Sir Esme Speaks

Speaking to a representative of the Associated Press in Madrid, Sir Esme Howard, recently appointed British Ambassador to the U. S. in succession to Sir Auckland Geddes (TIME, Jan. 7), said: "I am overwhelmed by the great honor conferred on me by the British Government in nominating me for such an important post, and also by the responsibility of the task of representing the British Empire in the United States. At the same time I am delighted at the prospect of renewing the acquaintance of many friends made in Washington during my service as> Counselor of Embassy under James Bryce, while I shall be glad to meet again the numerous people I had the pleasure of knowing during various trips to different cities in the U. S.

"My task in the Embassy will be all the more difficult after a series of brilliant representatives of Great Britain during a long period of years. However, my feelings toward the United States have always been the warmest from earliest manhood, and whatever it is possible to do toward strengthening the understanding between the two peoples will be done by me so far as ability and desire permit.

"I consider Washington one of the most homelike cities in the world, and it is a real pleasure to me to return there. I intend to leave Madrid about the end of January, going to London to confer and make final arrangements which will take probably a few weeks."

The New Statesman, London weekly journal of opinion, commented thus upon the appointment of the new Ambassador : "It may be taken as marking a return to the tradition of permanent ambassadorships-a tradition which has been systematically violated by the appointments to Washington during most of the last decade."