U.S. AMBASSADOR TO BRITAIN EX-LAWYER

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5288, 28 December 1946, Page 2

U.S. AMBASSADOR TO BRITAIN EX-LAWYER

FIRST OBOSSED ATLlANTIC . IN CATTI.E BQAT V* ■ ' " . > * 8 NEW YORK :Mr. Oliver Max.-Gardner, who has) been appointed - to fill the most important diplomatic job the United §tateg has to offer; the Aijabassadox'sKip to Britaih/ is a'meixiber * of a WaShiugton law firin, Who was named by President Rooaevelt t6 be chairman of the' Adi^isory Soard hf fche Ofixcfe bf War Mobiiisation and Reconversionj he was appainted last Fh'bruary -ihy Presildent T^uman as Under-Secretary of the TYeasury. He studied iaw at the University of North Carolina and entered politics almost immediately after starting a law practice. In his earlier years Mr.. Gardner oombined successful political and business careers. He became president of the Cleveland Cloth Mills and a ddrector of the Sperry Corporation. In 1929 he was elected Govex-nor of North Caro'ifia. His achieveihents in that offxce included reorganisation of the State' Government, reduction of real estate taxes, and introduction of a prograinme of economies, »inoluding a reductioix in the Governor's salary — for the first time in history. Dux*ing the Roosevelt Administrafcion Mr. Gardner insisted on resigning as a Democratic National Committeeman for his State after he opened a law office in Washington and started serving the textile inf Justry during the NRA period. At that time President Roosevelt ivrote him: "It is good to have Zriends who are so actuated by high principle." • M)r. Gardner, who is a wealthyman, goCs to a post ' which many outstanding Americans in the past have declined on eeonomic grounds. The last Gongress voted an inu^ease in salax'y for the Ambassador !;0 Great Britain, bringing it to 25,000 dollars (£7500), plus a li'bxral expense allowance. * ; The United Press considers one >f- his most important tasks in Lonlon will be carrying out the work >f Ambassador in such a way as to mnvince Russia that the Western ?owers are not "ganging up" against her. Many Americans will feel a more 1 outstanding figure in national affairs night have been selected for the post. Mr. Gardner, in an interview, realled that he first visited England xs a eollege student when he erossxd the Atlantic in a cattle boat. Dur:ng a vaeation he' lfved in a London rooming house, where he 'jfaid ' 2/ 6 a day for bed and. breakfast., He has eome a long way since then. Recently he sold the Cleveland Gloth Mills for a reported 3,000,000 lollars (£930,237). He was a great tootballer in his.younger days. Al'hough 64, bespectacled and partly 'xald, he is still tall, erect and vigxrous. ' His oratpxdcaL ability, which earnod him medals as a student and $oli:ical honours later, hasn't deserted him. Friends descri'be him as the xblest United States speaker to go to London since Ambassador Jobn vV. Djivis. His reputatioix among orthodox cconomists as a sound thinker should ensure him a good receptioxi 'n the City. He is not, however, unj receptive to new ideas. J Although both lahour . and management have criticised his handling of the strike, New Deal supporters hav)e always regarded him .xs a liberal.