AN UNCONVENTIONAL AMBASSADOR.

Evening Star, Issue 19951, 22 August 1928, Page 6

AN UNCONVENTIONAL AMBASSADOR.

Cof.oxur. Chop. uk Harvey, the American ex-Ambassador to England whnao death was reported yesterday, had an influence upon his times which is not to bo lightly reckoned. He was a contentious figure in his own country. That ho should have hhd there, during many years, as many enemies as friends will appear natural from the briefest statement of his career. He was a jiower among the Democrats, alike by his position and his personality, when he edited first the New York 1 World,’ and afterwards the ‘ North American Review,’ and it has been said that Mr Woodrow Wilson was his discovery. It lias been also said that but for him it is certain that Mr Wilson would never have been Governor of New Jersey and President of the United States. But he revolted from Mr Wilson when the President was “ too proud to fight ” in what Harvey regarded as the great cause of civilisation, and lie became a Republican. His attacks wore merciless upon the Wilson Administration, and it was duo to him, in no small measure, that Mr Harding in due course was elected to the Presidency. At a much earlier time all his influence had been used to secure the nomination and election of Grover Cleveland to that great post. “To have made ono President ‘off his own bat,’” it has been said, “and to have been tho chief instrument in making two others is a remarkable record, and its piquancy is not lessened by the fact that two of the Presidents were Democrats and tho third was a Republican.” Harding sent him as Ambassador to England. At that time ho had tho reputation of a “ rattling, battling ” journalist, a combination of Clemeuceau and tho King-maker in tho politics of his own country. But to somo causes, which were greater than party politics, ho was always consistent. “There is nothing, absolutely nothing, 1, would not do to servo the Allies,” ho had said at one time. And his ardour was no less to do what he could for tho cause of Anglo-American

friendship. Ho accepted the appointment to St. James’s, it lias been said, on tho understanding that lie would be something more than a diplomatic letter-box, a mere passer-on of proposals ho bad done nothing to originate. Snell a role would have been impossible to In's energy. There were limes when his outspokenness embroiled him with sections of his own countrymen. Not all of his views were in common with those of Englishmen. Ho had been a strong opponent of American adherence to the League of Nations, whoso covenant bo declared would make tho United States a “guarantor of the British Empire and a vassal and catspaw of England.” But apart from that bogey ho did much for tho cementing of the best relations between tho two countries. There were various outstanding questions when he took up his office which seemed hard to settle. At the end of his term ho could say: “So far as I know I Icavo behind mo no differences between Britain and tho United States. We have a better feeling than wo have had since long before the American Revolution.” And that statement could bo echoed by British statesmen.