New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-21
HEADS THE SUEz CANAL
New President in the Place OF
Prince Arenberg.

Copyright. 1913. by the Brentwood Company
Prince and Duke August Arenberg, now
In the neighborhood OF eighty, has just
resigned the presidency OF the Sue2
Canal Company. which he has held for
twenty years, and Charles Jonnart has
been appointed I'm his stead. The office
Is one Of such world wide Importance.
especially 10 all maritime nations, that il
is useful to explain just who Jonnart is,
since he is relatively unknown abroad.
From 1882 10 1890 he was head OF the De-
partment Of the Interior In Algeria. In
the early SOS he was a member Of the
Chamber OF Deputies for the Department
Of the Pas-de-CalaIs. and for twelve
months was Minister Of Public Works.
In 1890 he was appointed Governor Gen
eral Of Algeria, and held that office with
out interruption for an entire decade. lie
insisted on resigning when the Cabinet OF
Aristide BRAND. one Of his most intimate
friends. was overthrow in 1910, and last
year when BRAND again formed a CAP
met he took charge Of the Department
of Foreign Affairs on the DUAL dOrsay
for a few months. lie is very rich, very
independent. a devout Catholic ana
thorough man of the world. married TO
daughter of NJ. Aynard the extremely IN
nuential Deputy Of the Department OF
the Rhone and owns not one but several
beautiful chateaus IN France, his prin-
cipal country seat being in the Immediate
nelghborhoOd Of the Duo de Luynes $
chateau Of Dampierre.
England. as every one knows, has pos
sessed the controlling interest and the
majority OF the stock in the Suez Canal
Company ever since Lord Beaconsheld
bought for 500 600 the 1900 800 shares
Of Khedive Ismail. which would now sell
in the open market for five times that
amount 1t would have been therefore only
natural that the headquarters Of the canal
company, especially after the downfall!
and death OF old Count Ferdinand de
Lessons. should have been transferred TO
London. and that the administration
should have become entirely English, with
British chairman. That the manage
ment should have remained wholly French
not only in Europe-that is 10 say, IN
Paris-but also in Egypt, and that the
presidency should have remained vested IN
French hands, is almost entirely due TO
the diplomacy and tact OF Prince August
Arenberg. and also the complete con
hlcnce as a man Of the most scrupulous
sense Of honor and integrity with which
he was able 10 inspire the English gov
ernment. The esteem in which he has al
ways been held I'm Great Britain Is best
shown by the fact that King Edward
some years before his death bestowed
upon him the Grand Cross Of the order
OF the Star Of India
The prince was a close personal friend
~ King Edward and on the death OF the
Duo de Ia Rochcfoucauld-Doude
was elected 10 succeed him as president OF
the French Jockey club. but declined the
honor. preferriug 10 remain vlce-presi-
dent and nominating IN his stead the Due
de Fezensac He IS regarded, however,
as the dean OF the French racing world,
as the principal pillar OF the Jockey club
and as the acknowledged head OF the
French aristocracy. He is a member Of
the institute OF France. president OF the
Phllanthroplc Society n Earis. and OF all
sorts OF charitable enterprises. and con-
ccals his kindness Of heart beneath GER
tain affcctatlon Of brusquerie. Of i'm
pcriousness and Of dryness all Of which
docs not. however. prevent his manners
from being characterized by old-fashioned
courtesy.