THE LATE SIR RICHARD CRAWFORD. (To THE EDITOR or TRE
" SPECTATOR."3 SIR,—In the death of Sir Richard Crawford, late Commercial Adviser to H.M. Embassy, Washington, the country loses one of her best and ablest sons. Sir Richard's career, before pro- ceeding to Washington in 1915, was an unbroken record of great public service rendered to the State, but it is perhaps in respect of the work he accomplished in the United States of America that he will best be remembered, and for which his country owes him the greatest debt of gratitude. Throughout admittedly trying and difficult times—the full circumstances of which will perhaps at some future date be disclosed—Sir Richard exhibited a degree of ability, patience, kindliness, and tact which not only won him the high esteem and respect—and indeed affection—of all with whom he worked, both British and American, but which also resulted in the satisfactory settlement of outstanding questions of great complexity between the two Governments.
The esteem in which Sir Richard was held by his personal chiefs in Washington, and by the Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs under whom he served, is well known. No less remarkable was the manner in which he won his way to the hearts of the members of the United States Administration with whom his work brought him into close contact. I may perhaps be permitted in this connexion, without trespassing upon confidences, to recall a conversation that I had with a prominent member of the United States Government in Wash- ington last December. After speaking to me in the warmest terms about Sir Richard, he said: "I hope your country realizes how much it owes to him."
It is to a large extent the lot of State officials to perform their work unbeknown to the general public, and it is for this reason that I have asked the courtesy of your columns to pay a tribute to one than whom none, I venture to say, has renlered greater or more distinguished service to his country.—I am,
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