Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-29
.SPR|NG-R|CE HERE,
TALKS Of PLANS
New British Ambassador at
the State Department
This Afternoon.
SAYS CHANGES MAY COME
IN THE EMBASSY STAFF
Is Most Democratic Diplomat and
Personal Friend of New Austrian
Hungarian Representative.

Sir cecil Arthur Spring Rice h c.
M. G., the new British ambassador, who
arrived in Washington late yesterday to
take up his duties herer and who made
his first official call of respect in the
United States capital on Acting Secretary
of State John Bassett Moore this after
noon at ; O'clock. today declared that his
arrival. although coincident, is i'm no way
connected with report that Alfred
Mitchell Innes, the counselor of the EN-
bassy. is to be transferred from WASH
ington very soon and promoted.
Mr.. Mitchell Innes." the ambassador
said, lis on the list for promotion. and
In the usual course of events will become
that will be do not. of course. know as
we have no knowledge of the intention OF
the foreign office in London in that re-
spect Mr.. Innes. who has been on duty
here a long time. is entitled to leave of
absence. and in any case | suppose that
will be granted to him in the near flu
ture.''
Most Democratic Man.
The new British ambassador is likely
to strike Washingtonians as one OF the
most democratic men who have ever held
his exalted position. He found time today
at the embassy to talk with Star report
er about half a dozen things not connect
ed with matters under diplomatic discus
sion, among them his friendship for the
new strian-Hungarian ambassador
rived here. to take up his residence in
the Austro-Hungarian embassy on Con-
necticut avenue just across the street
from the British embassy.
.'One Of my first visitors" Sir Cecil
said. was the new Austrian ambassador.
fv@lrx
across the street. He. as well as /. have
just come from Stockholm. in which cap
ital we were colleagues for some time.
We had a friendly chat and I naturally
an old friend Immediately upon my ar
rival here
Takes Interest in Base Ball.
The ambassador said he was glad to be
Of service to newspaper men whenever he
could, as he had. way back in his oxford
days. done something in the line Of
writing himself. Commenting on reports
sent out by the correspondents that he
Is likely to become base ball fam"
he wanted to know If 1t is still the Gus
tom for members Of the diplomatic corps
to attend the games, and when told II
is he said he would probably take an in
terest in the sport to the extent of
witnessing them.
Il remember. fifteen years ago." he
said, 1T was quite the custom for the
diplomats to watch the games. and We
got a lot Of fun out of it. Whether
shall be in Washington long enough to
see many here, l do not know, as l shall
busy myself with hunting for q place t.
spend the summer as soon as L have
been presented to the President My
wife, my daughter Betty and my son
Anthony will come here next month. but
we shall probably not be in Washington
long,
The ambassador is of medium height.
approaching tallness, slender and fifty
four years Of age. His beard and
mustache are slightly gray. He talks
with laughter in his voice and eyes,
good humoredly and freely.
Minor Embassy Changes.
| Coupled with the report that was
presented to him today that Mr.. Nit
chell Innes is to leave Washington.
was another that there will be other
| minor changes in the staff Of the en-
bassy here. The ambassador said that
| he had not yet been informed Of any.
although he would not be surprised IL
eventually there were some changes
| In accordance with the custom of the
foreign office in making periodic
transfers.
He forestalled any disposition for quesA
lions about possible future notes in re-
gard to the Panama canal controversy
by saying:
You newspaper men in Washington, OF
course don't ask us questions that We cam
not answer Politics and what the foreign
office Is doing. OF course, | am not per-
mitted to discuss. I understand that Am
bassador Bryce adhered pretty closely to
the rule OF not talking about public ques-
tions for publication. and naturally SO
shall L.