Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-24
ROBERT LANSING
SUCCEEDS BRYAN
President Wilson Names Former
Counselor to Be Secre-
tary Of State.
APPOINTMENT is ACCEPTED
Formal Announcement That Cab
met Has New Premier Made
at White House.

WASHINGTON. Juno o3.-Formal an
nouncem"nt Of the appointment of
Robert Lansing as Secretary of State
was mad" at the White House at 6
O'Clock this evening The following
statement was authorized:
Before leaving this evening for n
brief rest in New Hampshire, the PrcSi-
dent announced that he had offered the
post OF Secretary of state TO Mr., Rob
ert Lansing. the present counselor Of
me department. OF state. and that Mr..
Lansing had accepted the appointment"
Mr.. Lansing. who is Il son-in-law Of
former Secretary OF State John w
Foster. became counselor of the state.
Department on the retirement OF John
bassett Moore. and has been openly re-
Sarded rs President Wilson's mainstay
on questions of international law in all
the difficult diplomatic negotiations
which have been thrust upon the
United States by the European war
RESPECTED AND ADMIRED
~ FOREIGN CIIANCELLERIES
1t is n matter of common remark in
Washington that he has commanded
the respect and admiration of the for
eign chancelleries here TO a marked
degree
Mr.. LansinC's home is in Watcrtown.
y. Y. and he is fifty years old. Since
1889 he has been in the practice OF
law, and began his first diplomatic
work for the United States in 1892
when he became counsel for the United
states In the BehrinG Sea arbitration.
Soon afterwards he became counsel for
the United States BchrinE Sea Claims
Commission, and then was solicitor for
the Alaskan boundary tribunal In
1903 he became counsel in the North
Atlantic Coast fisheries at The Hague
His last work before becoming coun-
seior for the state Department was
as agent for the United States in the
Anglo American claims arbitration
He was graduated from Amherst Col
lege.
Mr.. Lansing's writings on interna-
tional law have attracted wide atten-
ton. One of his principal papers was
Government. its origin, growth and
form in the United States" Since 1902
he has been an associate editor of the
American Journal of International Law.
LANSING Is CONSULTED
ALMOST CONSTA NTiY
While the notes of Great Britain and
Germany have admittedly been the
work of President Wilson and former
Secretary Bryan was consulted from
time TO time during their preparation,
II was no secret that the President was
in almost constant communication with
Mr.. Lansing on the many intricate
points of international law Recently
the President invited him TO sit at
the Cabinet table while the notes TO
Germany on the Lusitania were being
discussed and put into final form
Secretary Bryan also was present at
these meetings, and. so far as is known
Mr.. Lansing's presence was a pre-
ccdcnt.
Since Mr.. Bryan's resignation the
President frequently has expressed to
close friends his admiration for Mr.
Lansing. and indicated he would ask
him TO take the portfolio of the State
Department.
Mr.. Lansing has appeared very little
in politics, and at one time there
seemed TO he some doubt among the
Presidents advisers IL II would not be
necessary to select man who prob
ably had performed greater service for
his party. From tho first. however,
practically all members of the Cabinet
have been in favor of Mr.. Lansing's $
selection, and it is understood the
president took the view that the ca
pacity OF the man whom he would
choose for his new Secretary OF State
was more to be considered ut this june
turc of international affairs than any
other factor.
Mr.. Lansing was appointed secretary
adj interim on Mr.. Bryan's retirement
Under the law, such an appointment is
permissible for thirty days. Mr.. Lans-
mg's ad interim designation would
have expired early next month
no HINT OF OPPOSITION
TO his CONFIRMATION
His regular appointment however.
becomes effective at once. When Con-
Grcss meets it will have to be sub
mittcd to the Senate for confirmation
in the regular way. Senator'S of the
Foreign Relations Committee with
whom Mr. Lansing has 10 deal are
known to regard him highly, and there
has been no hint of any opposition.
News of Mr.. Lansing's appointment
spread rapidly. and his colleagues i'm
the Cabinet did not wait the issue Of
the Presidents formal announcement
before sending their congratulations
Secretaries Garrison and Daniels went
ut once to his office. Secretary
'Tumulty telephoned congratulations
from the White House. others quickly
added their good wishes. and the news
spreak among the diplomatic corps |
Those diplomats who have removed
their offices to the summer embassies
j: the North were notified by their at
taches who remain here.
For many years Mr.. Lansing. who is
n man of considerable means. has lived
here with his fatherin-l law, John w.
Foster. Secretary Of State under Presi-
dent Harrison. Mrs. Lansing is one of
the popular members of the official and
diplomatic set, having breathed the
atmosphere OF diplomacy since child
hood. They have no children.
Aside from his success as LAWYER
Continued on Third PageD