The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-10-03
VISC0UNT GREY, new
ENGLISH AMBASSADOR,
C0URTLY GENTLEMAN
(kansas City Starr

Sir Edward Grey Of Falloden will
come to the United States as ambassa-
dor from Great Britain, after thirty
four years in statecraft and diplomacy.
Politics has been meat and drink
to Niscount Grey since he was elect
ed to Parliament from Berwick-on-
Tweed when % years old He was 54
when, in 1916, he was forced to re-
sign his seat because Of rapidly fail
ing eyesight. Regularly he had been
reelected by his first constituency
throughout the years. and meanwhile
he had passed twenty-fOur years in
the foreign office. He was 80 when
he became under secretary of foreign
affairs, and William E. Gladstone de
clared: Il never knew in any man
such aptitude for political life with so
little inclination toward it." Eight
years before the beginning Of the
world war Sir Edward became foreign
secretary.
Even in retirement Viscount Grey
has retained his interest in politics,
SO, while his selection for the Wash
ington post is his first appointment
since 1916, his political career can
truthfully be said to extend without
break back thirty-four years to the
day he first took his seat from Ber-
wick-on-Tweed.
Tried to Unite Europe.
Political storms have ragged about
him. He has been assailed by his con-
temporaries at home and by leaders
of other nations abroad. Germany,
in the early years Of the war. charac-
terized him as Liar Grey" and point
ed to him as the instigator Of the war.
But he was absolved from this re-
spOnsibility shortly after his retire
ment by Germany's own representa-
! tive in Great Britain when war was
declared. Prince Lichnowsky. After
recalling the methods Of the British
secretary Of state for foreign affairs
in amicably settling disputes between
his country, France and Russia, fol
lowing the Balkan disturbances,
Prince Lichnowsky declared the Eu-
rOpean policy Of Viscount Grey was
intended to preclude for all time pos
sibility Of a European conflict.
Here is a characterization of Sir Ed
ward, written by Sidney Brooks short
ly before the foreign secretary's re-
tirement, and recently reprinted by
the New York Evening Post:
IAN English Gentleman"
1OSSlDly II one were 10 ueSCTlDc
| Sir Edward as the most English Eng
! lishman in England it might help the
Americans to a clearer comprehension
! of the man. To meet him is to feel
yourself in the presence Of an English
gentleman of absolutely the finest
type, one whose dignity is so natural
that it never occurs to him to wonder
whether he is dignifed, one from
| whose 1.-the frame and Roman EN-
perorish features there radiates an
instantaneous impression Of entire
cleanness and squareness of thought
and life and conduct. 1t is inconceiv.
able that he should ever do or con-
template anything mean or petty or
underhand-one minute in his com,
pany disposes of the notion forever.
He is one Of the most transparency
honest men l have ever come across
And our own typical countryman, the
late Theodore Roosevelt, was so i'm
pressed by Sir Edward Gray that he
declared after days fishing trip with
the then foreign secretary on Mr..
Rooseyelt's way home from his hunt
ing expedition in Africa my day
with Sir Edward Grey in New Forest
was the browning experience Of the
| whole three months"