LATE SIR EDWARD GOSCHEN.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1924, Page 4

LATE SIR EDWARD GOSCHEN.

LONDON. Alay 21. • c 'ir William Fdward Ooscle.-n. whose death is reported, was our Am-has-ador at Berlin at the outbreak ot I lie Orcat War. He will be remembered in history as the man who presented to the (,'ermaii Oovcrnnient on August I lit.- British ultimatum which led to Britain entering the war. the final meeiing helween the Herman Chancellor, the late II ur vo:i Beihinaini-1 lollwegg, ami Sir Fdward.

on the evening of Augu-t -I, a tew hours before the expiration of the Bri--1 i'D ultimatum. Sir Fdward described iu his final despatch : I loinii! the t liiincelliir very agitated. Hi' FxccHeiicy at once began a harangue, which Iti'led for ahum 20 minutes. He said that the step taken by his .Majesty's O'overiimeni was terrible to a degree; iust for a wordneutrality, a word which in war time had so of ton heen disregarded—iust tor a scrap ol paper {treat Britain was going to make war- on a kindred nation who desired nothing better than to he friends with her. When the ('lmiiccllor asked whether ti e Bliti'h Ooveruincnt had calculated th.- <os| ; >t which the compact made by the British (.‘overiimeiit to defend Belgian neutrality wnuld In- kepi. Sir Fdward hinted as plainly its ho could:

Tlmt tear of ooii'oqiicm-es could be regarded as an excuse for breaking solemn engagements, but bis Kxcelleney was so excited, so evident'"

overcome by the news of our action, and so little disposed to hear reason that I relrained from adding fuel to the llante by further argument. During the night of August -I an excited mob of Berliners overpowered the police force at the British 'Embassy, which they attacked with cobble-stones. No one. however, was Injured. Two days later the Amabssador and his stair left Berlin and, apart from insults and jeers, got safely out of Germany. Sir Edward's diplomatic- career began as an attache in 1 —fit*. After service at .Madrid, Buenos Aires. Paris. Rio de Janiero, Constantinople. Peking. Copenhagen, Lisbon. Washington, St. Petersburg (as it was then called.!, and Belgrade, he became Ambassador at Vienna PJOo-2, following which lie went to Berlin. He was ti younger brother of the first Lord Goschen, the Unionist statesman. who broke away from Gladstone over Home Rule atul became C'lwtneel-j lor of tlie Exchequer in Lord Sal D-l bttrv’s .second Administration in 1 5, 7.