New-York tribune., 1909-05-04
TWO NEW AMBASSADORS
II II. ROCKHILL TO RUSSIA
o S. SHauS UvW Succeed Mr..
Leishman at C0nstantiHoplc
fFron. The Tribune &urcau.I

Washington May 1.-Two important changes
IN the diplomatic service We're announced by the
Secretary, Of state this afternoon. oscar Solo
mon Straus Secretary of Commerce and Labor
r., President Roosevelt's Cabinet has been ap-
,.,frted Ambassador TO Turkey, To succeed John
4. 4 L,islisnan. and William Wcodville Rock
ru At urosont Minister China, has been
promoted To the Ambassadorship to Russia, IN
,,s,, Of Holm w Riddle who will retire to pri-
,-ata life Ambassador Leishman, as has been
,nnounced in these dispatches, will succeed
ambassador Griscom at Rome. Mr.. Griscom
will retire from the diplomatic service. The
President has not vet decided who will he sent
10 Pehing-
Nr RccklhlTs promotion is thought to be
particularly happy one in diplomatic circles IN
Washington. The post at st Petersburg Is
recognized as one Of The NEST important III Inc
dfplonatic service because Of the great part
which the Russian government has played. ana
viii doubtless continue 20 play. in the evolution
and development of the Far East Tire Presi-
dent and Secretary Knox felt that close stu
dent of Far Eastern affairs. and one who hau
Gained his knowledge of conditions in those
countries at first hand. would he an invaluable
representative for the United States at the Rus
sian court NIr Rockhiu has both of these quail
ireations besides being = diplomat of many
wears experience in European countries. The
greater part Of his life has been spent. however
in China and he is held by the state Depart
777ent To- he an unimpeachahle authority on chi
raee r,olfties As early as 1881 he was ap-
1.ofnred second secretary OF the American En-
hassy at Peking. and a year later ne became
secretary. Later he became charge danalres
at the. legation in Corea. and conducted several
expeditions Of exploration irto Mongolia ana
Tibet. He was recalled to the state Depart
its ,T7iP ,-IF- and in
the succeeding TWO years. served as Third As
efs1ant and Assistant Secretary of State He
has also served as Minister 10 Greece. Rumaha
and Servfa but in 1900 he Was again sent 10
China as special commissioner He aided IN
formulating the final protocol with China IN
7an1 From 1899 10 1901 lie wes the director
,r +1fe Bureau Of American Republics. but since
7qa5 he has served as Minister to China He is
ffty-five years old
The appointment Of eX-SecretarE Straus as
Ambassador TO Turkey did not create much sur
prise in Washington. His appointment. which
was predicted in these dispatches Of March IA.
has been thought more than probable for some
tine by those in close touch with diplomatic
affairs The fact that Mr.. Straus served as
Minister to Turkey from 1881 to 1889 and again
from 1896 to 1901 and was eminently successful
in both his terms Of Office has marked him as
the most available man for the post. 1t is
thought. too. that the appointment Of an eX-
member Of the Cabinet viii assure the new con
stitutional government Of Turkey that the
United States is in full sympathy with its aims
and is anxious to show this sympathy by ap-
pointing one Of the prominent publica men in
American affairs.
NIr StraIs teIegraphed from New York his
acceptance Of the mission to Turkey TO SeCre-
tarv Knox II is not known at the State De
uartment when he VIII take UP his diplomatic
duties
The President is casting about carefully for
an appointee to the Chinese post, which, in
view Of the interest taken by the United States
in the open door and in the settlement of the
complications growing out Of the railroad situa-
ton in Manchuria and other reasons, is re-
garded as q very important one.