peace with European honor is what Sir Edward
Grey has helped to bring about; and the con-
ference, for which the entente between England.
Russia and France has opened the way. IS likely
to involve an equitable readiustnneut Of racial
and dynastic interests IN southeastern Europe
The statesman who has accomplished these
salutary results and increased the prestige %
British diplomacy has the reputation OF being
one Of the most reserved and indolent men IN
public life There can be doubt about his
habit Of reticence- His speeches IN Parliament
and in the country have invariably been short
and incisive A natural orator. with nelodious
voice, fluent style and lucid mind, he has
resisted the temptation to speak without re-
straint and without the SOLDERING sense OF re-
sponsfbility. He has never invented an epigrar1
or phrase that anybody remembers. nor has
he ever said anything that has been quoted
against him. He is not yet forty-seven, and with
his erect figure. black hair and tranquil face "a
is one Of the youngest looking men in Parlia-
ment: and while he is frank and genial in cen
versation, he has none OF the fnpuIsiveness and
responsibility Of youth. He has the high fore
head of an intellectual man who separates himself
from laxative bores OF clubs and drawing roorls
and thinks for himself One has only 10 glance
at his strongly modelled chin and assertive nos
trils to be convinced that he is a man OF force;
and while he is a better Radical IN principles
than the Prime Minister. he IS a patriciaa IN
tastes as IS shown by his distinction OF man
ner the delicate lines Of his mouth and the dig
nifty Of his bearing He does not affect an air
OF mystery as Lord Beaconsheld used TO do. yet
his reserve is inpenetrabIe and his detachment
from men around him is unmistakabIe.
Sir Edward Grey's reputation for incidence IS
tradition OF his earlier years. when he was an
enthusiastic angler and more deeply interested
inherited talents Of a famous Wing family which
had supplied England with Prime Minister and
a brilliant colonial administrator. he seemed to
be marked out for a great career. yet he lacked
ambition and the driving power OF a strong Will
He served an apprenticeship as Sir Evelyn Bar
ing's private secretary and as Under Secretary
Of the Foreign Office, yet his heart was never IN
his work and it vas a common forecast o. ths
House Of Commons that his career would be
failure IN consequence OF his inertia and tndo-
lence He was too independent IN his opinions
to be a successful politician and too Indifferent
to his personal fortunes TO command recognition
for his abilities. He seemed destined. ike VS.
count Morley, to sacrifice his own interests in
| the service of his friends Even when the For
eign Office was placed within his reach he played
with the offer and sought TO obtain better terms
for Mr. Asquith and Mr. Haldane- He finally
accepted the responsibilities Of that post against
his Will and with regretful feeling that hs
would have little leisure for trout fishing anu
tennis Scarcely had he mastered the routins
Of his Office when he lost his wife by deplor-
able accident. and IN his bereavement he plunged
into diplomatic work in order TO forget his sor-
rows There has not been any talk about his
laziness during the last two years British
diplomacy has never been conducted with mors
energy and painstaking care. The characteristic
practical intelligence and tact-have been dis
played and he has been as flexible in his proc
esses as the King himself
Publicity has been courted by Sir Edward
Grey and NJ Iswolsl1y in their negotiations Tor
a European settlement AS soon as they cams
to an agreement they issued authOriratlVe
version of it in order that the restless Balkan
communities might settle down and the noIA
forces OF public opinion might be brought ID
bear upon the maintenance OF peace Sir Ed
ward Grey promptly took the world into us
confidence because he wished 10 aIlay excitement
and to minimize the causes OF disturbance
When there is SO much amateur diplomacy TIC
professionals find it prudent 10 reveal their Sc
crets as soon as possible and to forestaH med
dIesome activities Of the press Yet ordinarily
Sir Edward Grey IS q silent man. who does noe
allow those around him 70 know what IS gong
on He IS reserved with those serving under
him and does not supply leader writers VIII
cues. Among all the ministers OF the crown -
IS -eminently the Kings man Diplomacy .
the branch of public business in which King IL
ward takes direct personal interest. and II -
conducted by the Foreign Secretary as sort -. g
royal peculiar" The King with his prestlss
and personal relations with courts and reisni1S
families. is himself great diplouatist. who has
touched the world on every side Sir Ed"af1
Grey works effectively with him. and the func~
tionaries OF the Foreign Office il they know WhaG
is in progress consider it bad form to talk aooue
anything that so closely concerns royalty 50
1t happens that the Foreign Secretary becomes
moro tacIturn self-absorbed and conte-nplatiSs
year by year.
While the consent OF Austria Hungary ah6
Germany to the conference is still TO be obtained
and tba catastronbA NJ war may be brought %