The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1924-01-30
BRITAIN SENDING
NEW AMBASSADOR
SIR ESME HOWARD. OF FAMOUS
FAMILY, NAMED TO SUCCEED
SIR AUCKLAND GEDDES.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK

Sir Auckland Geddes, who has beer
ambassador to the United States since
the retirement of Lord Reading, has
been compelled to give over his duties
because of falling eyesight. Sir Auck-
land Is a comparatively young man.
and until recently it was supposed
that he would continue TO hold high
rank in the British diplomatic corps
for many years to come, but he went
to the front in France during the
war and suffered during a German gas
attack, the effects of which were such
as to threaten blindness, and he has
been compelled to retire.
The British ambassador to the Uni
ted States always holds u first place
socially and automatically in the cap
ital, even if he does not happen to be
the ranking ambassador, for men In
the ambassaforial corps take rank ac-
cording to the date of their appoint
ment.
Some Former British Ambassadors.
James Bryce, a deep student of
American affairs, and a writer of high
standing on subjects concerning our
democratic institutions, was for a long
time the British ambassador in Wash
lngton. He was one of the most pop
ular men who ever served any coun-
try in the capital. He not only stud
led American institutions, but he stud
led our home life and he particularly
was interested in the capital city. He
wrote of Its building plans, and of its
architectural and landscape beauties,
He was as fond of writing of Ameri-
can matters as was and still Is his
colleague in the corps, j. j. Jusserand,
the ambassador of France.
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, new dead, fol-
lowed james Bryce in the British en-
bassy at Washington. He was a close
friend Of Theodore Roosevelt long be-
fore the colonel had become president
and long before the baron had become
ambassador.
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice was succeeded
in Washington by Lord Reading, the
great English jurist who now is vice
ROY of India. He was the first Jew
ever appointed by Great Britain to
the ambassadorial post in the United
States. That religion does not enter
into British appointments is shown
perhaps not only by the Reading ap-
pointment but by that of Sir Esme
Howard, who Is of an old Roman
Catholic family of which the duke of
Norfolk is the head.
y Loryfhnsling is said to be n of
&1
the greatest lawyers England
ever produced. He never had had any
diplomatic experience prior to the
time that he was sent to Washington,
and he made something of a record
here, not only officially but by sheer
force of his personality. He had a
keen sense of humor.
FearIessness of the Readings.
The writer of this when he was in
the army during the war was ordered
to France on the Mauratania, which
then was being used as a transport.
Reading had been summoned
back to England for a conference and
was a passenger on the steamship and
with him was his wife. The Maure-
tania, being a fast ship, went unes-
corted. Lady Reading was accompa-
MED by her maid and the two were
the only women passengers on the
great ship which carried about 6,0O
American troops. 1t vas unquestion-
ably a perilous voyage, for the Ger
mans were looking for the big ships,
but 1t was remarked by the American
officers on board that Lady Reading,
and her maid showed themselves less
concerned about danger than any of
the other passengers. Lord Reading
busted himself making friends with
the American soldiers on the trans
port. He was democratic and unas-
suming to the last degree.
The British ambassador lives in a
house on Connecticut avenue, directly
across the street from the Presbyte-
rian church of the Covenant. In the
middle Of the street In q little TRAN
gular plot of land there has been
erected a statue to John Witherspoon,
n PRESBYTERIAN divine and n Of the
signers of the Declaration of indie
incidence. 1t was Witherspoon who
was particularly militant in his at
taeks on the policies Of Great Britain
turing the days which preceded the
American Revolution. IN fact it was
said that the British desired to get
hold of him in order to hang him. To
day succeeding British ambassadors
look out of their front windows upon
the face Of the sturdy old gentleman
who once called their country all man
ner Of things and meant ii.
Panama Canals Weak Defenses.
The greatest armada ever gath
cred together under tie American
flag. comprising more than one hun
dred war vessels, is about to be-
gin the winter maneuvers and war
games Of the navy at Panama. This
huge fleet will be under the command
of Admiral Robert e. Coontz and in
cludes Is battleships, 4 light cruisers.
e3 destroyers. II submarines, one air
plane carrier, one airplane tender,
four destroyer tenders, three sub
marine tenders, five mine layers, and
80 train vessels. including repair, fuel,