SIR D. M. WALLACE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 152, 22 March 1919, Page 11

SIR D. M. WALLACE

KEM.VRKABTA' EQUIPPED JOURNALIST. The story of tkat great traveller and student of foreign affairs wiio has just dial—Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace, K.C.1.E., K.C.V.U.. LL.D., is told by the "Times,", which lie. had served bo Ion; anil so well, and it shows that he was a uniijuely equipped journalist", lie had an exceptionally wide acquaintance in all European and many non-JJiiro»e, r in countries. It was an acquaintance of the most varied character,, including Hoyailies, courtiers, social magnates, statesmen, diplomatists, ■ travellers, savants., arlists, journalists; all - touched some side of his life mid.character, lie was appointed Director of the Foreign Department of the "Times" in 1801..;

"II was a new post; for though in past vears experienced- .members of Hie stall'-, "such as Jlenr.Y Reeve -at one -tiericd, and Gallenga at another, hail specialised'in foreign all'airs, and .Here entrusted by Delane with a certain, though limited, discretion in treating of .theni, no distinct 'department" of .-the kind had been previously, constituted in., .the -. "Times" oll'ice. But. Ihe increasing; volume. and complexity of foreign correspondence, and the "resence at. home' of an exceptionally oualified,man, who had. already' rendered eood service to " tho Paper abroad,, suggested lo the late. Mr. Moberly Bell Jhe s iiew departure, which speedily justified itself. "Wallace's orderly mind soon pro- • vided a satisfactory'organisation, which formed a rallying point for . the corre'spondcnls .scattered all over, tin world; and.'his nightly'advice and' .assistance gave a peculiar'weight and. decision to the editorial pronouncements' of the "Tillies" upon foreign 'affairs d.urih? the, eight;" year's 'that he filled the post. Tho power'of lucid brevity in convcjinjr to others tho 'note,' as he used to call it, of articles lie wished to have written; was among the most remarkabio of his • manv gifts. Ho was the most helpful of colleagues, never' making difficulties, but always smoothing difficulties away, and his 'encyclopaedic knowledge was -a reservoir that was seldom tapped in vain. " ■ "Ho was specially distinguished w King Edward aud Queen 'ATexanuia. both . •before aiul lifter their accession to the Throne; being'ii,. frequent guest at -Sandriiighahi, ami one who was now' and ' again'invited to such'intimate gii'lierings .' lis those held to celebrate the Imthdavs of the King -and Queeni ..Dunn" tho first year of bis reign King Edward .. decorated his friend with the K.C;V.O.; land he subsequently appointed him an Extra 'Groom-in-Waiting. Wallace held a similar appointment .under - tho ■ preficut King, .who also- appreciated his vast • 'attainments'aiid complete discretion,.and had taken .him. as his' assistant private . secretary when, as Duke of Cornwall and 'York, ho and fiie'Duchess; made . their tour of tho Dominions in IMi—an occasion which, .furnished. AYallaco ■ with the material', for a book, '.The Web of

Umpire.' . • >■' • ■ ' ' , "Another Imperial personage who ; valued his" company and was wont to invite him to her house was the. venerable Empress Eugenie. Moreover, there was hardly a Sovereign in Europe, during tho latter years of the'last ■century, and the early -years' of the present, of whom ho had' not some ;personal.experience.- The qualities which recommended hmv to Princes were ■ his, eavoii". vivre, ; his -tact . and discretion,- his proved 'fidelity .- v and, abovo all, his exhaustive knowledge ot that side of politics in which. Royalty is usually most expert and most,interested—foreign polities-; tho affairs of . Europe ana ol tho world." • ■■■ ■ This, well-equipped man lost "both his parents when-ho w;as not yet 1U„ years oiilf and sufficiency of private means made him master of his fate -before he emerged from boyhood. About the age of 15 ho conceived, in his. own words, f n passionate love of. study and determined to devote my life to it.' In pursuance of this purpose he spent five or six .years at the Scottish-universities, first at' Glasgow and then, at Edinburgh, .busied mainly with metaphysics and ethics; occupying-his long vacations with comprehensive tours in Europe, during which he acquired fluency in tho principal languages of the Continent." He studied in Paris, Berlin, Heidelberg —and spent sis-years in Russia. He was in : Berlin with Blowitz an IS7B at. the' Berlin Congress; Then ho represented, the "Times" in Constantinople, and had'a distinguished career as private secretary lo Lord Dufl'erin when he was Vicerov of India. No wonder his friends, enjoyed his savqir vivre. ' '

It is staled that the Pmisr.ian Diet" recently voted' the necessary fluids for equipping Vail goods trains ' with • air brakes, .the work to .be completed . 1927. The object in view is to increase the average speed, and thus obtain better utilisation of rolling stock, and tho measure is also oxpected t<j save 2J men per train, thus releasing .10,000 men for other work. '