Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-17
England Has Accorded Use
of Battleship to Convey
Remains of Ambassador
Who Died in London.
SUCCESSOR WILL
NOT BE APPOINTED
President Taft Decides to
Leave Post at English
Court Vacant to be Filled
by Mr.. Wilson.

Dy Mr. WILSON,.
London, Dec. 16.--The British GOV
ernment has proposed to the govern
ment of the United States that
British battleship should convey ths
body of the late American ambassa
dor, Whitelaw Reid, who died yeste.
day, to his native land.
Premier Asquith in announcing thiI
| decision Of the government formal,
IN the house of commons today paid
graceful tribute to the dead diplomat
1t has been arranged to hold s
memorial service for the late ambassa
dor In Westminster Abbey at noon or
Friday.
Wife and Daughter at Bedside.
Whitelaw Reid, American ambassa
dor to the court of St. James, died al
dorchester House, his palatial LondoE
nome, at ten minutes after noon Sun
day. Only his wife and daughter. the
Hon. Mrs. John Hubert Ward, were
at the bedside when the end came His
son, Ogden Mills Reid. sailed from
New York yesterday on the .Kron-
prinzessin Cecille, the amhassadof's
family not realizing the seriousness OF
Mr.. Reid's condition until Friday,
when they cabled Ogden to sail I'm
imediately for Eng gland n e sst1s1
Contrary to many reports, the am
bassador did not take to his bed I'm.
I'll Friday night. when for the, first
time, he consented to turn over all
mn NiQv A<x,
Laughlin, first secretary of the en-
bassy Until that time the ambas-
sador believed himself suffering
merely from the effects OF the cold
which he caught November l., when he
addressed the students of the Univer-
sity College Of Wales at Aberyswyth,
on the subject OF Thomas Jefferson IN
To Leave Post Vacant. 55
President Taft announced today
through Secretary Hilles that the post
of ambassador to Great Britain made
vacant by the death of Whitelaw Reid,
will not be filed by him. This an.
nouncement followed a conference be.
tween the president and Secretary
Knox.
Leave It to Wilson.
Several reasons were given for the
presidents decision. He believes that
the important diplomatic questions In
volving Great Britain and the. United
States can be handled successfully in
Washington by Mr.. Knox and James
Bryce, the British ambassador. He
understands that President-elect VIII.
son Is also considering man for the
London post and he does not wish to
appoint some one who can serve at
best for only a few months.
The president had first been inclin-
ed to make an appointment but de-
liberation with Mr. Knox brought q
decision to the contrary.
The post at London will not be filed
until March and it will be the
first time in many years that the
United States has been without an
ambassador in London.
Exchange Of Condolences.
The message OF King Gearge v. to
President Taft, announcing the death
of Ambassador Whitelaw Reid, fol.
lows:
London, Dec. Is, 1912.
The President Of the u. s. a.,
Washington:
IL 40 "AIA tAG uCCPO0L 6OlIOW LudJ
have to inform you OF the death OF
Whitelaw Reid at noon today. AS your
ambassador in this counery his loss
will be sincerely deplored, while per-
sonally shall mourn for an old friend
of many years standing for whom I
had the greatest regard and respect.
The queen and sympathize most
warmly with Mrs. Whitelaw Reid In
her heavy sorrow.
George, oR. I.
In answer President Taft sent the
following:
Washington, Dec. 15,, 1912.
His Majesty. King George ".
Buckingham Palace. London:
Your majesty's sad news OF the
death of Whitelaw Reid has just
reached me. Mr.. Reid's death is loss
to both countries, for his service az
ambassador was exceptional in the
closer friendship that he secured be.
tween them through his own person
ality. His intimate knowledge of both
countries, his profound respect and
love for England. entirely consistent
with the highest loyalty on, his part to
this country, gave him peculiar In
fluence for good In his great station. l
sincerely thank your majesty for your
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