LORD CURZON'S CAREER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12991, 7 October 1905, Page 5 (Supplement)

LORD CURZON'S CAREER.

.V" " - ♦ ■«' " BRILLIANT RECORD OF WORK FOR • ;' THE - EMPIRE. The . career''of. Lord Ciirzoa of Kedle6ton, who, at th? age of 46. resigns perhaps the highest position that it is possible to attain under the British Clown, is one of the most brilliant on record, even in these days when the recognition of talent and accomplishments comes much earlier than was the case a generation ago. He became Viceroy of India at the phenomenally early age of 39, and lie lias occupied the office longer than any of his predecessors. The mark of Lord Curzon's statesmanship is his intense belief in the British Empire. ■Ho lias never admitted that England has done her work in the East, and his whole policy has been conceived towards the protection and extension of Britisli influence. Recognising the possibilities of Afghanistan as a buffer between Russia and the India frontier, he has endeavoured' to 'strengthen the ties between the Ameer and Calcutta. He has successfully asserted British priority in Muscat and the shores of the Persian, Gulf, and he lias preserved the oil wells of Yeiiangvung, the one source' of oil in the British Empire, from the American capitalist, Coming to purely internal Indian affairs, he has fought plague and famine, actively supported irrigation, reformed the universities, and redelimited frontiers. It ! is a defect of Lord Curzon's strenuous temperament that lie lacks sympathy. His attitude to the native princes has not always been well considered, and his popularity with them has not been excessive. On the other hand, it is said that lie lias UNDULY FAVOURED THE NATIVE, to the detriment of the European. He was in Parliament at the age of 27, and during the 12 years in which he sat for the. Southport Division of Lancashire he rapidly rose to the occupation of important posts.- He was private secretary to the late Lord Salisbury, Under-Secretary of State for India, and- Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Probably no better preparation for the brilliant position of Viceroy of India could have been designed than this. But, besides his official experience, he had many other qualifications. At Oxford lie was one of Dr. JoweU's most brilliant young men at Bulliol, and he distinguished himself by becoming a Fellow of All Souls' at the age of 23. He won the Lothian Prize Essay and the Arnold Prize Essay, and took a First in Mods. But, in addition to his knowledge of liome affairs and his scholarship, Lord Curzon took with him to India an intimate knowledge of the East and of its problems. His well-known books, "Russia in Central Asia," "Persia and the Persian Question," and " Problems ,of the Far East," embodied the experience gained by extended travels from 1088 to 1893. He had personal INTERVIEWS WITH TUB SHAH OF PERSIA and the Ameer of Afghanistan; he studied on the spot the trend of Russian policy in the Pamirs, and so exhaustive and well-in-formed were his 'books that they have practically become standard works. It may be added that while in Persia he acted as special correspondent to the Times, and thus acquired a personal insight into journalism. In 1895 Lord Curzon married Mary Victoria, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leiler, of Washington. She brought him much wealth, for the Leiters are numbered amongst * the multi-million-aires. It would hardly be correct to say that. Lord Curzon was popular in India during his Vice-royalty. He has been too strong an administrator, too drastic a reformer, and too proud a representative of the majesty of the British throne to be liked on all hands. Lord Curzon has maintained the position of Viceroy to the utmost. With a salary of £25,000 a year, a magnificent residence at Calcutta which cost £150,000 to build, a beautiful palace at Simla, and other establishments, he has been the virtual king of India, keeping up a state and style worthy of a monarch. THE NEW VICEROY OF INDIA. The first Earl of Minto, born in 1751, was Governor-General of India, and now the fourth earl, Gilbert Elliot, born in 1845, also goes out as Viceroy. The present carl when a young man gained a reputation as an athlete arid a bold and skilful horseman. One of his achievements was to ride the winner of the Grand National Steeplechase of France at Auteuil in 1874. After three years in the Scots Guards he was in Paris during the Communist outbreak in 1871, when he made himself conspicuous on the side of law and order. He went to Turkey at the outbreak of the Russo-Turkisli war, and was the first to make it known in England that the Russian troops had crossed the Balkans. On the outbreak of the Afghan war in 1878 he joined Lord Roberts, with whom he remained ■ till the conclusion of peace, when he went to Simla, There he was asked to accompany the Cavagnari Mission to Cabul in order to carry a despatch to the Russian port at Samarkand. Fortunately for him, the idea was abandoned, and he thereby escaped the massacre of the mission. In 1881 he wa-s with Lord Roberts again, accompanying him to the Cape as private secretary. The following year saw him in Egypt as a captain in the Mounted Infantry. Wounded in the first action, he, nevertheless, rejoined his corps in a few weeks, and held the command until it was disbanded. Having seen service in Europe, Asia, and Africa, lie next went to America, where lie served as military secretary to the Marquis of Lansdowno,' who had become GovernorGeneral of Canada. He accompanied General Middleton as chief of the staff on the expedition sent to quell the third lliel rebellion in 885. This was the end of his active military service. JLord Mdnto's Viceregal career in Canada, to which he was appointed in 1898, extended over six years, and came to a. close in November last. The Countess of 'Minto is' the daughter of (Ten the Hon. Charles Grey, for some time private secretary to the late Queen. She is a fearless horsewoman, and ail ardent cyclist. She has five children. The family had a "narrow escape from death ill a. train accident, and during their sojourn in Canada Lord and Lady Minto have had several exciting adventures.