AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO BRITAIN.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20463, 5 February 1932, Page 9

AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO BRITAIN.

MR ANDREW MELLON APPOINTED. (cKiTSD rar.ss association—si bl*ct»io TBLBOBAPH —COPSKIGHT.) (Received February 4th, 7.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, February 3. Mr Andrew Mellon (Secretary for the Treasury) has announced his acceptance of the Ambasadorship to Britain. In making this announcement President Hoover said: A critical situation is facing all countries in their international relations. The manifold economic and other problems, demanding a wise solution, call for experience and judgment of the highest order. Air Ogden Mills, of New York, UnderSecretary for the Treasury, will become Secretary when Mr Mellon departs. Andrew W. Mellon, the American financier and (statesman, WftS Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in March, 1855. After graduating from the university there he entered the banking house of Thomas Mellon and Sons and later became a partner. In the eighties he became interested in the development of the coal, coke, and iron indu&r tries of Western Pennsylvania- Ho founded the town of Donora, where fie established big steel works, and acquired large oil and aluminium i»r teregte. . Until he was appointed, at the age of 6s, Secretary of the Treasury in 192 i by President Harding. he had had no experience. His post put him in the forefront of the series of POOtroversies regarding the war depts of Kurope and America, for he continued to hold the post under President Coolidge. While combating the demands of the "Battalion of Death," headed by Borah, for larger payments froin the debtor Powers, he strongly opposed every suggestion that such debts gheuld be cancelled. In December, 1927, lie declared that within two years there would have to be a final settlement of the reparations figures.. He also expressed his opinion against lower American tariffs. , ' ' Jn January, 1026, the Department of Justice investigated chaFgep against Mr Mellon that hie Alupiinium Company had violated the anti-trust laws by endeavouring to suppress competition, but the finding wa? tjiat there was no ease. Another attack was launched against hiin in March, 1928, when it wa« alleged that he had been guilty of questionable practices in connexion With a Senate nomination, with frig responsibility tor the deplorable conditions in the Pennsylvania mines, and with having sought to hamper the Senate in its investigation into the oil scandals. In 1928, he concurred in the nomination of President Hoover, who retained him at the Treasury for a third term, despite his advanced age. In March, J929, Senate approved of a resolution an investigation of his right to continue in office on tho ground that he had violated the statute forbidding the Secretary of the Treasury to engage in commerce or business, it being asserted that he was still in control of certain undertakings, A similar charge was again brought against him on January 6th last.