LORD LOTHIAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24481, 14 December 1940, Page 11

LORD LOTHIAN

DEATH IN WASHINGTON ILLNESS OF THREE DAYS BRITISH PUBLIC SHOCKED (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) ’ RUGBY, Dec. 12. Lord Lothian, British Ambassador to . America, died suddenly early this morning at the British Embassy at Washingtoh. The news of his death, which was immediately communicated to the King and members of the Government, came as a great shock to the British public. Lord Lothian was reported as being indisposed yesterday, and his stirring and impressive speech at Baltimore last night was read by the Counsellor of the Embassy (Mr Neville Butler). Lord Lothian’s important mission to Washington, the conduct of which had been marked by distinction, was recognised on both sides of the Atlantic, and marked the peak of a career devoted unswervingly and unstintingly to public service in various fields. Tradition Worthily Upheld Lord Lothian succeeded to tha title in 1930. As Mr Philip Kerr, he displayed the keenest interest in

Imperial and international politics, and was widely travelled. During ,

the last war and at'the peace Conference he was private secretary to Mr Lloyd George. Before he succeeded to the title he was a Liberal member of Parliament. He worthily upheld the tradition of Britain’s greatest Ambassadors and performed a unique service in securing a complete mutual understanding between Britain and the United States. Knowing both countries as he did, he could speak, to each of the other with a sureness of touch that comes only from long experience and close personal'contact. His knowledge of the American State was quite invaluable, and he will be long remembered, as one who most faithfully represented the British Empire in the country where he served. Lord Lothian, who was a Christian Scientist, was ill for three days, but had no medical attention.

The coroner certified that Lord Lothian’s death occurred from natural causes, which were uremia and heart and kidney condition. He added that there would be no autopsy. It was explained that the coroner was called in because a physician had not attended Lord Lothian at the moment of his death. A doctor was called in after death.

Speech Creates Great Interest Lord Lothian’s speech in "Washington yesterday with regard to American aid for the British cause was read with great interest in London, while the opinion was expressed that no Ambassador from a belligerent to a neutral nation had ever been more outspoken in public. “ That it should have been possible,” states the Daily Telegraph, “for a diplomatic representative of Great Britain to make such a direct and unreserved appeal to the people, of the United States is striking evidence of the intimacy and under-standing—-hardly to be niatched x -

elsewhere —in the relationship between the two English-speaking democracies.”

Lord Lothian was leader of the British delegation to the British Commonwealth Relations Conference in Sydney in 1938; and later visited New Zealand. In May, 1939, he was appointed British Ambassador to America, and his-work there did much to clarify and strengthen the ties between Britain and the United States. By virtue of his regular travels in countries of the British Commonwealth he had a balanced picture not limited to Government or Opposition views in London. HTs appointment as Ambassador was regarded in official circles in Washington as of real historic importance. He was 58 years of age.