OUR AMBASSADOR IN PARIS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 197, 4 August 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

OUR AMBASSADOR IN PARIS.

STORIES OF LORD BERTIE. Thirteen years ago Mr. Balfour, who was then Prime Minister, found himself in a quandary. The post of Ambassador at Rome became vacant, but the l ight man to fill it could not be found. M ■. Balfour thereupon sought the advice of tli.' Foreign Office. "Who would you send, Bertie?" he ask.ed Lord Initio, then S'r Francis, and Permanent I ndor Secretary of State lor the Foreign Office. But neither the Chief of the Department nor the Secretary cou'd think of the right man. "Tell me the necessary qualifications,' - said Mr. Balfour, as if he kid an idea. Sir Francis went through the virtues that ho considered proper to an Ambassador at Rome, ending with an exact description of the :d."al Ambassadress. Mr. Balfour nodded silently and went away. The next day S : r Francis was asked if lie would accept the post. So the story goes; and thus it came about that Sir Francis Bertie became British Ambassador at Rome. He only remained theie a yeai, when his popularity in high circles gamed b'lii the blue ribbon of the Diplomatic Service in Par s, the highest-paid post ill the service, worth ;i year, as compared with £2,000 in Rome. Lord Bertie (prnouncod Bart'eK who is now seventy-two years of ago, is undoubtedly one of the most successful representatives we have cv,or had : n Fiance, and it is due in a great measure to him that the Prussian spring of l'.tl I did not catch tli? French and British napping. .'v ((iiiet, unostentatious man. Lord Bertie, who speaks French fluently, vs as famous I'd- li s wit and persona l charm as he is for his d plonnitie skill and wisdom. He dresses in the old style, and his tall, narrow-brimmed hat 's one of the features of Parisian society. Not that Lord Bertie caies much lor dress. story of his modesty in this respect is told of his first appearance in Home when he was appointed Ambassador there.

On tlie day of Irs air val a large crowd had gathered to give him a v.el('Oi)H'. Presently a train drew up at the station plitform and a short, stout, ish man. dressed in a tweed suit and knickerbockers, hurriedly alighted, and, passing quickly through the throng, disappeared. No one took all \ notice of him, as the crowd were looking for tli.e clogant'y-drossed ind'vdual who was their idea of a British ambassador. But the stranger in the tweed suit was none other than Lord Bertie, who entered the carriage a.waiting him and drove awav without being discovered.