The Washington herald., 1909-10-18
BUCHANAN DIES
IN LONDON STREET
Continued from Page one.

tary of State Wilson was as follows:
THE press report Of the death in Lon
don of the Hon. William L Buchanan was
a great shock to the Department OF State.
to whom he was very well known as a
man Of high attachments and signal abil-
tiles in the field Of diplomacy.
''Mr. Buchanans official career included
service as Minister to the Argentine Re
public. While holding that office he set
! tied. as arbitrator a famous boundary
dispute between the Argentine Republic
and Chile. He was the first American
Minister to Panama. He served as dele
gate to the second and as head OF the
delegation to the third Pan-American
Conference. He represented the United
States ably at the Central American peace
conference, which resulted in the Wash
lngton convention or treaty Of 1901, which
has meant so much to the Central Amer
lean republics. and was connected also
with the negotiation Of the United States
COlombla-Panama treaties.
His recent achievements as high COM
missioner TO settle the disputes between
the United States and Venezuela were I'M
portant and successful AT the time Of
HIS death he had been appointed agent OF
the United States for the peaceful arbl-
tration the Of one case not already
consummated as a result Of his negOti2-
tons at Caracas"
It was evidently this arbitration mat
ter to which the State Department off,
clal referred when he said that Mr.
Buchanan was engaged in some business
for the State Department
Achievement I'm Diplomacy.
Mr.. Buchanan was a man who achieved
much in diplomacy and private business,
and his reputation for tact and ability
was recognized In many parts Of the
civilized world. but particularly in WASH
ington and the capitals of the Latin
American republics. He was born on a
/ farm near Covington, Miami County,
/ Ohio, on September 20. 1853. and was edu-
Gated at country schools. II is said that
at one time he worked as a blacksmith.
In 1874 and 1875. he was engrossing clerk
OF the Indiana house OF representatives.
He went to live in Piqua. Ohio, In 1876,
and removed to Sioux City, Iowa, in
1852. Sioux City was his home until he
! began the career which gave him an In
ternatiOnal reputation.
| In Sioux City Mr.. Buchanan went into
business as a dealer in crOckery. He
soon earned the reputation OF being bright
and capable. and when Sioux City de-
cided to have its corn palace exposition.
J Mr.. Buchanan was placed In charge OF
the affair. He managed four OF these en-
terprises, and in 1893 Horace Boies, then
/ governor OF Iowa. appointed him the Iowa
! commissioner TO the Chicago WOrlc' s
I Fair. During the period OF the fair. he
took charge Of the Department OF Agri-
l culture and Forestry there. The next
| year President Cleveland appointed him
Minister 20 the Argentine Republic.
Although a Democrat. Mr. Buchanan
received most OF his official hOnOrs from
/ the Republican administrations OF Nc
Kinley and Roosevelt. Mr. Mckinley
asked him 20 remain IN the Argentine,
and he served as the American diplo-
matte representative there for six years,
from 1894 TO 1900 He knew nothing Of the
/ fine art OF diplomacy when he went to
South America in diplomatic capacity.
and proceeded 10 apply his business
/ knowledge 20 conditions with such sue
cess that the advantage OF closer trade
1 relations between North America and
! South America became known all over
the southern part OF the western hemf-
/ sphere.
A Notable Accomplishment.
One Of his most notable accomplish
ments was 20 prevent war between the
Argentine Republic and Chile over the
boundary question, which had disturbed
their relations for years. The arbitrators
named by the two governments involved
selected Mr.. Buchanan as the umpire.
His decision was regarded as a master
stroke OF diplomacy, and It increased HIS
reputation throughout South America.
Under the terms OF the arbitration the
Argentine Republic and Chile negotiated
a treaty which provided for reducing their
military establishments. Before he left
the diplomatic service OF his government
Mr. Buchanan negotiated an important
reciprocity treaty between the United
States and the Argentine.
After his retirement from the Office Of
minister in 1900, Mr.. Buchanan took serv-
ice with the New York Life Insurance
Company and the Westinghouse inter-
ests and adjusted some important mat
ters In which these enterprises were con-
cerned in South America The next year
he became director-generai OF the Pan
American Exposition at Buffalo.
When the new republic Of Panama was
recognized by the government OF the
United States President Roosevelt and
Secretary Hay made a careful canvass to
determine on the man VINO was fitted
TO represent the United States as It's Min
lister in Panama Delicate questions In
volvlng the construction OF the Panama
Canal and the relations between Colombia
and Panama made II necessary for this
government to be represented by a man
OF tact and force. Mr.. Buchanan was
selected and he acquitted himself dur
ing his short period OF service In a man
ner that won the praise and admiration Of
the Federal administration in Washing
ton.
In 1902 President Roosevelt appointed
him delegate OF the United States TO
the Pan-American conference in the City
Of Mexico. Of which Henry Gassaway
Davis was the head, and In 1906 Mr.
Roosevelt sent him TO the second Pam
American conference held AT Rio de ia
metro. He was chairman Of the American
delegation at the Rio conference.
Partly through the efforts OF Mr.. Buch-
anan, the permanent court Of arbitration
for the settlement Of disputes between
Central American countries was estab-
lished This was regarded as a notable
diplomatic achievement II was arranged
at the instance Of the governments Of the
United States and Mexico, and In the con-
ference between representatives of the
Central American republics at which the
treaty for the establishment Of the peace
court was negotiated. Mr.. Buchanan ap-
peared as adviser in behalf of the United
States
The Venezuelan Claims.
After that he undertook to adjust the
differences which had arisen between the
governments Of Venezuela and the Unit
ed States over some important claims
made against Venezuela by American citi-