12 JANUARY 1924, Page 9

THE

ENGLISH-SPEAKING WORLD.

BY EVELYN WRENCH.

THE appointment of Sir Esme Howard as British Ambassador at Washington has once more raised the question as to the desirability of sending a pro- fessional diplomatist to represent the British Empire in the United States. Sir Esme Howard has been most popular wherever he has been, and no doubt, on his return to Washington, he will win equally golden opinions. But the problem is not one of personalities, and, as Mr. Garvin remarks in the Observer, "we doubt whether this country can henceforth be represented effectively in the United States by a professional diplomat." The British Ambassadorship in the United States requires quite exceptional qualifications, and success elsewhere in the Diplomatic Service does not necessarily imply success in America. Years spent in the Chanceries of Europe are not necessarily the best training for this difficult position. As I mentioned in my notes in the Spectator last week, where Lord Bryce excelled was in getting in personal touch with the great American public.