Evening star., 1925-08-13

"One Of the most important posts
in the service is the giSt of Ameri-
can thought on the death of Ambas-
sador Edgar A. Bancroft, who is
credited with remarkable ability in
dealing with the delicate situation in
the Orient He left record in ia
pan which in American public opin-
ion marked him as a distinguished
representative of the new school of
diplomacy. A general demand is
made for a successor of similar abil-
ity to represent the country at Toxic.
Respect alike on the part of the
government and the people to whom
he was accredited" was won by Am
bassador Bancroft. says the San Fran
cisco Bulletin, which adds that his
qualifications were exceptional and
his service, though brief. did much TO
Soothe irritations that of late years
have tended to become chronic" The
Bulletin also calls attention to the
fact that the duties of our Amba ssa-
dor to Japan are of exceptional i'm
portance, calling for all that any man
may bring to it of courtesy and manly
candor.' The requirements of the
post also impress the Fargo Forum,
which states: 1T requires an am
bassador of high character, of sound
judgment and of constructive policies
United States and Japan. Mr.. Ban
croft was such a man. 1t is too
early 10 say what he had accom-
plished specifically, but we do know
that he had endeared himself to the
Japanese people and that he was max
ing headway in healing the wounds. :"
X X
"As Nichi-Nichi of Toxic suggest.
ed the San Antonio Express re-
marks, his very inexperience in dip
lomatic ways may have been an asset
to him. He went to his new post
open-minded and with a clean sheet
years work amply attest his success
Cordial relations, not merely between
the governments-as expressed In Of
ficial protestations of amity-but be-
tween the peoples. have been pro-
moted wonderfully. Humiliation
day failed for lack of popular sup
port. Ambassador Bancroft was win
ming over not only officialdom, but
also the masses" The use of "his
talents as a conciliator," according to
the Jackson Citizen-Patriot, relieved
a situation that might easily have de-
veloped into something serious"
"Mr. Bancroft applied to the Japa-
nese mission" as the record is viewed
by the indianapolis News, Ibis talents
as a conciliator and jurist, adhered
to the principles of diplomatic Gus
tom under the guidance of the en-
bassy staff and contrived to relax a
tension which might easily have led
to distressing consequences Fur
ther credit is given by the Chicago
Daily News, because, as "a man of
great ability, of unfailing kindliness
he tirelessly performed volunteer
tasks of good citizenship" An added
word of praise from the New York
Times is that ''it may be said that no
one could have better exemplified and
personified the best that America has
developed in her own culture and as
piration.
y X X *
THE chief purpose of enlightened
diplomacy in these modern days is TO
make friends" the Asheville Times
points out, and "Amba ssador Bancroft
was a distinguished and effective ex-
ponent of this new school of diplo-
matte thought and practice
In the discussion of qualities re-
quired of the successor to the post the
Seattle Times emphasizes the view
that 1T is essential that the Ambassa-
dor should be more than a diplomat;
that he should be man of outstand-
ing capabilities, who could do some
thing constructive with respect to our
relations with Japan" The. need in
Toxic is for ..strong, broad-rflinded,
tactful American" declares the Los
Angeles Express, which believes that
."only blunder in diplomacy might be
lations into "a difficult and even dane