Evening star., 1928-06-15
BASIL MILES DIES;
CAREER WAS VARIED
Served State Department
and International Chamber
of Commerce.

Basil Miles, diplomat and economist
end an authority on postal affairs,
died at Emergency Hospital yes
terday, following an operation. For the
past six years Mr.. Miles had been
American administrative commissioner
at the headquarters of the Inetrnation-
al Chamber Of Commerce in Paris. He
was 81 years old.
Mr. Miles was the organizer and first
chief of the division of Russian affairs
Of the State Department and a m.m-
ber of the committee which devised
the postal savings system in the United
States. His diplomatic appointments
included membership on several special
commissions and assignment In the en-
bassies at st Petersburg and Berlin.
He was born in Philadelphia June
90. 1877, the son of Frederick b. and
Gertrude Wordsworth Miles. After
graduation from st. Marks School,
Southboro, Mass, and from the Uni
yersity of Pennsylvania. he spent two
years in business in Philadelphia. Re-
turning to St Marks School In 1899,
Mr.. Miles taught for three years, when
he began a course Of study Of the
economic results Of the American Rev.
olution at Balliol College, oxford Uni
versity.
Went to st. Petersburg.
Upon leaving oxford, Mr.. Miles be-
came private secretary to George Won
L. Meyer, United States Ambassador at
st. Petersburg. Later he became third
secretary of the embassy and afterward
was appointed to similar position at
Berlin under Ambassador Charlemagne
Tower.
While at Berlin, r1r. Miles received
an appointment as second assistant
secretary of the American embassy al
Mexico City, but before proceeding
there, was called to Washington by the
Post ONCE Department to become
supervisor Of foreign mails.
While serving In that capacity he was
instrumental in reorganizing the parce
post service and played an important
part on the commission that wrote the
first postal savings regulations during
the administration Of Postmaster Gen.
eral Hitchcock.
Joined Chamber In 1913.
He first became associated with. the
United States Chamber Of Commerce In
1913, when he took charge Of the Wash
ington office. In the next three years
Mr.. Miles positions included those OF
secretary Of the chambers committee
on national preparedness, acting editor
of the Nations Business, assistant secre.
tary general Of the First Pan-American
Financial Congress and membership In
the central committee on officers
training camps.
In 1925 Mr.. Miles re-entered the dip.
lomatic service as . special representa-
tive OF the United States with the rank
of minister plenipotentiary, and was
sent TO Russia In charge of German and
Austrian prisoners Of war.
When America entered the World
War, Mr.. Miles made q trip TO Siberia
to report on conditions there. Follow
ing this mission he returned to Petro-
grad to become secretary Of the Root
commission.
Formed Russian Division.
On returning to America he was re-
quested by the State Department to
form for the first time division OF
Russian affairs. Of which he was made
chief.
During the conference on limitation
OF armaments held here in 1921, Mr..
Miles was secretary of the American
delegation and executive secretary OF
the conference. He resigned from the
State Departmnt on March. 6. 1922, and
shortly thereafter was sent 70 Paris by
the Chamber Of Commerce.
He was married on March %, 1925,
TO Mrs. Peabody Savell Of Budapest
He is survived by his widow and two
sisters. Mrs H. Willard Gray Of New
York City and Mrs. Thomas Whitney
Surette Of Concord. Mass.
Mr.. Miles was admitted TO Emergency
Hospital on June 3 and a few days
after underwent an operation. He was
believed well on the road to recovery
when he suffered sudden relapse yes
terday and failed to rally.
Funeral services will be held at
i7i8 H street. where he resided when
In Washington. tomorrow at II am
Or. Robert Johnston, rector Of St. Johns
Episcopal Church. viii officiate and
interment viii be in Philadelphia.
Mr.. Miles was member OF numerous
clubs including the Alibi. Chevy Chase.
National Press Metropolitan. st,
Anthony, Golf de Saint-Cloud and
Golf de Fontainebleau