POST FOR BEATTY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 187, 8 August 1919, Page 5

POST FOR BEATTY.

EMBASSY AT WASHINGTON. LONDON, August 7. The lobby correspondent of the "Times" says that it is reported that Admiral Earl Beatty has been offered the post of Ambassador at Washington. He is considering the matter.—(Reuter.) Admiral Beatty has been oufc of a post since his retirement from the command of the Grand Fleet. It is generally recognised both inside and outside the navy that Admiral Beatty is the ablest officer in the service, and that his war record, though he was balked in the one opportunity presented for sinking the German fleet, is more in accordance with the fighting traditions of the British navy than that of any other admiral. The appointment of Admiral Wemyss as First Sea Lord when Lord Jellicoe was retired was regarded as a stopgap, but a hitch has occurred in Admiral Beatty's succession to the post owing to the fact that Admiral Wemyss objects to being retired. Mr. Waller Long, the First Lord of the Admiralty, who :"e the Ministerial head of the navy, is in favour of the appointment of Admiral Beatty, but apparently he is not stronjr enough to deal with the situation created by the protest of Admiral Wemyss against the proposal to retire him. Admiral Wemyss is a man with a great deal of social influence, come of which doubtless has been exerted on his behalf in order to enable him to retain the position of First Sea Lord. He was in command of the Orient liner Ophir. in which the present King and Queen, as Duke and Duchess of York, made a tour of the Empire, including Australia, in 1900-1901. Friendly relations which were established between Royalty and him during the tour have been maintained.