The New York herald., 1921-05-01
NO PARTTANSHIP,
COL. HARVEY TOLD
Ambassador to Britain Says
President Warned Him
During Recent Visit.
SEEKS A LASTING PACT
More Power in Lead Kindly
Light Than in Any
Fighting Anthem.
PRAISES HARDING GENIUS
Departing Diplomat Talks of
Task Before Him at LotOs
Club Dinner.
PRAISES HARDING GENIUS


structions before going abroad as Am
bassador to. the Court of ST. James s
the President asked him to remember
that all partisanship should be aban-
doned at the waters edge.
This fact was made known by Col.
bers of the Lotos Club, who gave him a
good-by dinner in the club house. He
also indicated that as Ambassador he
intended to work for a durable agree
ment between the United States and
Great Britain. He predicted that Presi-
dent Harding's genius for cooperation
would fetch the entire English speak
ing race Into harmonious relationship
SO nearly perfect, both materially and
spiritually, that all mankind would
realize in the near future that there
was more rover and glory in Lead,
Kindly LNvlst than in all the fighting
anthems mf sfss world"
The new Ambassador talked briefly
and for the most part held to vein OF
friendly banter in which critics of his
appointment were not forgotten. He
was introduced by Chester s. Lord, pres
tdent Of the club.
Needs Clubs Con6rma ton.
Col. Harvey's speech follows in full ::
my LORD AND GENTLEMEN:
II take 1t to be fair inference from
what your chairman has said that the
reason for my occupying this honored
place on his right is that l have been
designated by the President to represent
our country abroad. The appointment,
i understand, now requires only confir-
nation by the Lotos Club to make it ef-
fective. ! shall leave to others, il they
feel so inclined, the task which, frankly,
would be appalling to me, Of presenting
for your consideration facts and argu-
ments designed to influence your minds
in rendering a favorable decision. The
utmost that I can say on my own behalf
is that ! have been a member OF this
society for thirty-odd years, and that in
the pride arising from that circumstance
| find due and sufficient reason for your
most gracious forbearance.
Il have never been an Ambassador be-
fore, consequently I am unable to depict
with any degree o. accuracy the obliga-
tions which with becoming humility. I
am about TO assume. Happily, thanks
to Mr.. Finley Peter Dunno, ! am re-
lieved of the necessity of trying. An
Amba ssadure, Hinnessy,' said Mr.. Doo-
ley years ago, lis a man that S no moro
use abroad than he would be at home
Another way of putting 1T more con.
cretely in the present instance is to be
found in the astute observation OF a
friendly commentator, to the effect that
1 have yet to demonstrate my fitness
for the position If I have any-'an un-
deniable proposition in the words quite
,n,,1x tol Nv, Mr. n
and analogued most aptly by our old
friend. Mark Twain, when he remarked
that our jury system would be perfect
but for the difficulty of finding twelve
men who knew nothing and could not
read.
Must Not Criticise Critics.
''Other illusions bearing more directly
upon the case now before your court
I might adduce in profusion from the
public prints, TO say nothing of reports
of Congressional debates duly presented
by our venerable friend the Congress
sional Record. Nevertheless, l am frank
to admit, If not indeed TO boast, that IL
i had been assigned the interesting
task of recapitulating the imperfectons
OF this appointment / could easily have
surpassed In CONTINGENCIES and variety
any OF the endeavors along that line
which have been brought to my atten-
tion. But, for obvious reasons / have
come to appreciate the impropriety of
criticising critics and ! reluctantly re-
>frain.
II may however, confess unblushingly
that have been favored TO a degree by
friends and acquaintance. and others.
with abundance of recommendations.
These written and verbal communicas
lions have taken the form partly Of
criticism ana partly or suggestion. Those
or the former class have resolved gen
orally into disapproval of one expressing
or at times even OF holding convictions.
With such | cannot fully concur.
by way of helpful hints perhaps the
most striking that has reached me dur
ing the entire week of my career as
diplomat arose from disagreement be-
tween two rugged sons OF Vermont. one
cf whom asserted that the safest course
Tor an Ambassador was to set and
think while the other, with yet greater
prudence, insisted that the sure way to
succeed was to just set The wisdom
CT these sage admonitions. as YOU will
note presently. wins my complete ac-
Quiescence.
Warned by President.
'-There arae few things. however,
which | think / may say to you with
out evoking special disapprobation.
When last week, for example. i walt
ed upon the President, conformably TO
custom. to receive final instructions
was requested TO remember that all
partisanship should be abandoned at the
waters edge. 1nasmuch as | have voted
four times for Democratic candidates
Snd -four times for Republican candidates
for the Presidency. compliance with this
injunction did not seem difficult. /
might. In fact, have remarked In pass
ing that formerly | was Cleveland
Democrat. and quite probably would be
row. II that sturdy statesman were stll
alive and well. but that. IN the existing
circumstances. ] am Harding Repub-
iican--a distinction, | beg you to OBJ
serve, in party label only. without
noticeable difference in American policy.
In any case, l am wholly unable 70
perceive why n citizen of the United
States cannot represent his country with
out appearing as either a sycophant or
a swashbucaiernor now. as a guest. nc
can fail to cvince appreciation OF tho cx-
ceptional hospitality invariably extended
by hostess such as we all know Eng
land 10 be-
80 far as the position OF AmDa ssador
to the Court Of ST James's Is concerned.
II is "a great honor. OF course but like
all other public offices IL is only what
the holder makes OF tan opportunity,
not q realization.
What Is needed by the two countries
now, as ! interpret the situation, is less |
of tcntatire compromise that iS-Eo conn.