New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-12
BRYCE'S SUCCESSOR
PLEASES WASHINGTON
Government Will Welcome Sir
Cecil Arthur Spring-RiCe
as British Ambassador.
TREATY TO BE ABANDONED
Change in Embassy Probably
Will End Efforts of This Coun-
try to Consummate Gen.
eral Arbitration Pact.

Washington, Nov 1.-THE date Of the
departure Of Ambassador James Bryce
has not been fixed. II was announced by
the British Embassy to-day. Secretary
Knox was officially informed Of the pro-
jected change In the embassy by letter
from the ambassador himself, which he
found on his return to Washington last
night
The letter also conveyed the formal an
nouncement of the desire of the British
government TO appoint Sir Cecil Arthur
Spring-Rice as Mr. Bryce's successor,
provided he was persona grata to the
government No doubt is entertained as
to the nature of the answer that will be
returned by this government.
State Department officials are certain
that the impending change in the political
character of the American administration
did not influence the ambassador in de-
Gliding upon his retirement.
Mr.. Bryce, 1t was said at the embassy,
intimated to his government In July, 1911
his wish to retire, as the questions he had
come here to settle all had been disposed
Of At the request OF his government, It
was stated, he remained to deal with GER
tain other matters then pending.
Will End Treaty Efforts.
The retirement of Ambassador Bryce, IT
is believed. will mark the abandonment Of
any purpose on the part of the United
States TO secure the contamination Of the
pending general arbitration treaty with
Great Britain. The first impulse OF the
President, after the Senate had amended
the treaty during the last session In spite
Of the protests Of the administration Sen
ators. was to abandon Immediately the
convention and to decline to undertake to
induce the British government 10 accept
the amendments which struck at the very
essence of the principle OF unrestricted
arbitration
After more mature consideration, how
ever and frequent conferences between
Secretary Knox and Ambassador Bryce
the President was disposed to consider
the ACCESSIBILITY OF pressing the treaty to
conclusion on the theory that II would
at least constitute a notice TO the world
of the intentions OF the two governments
TO be guided by the principles OF arbiua-
ton in their further dealings. 1t was
urged also that with the treaty as "A foun-
dalton II might be possible IN the near
future to bring the Senate to the point OF
approving supplementary articles which,
in effect, would amount 10 unlimited ar
| bitratlOn.
Ambassador Disappointed.
Recently, however, the administration
became convinced Of the impracticability
of this plan. and it is believed that the
Anal decision Of the President to drop the
treaty was the determining factor In
bringing about Ambassador Bryce's de-
cision TO retire. The ambassador had
hoped he might round out his diplomatic
career by signing treaty which would
stand as q milepost In the history OF the
growth Of international altruism. and the
peaceable settlement OF international dis
putes
Sir Cecil Arthur Spring Rice who is to
succeed Mr.. Bryce. has had a long ana
distinguished service in the diplomatic
field and rs we'll remembered here Tor MS
long service AT the British Embassy our
ing the days Of Lord Pauncefote. At the
Foreign Office I'm London he has held many
important posts and has been closely
identified at various times with the Earn
Of Granville. Lord Rosebery and more
recently with Lord CurZon while Governor
General Of India.
Sir Arthur was at the British Embassy
here at the time Lord Curzon came TO
marry Miss Letter and was one OF the
leading figures in that international ccrc-
mony Later he was Minister 10 Persia,
where he carried forward the curZon pol
fey Of a mutual Anglo Russian policy as
10 Persia He retired from the Persian
post previous TO the storm which ragged
during the presence there OF w. Morgan
Shuster, jr More recently ne has been
British Minister to Sweden.