The Washington herald., 1909-05-04

oscar 5. Straus. Of New York, tele-
grapbed President Taft yesterday tha'
he would accept the Office Of Ambassador
to Turkey. which had been rendered to
him by Mr. Taft
The President has decided that he viii
appoint William V. RoekhiH as Ambas-
sador TO Russia Mr.. RockhiH is nov
Minister to China
These announcements we're made Off
C.any yesterday.
Mr. Straus viii succeed John G. A
Leishuan. Of Pennsylvania, who has been
nominated ard confirmed for the Office Of
Ambassador to Italy TO succeed Lloyd
c. Griscom. Of Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Criscom has rendered his resigna-
ton and it has been accepted, to take
effect when he completes his present work
O. settling Up the accounts Of the dis
tribu;ion Of the American fund for the
relief OF the Messina earthquake suf-
feIers
Il was explained that. without regard
10 the date Of NJ. Griscom's departure
from Rome. Mr. Leishnian would remain
a Constanunople as long as the present
critical political situation continues in
Turkey.
Mr. ROCkhill VIII succeed John ". Rid
die. OF Minnesota who has been Am
bassado- at St Petersburg since Devem-
Der Is. 1s16- Nlr Riddle rose from the
diplomatic ranks TO his preseAz high Of
Zee. He was appointed secretary OF the
American Legation at Constantinople IN
1ss3 and served for more than six years
IN 1901 he was appointed Secretary Of the
embassy AT St Petersburg. became diplo-
matte agent and consul general al Cairo.
EgEpt T. 1868; was appointed Minister 10
Roumania and Servia in 1865. and filed
that Office untiI transferred 60 ST Peters
burg
Twice Held Turkish Mission.
The Turkish mission was twice held by
1r- Straus before It was elevated TO lis
present high rank Of an embassy. In
ISS7. when he was Democrat. Mr.. Straus
was appointed 10 be minister 10 Constan-
tiaople by President Cleevland. and
se-ved two years In 1SsS President ATc-
Kinley sent him back 10 Turkey as min
iste-- and he remained there Until 1901
when he resigned. Mr Straus had a
rather strenuous tine Of 1t during his last
scjOurn AZ COnstantinople, in the reign Of
the lately deposed Sultan Abdul Hamid
through his insistenCe uDOn the adjust
%
return TO this country Mr.. Straus asserted
that the Sublime Porte had made prom
ises which il subsequently had repudi-
ated
Mr. Straus who vas Secretary Of Com
meTce and Labor in the Cabinet Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, retired from that Office
upon the accession Of President Taft. in
March President Taft asked him then
% accept the Turkish mission. hui Mr.
Stvaus preferred 70 be sent as Ambassa-
dor 20 Tokyo. an ofTiCe which Mr. Taft
aid not feel justified in offering 10 him
for the reason that Thomas J. O-Brien.
o. Michigan. who has been our Au7bassa-
dor 10 Japan since June, 1867, had made
q good record and Mr.. Taft wished him
to remain at Tokyo.
Mr- ROckhiITx services.
Ir. R0ckhiH has been in the Diplomatic
service OF and on for the last twenty
I'VE years In 1884. when he was thirty
years old. ne was appointed second secrs-
tary Of the American Legation IN Pazin-
and later became secretary Of the lega-
ton IN 1856 and 1sS7 he was American
charge O. affairs in Korea Afterward- bs-
tween ISIS and 1892, he made explorations
II tire interior Of China. Mongolia. and
Tibet. He was one Of the few white men
who had ever penetrated Tibet UP TO that
time, and it is said that his life was con-
stantly in danger. During his service in
the far East he acquired knowledee of
the Chinese language and some Of its
dialects.
While engaged In writing an account
OF his explorations for the Smithsonian
Institution. NJ ROckhiIl- in IS73. vas ap-
pointed chief clerk OF the state DEPART
meHt by Walter @ Gresham. then Sec
retary Of State and President Cleveland
subsequently made him Third Assistant
Secretary OF State and Assistant Secre-
t2ry OF state. Under President Mckinley
he served as American Minister 70 Greece
Roumania. and Servia frem 1SgS 70 800
when he resigned
In 1900. during the Boxer troubles. 10
was sent as United States ComrnissIoner
10 China and was the American PIeni-
pOtentiaTy TO the International congress
az Jel1in, which resulted in the adjustment
Of China.s troubles with foreign gov
ernments- From 1S29 70 ISl5 he was Di-
rector Of the Bureau Of American Pc
publics, and in lS5 was appointed Min
lister 10 China
Nr. RoekhilI is regarded by tho ad-
ministration as man especially qualities
10 represent the United States az 6. Pc
tersburg. on account OF his knowledge Of
the Chinese question generally and the at
titu1e OF Russia toward China.