Ambassadors

The first great change under the Coolidge Administration, the first major operation since 1921 on the State Department's corps of diplomats, is forecast. The State Department announced the forthcoming retirement of Colonel George Harvey from the post of Ambassador to the Court of St. James, and of Richard Washburn Child as Ambassador to Italy.

The Causes. As is nearly always the case, the underlying causes of such events are carefully concealed from the public eye. The assigned reasons for these two retirements seem sufficiently motivated under the general terms of the official account to render superfluous any resort to hypothesis.

The State Department announced that both Ambassadors will retire at their own earnest solicitation. It was vigorously denied that they had had any disagreement with the Administration. Ambassador Harvey declared his intention of resigning to President Harding last Spring. It is understood that both wish to retire for personal reasons--to attend to their private affairs and to escape the financial burdens of their posts.

The last consideration may be assumed to weigh heavily. Their salaries are $17,500 a .year. The expenses of Colonel Harvey during his time at London have been well over $100,000 in excess of his salary. Mr. Child's expenses have doubtless been somewhat less, but burdensome, nevertheless.

The Retirements. Colonel Harvey is expected to sail for this country in November. His resignation will become effective on Jan. 1. The only comments that he made on the official announcement of his resignation were: "I cannot say anything whatever about it" and "I am not at all interested in the statement."

Ambassador Child was reported to have started for this country on leave of absence from which he will not return.