Addison E. Southard
{{short description|American businessman}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Addison E. Southard
| image = Mr. Addison Southard October 7, 1922.jpg
| caption =
| office = United States Consul General for Hong Kong and Macau
| term_start = November 5, 1937
| term_end = June 30, 1942
| predecessor = Charles L. Hoover
| successor = Karl L. Rankin
| office1 = United States Consul General for Paris
| term_start1 = 1936
| term_end1 = 1937
| predecessor1 = Clarence E. Gauss
| successor1 =
| office2 = United States Ambassador to Ethiopia
| term_start2 = March 1, 1928
| term_end2 = October 26, 1934
| predecessor2 = Hoffman Philip
| successor2 = Cornelius Van Hemert Engert
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1884|10|18}}
| birth_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1970|02|11|1884|10|18}}
| death_place = San Francisco, California U.S.
| restingplace =
| party =
| otherparty =
| father =
| mother =
| spouse = Lucy Meloy
| children = Patrick H. Southard{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48877105/the-san-francisco-examiner/ |title=Southard, Addison E. |date=February 15, 1970 |work=The San Francisco Examiner |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417005134/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48877105/the-san-francisco-examiner/ |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |page=46 |via=Newspapers.com}}
| relatives =
| education = National Normal University
University of St. Thomas
| signature =
}}
Addison E. Southard (October 18, 1884 – February 11, 1970) was an American diplomat who served as Minister Resident and Consul General to multiple countries. After serving in administration roles in the Philippines and diplomatic roles in the Middle East and Southeast Asia Southard reestablished relations between the United States and Ethiopia. He later served as the Consul General for Hong Kong and Macau until Hong Kong fell to the Japanese.
Early life
Addison E. Southard was born on October 18, 1884, in Louisville, Kentucky, and educated at National Normal University and the University of St. Thomas.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49016664/the-newark-advocate/ |title=Old Normal Boys Meet |date=August 10, 1933 |work=The Newark Advocate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418222315/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49016664/the-newark-advocate/ |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |page=22 |via=Newspapers.com}} He worked for a commercial firm in Oaxaca, Mexico, from 1904 to 1905, and in 1906 at a newspaper.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48972664/the-courier-journal/ |title=Louisville Man To Go to China As Consul General |date=May 2, 1937 |work=The Courier-Journal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418122247/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48972664/the-courier-journal/ |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |page=37 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1914, he married Lucy Meloy and would later have one son with her.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48876061/the-san-francisco-examiner/ |title=Southard Rites Held; Ex-Envoy |date=February 15, 1970 |work=The San Francisco Examiner |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417004504/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48876061/the-san-francisco-examiner/ |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |page=32 |via=Newspapers.com}}
Career
From 1907 to 1915, he worked for the Insular Government of the Philippine Islands before entering a diplomatic career and later advised President Woodrow Wilson at the Versailles Treaty Conference in 1919. In 1916, he was nominated by Wilson to be a consul and was approved by the United States Senate.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49060789/the-courier-journal/ |title=Addison E. Southard Nominated Consul |date=August 30, 1916 |work=The Courier-Journal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200419152619/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49060789/the-courier-journal/ |archive-date=April 19, 2020 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 19, 2020 }}
From the 1910s to the 1920s, Southard served in the United States consulates in Aden and Jerusalem before becoming the Consul General in Singapore from 1926 to 1927.{{Cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/southall-spain.html#333.75.54|title=The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Southall to Spake|website=politicalgraveyard.com}} From 1922 to 1926, he served in the Department of State as the chief of the consular reporting office.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48874915/the-courier-journal/ |title=Ex-Envoy Southard Is Dead at Age 84 |date=February 14, 1970 |work=The Courier-Journal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417003615/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48874915/the-courier-journal/ |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |page=26 |via=Newspapers.com}}
In 1916, he visited Ethiopia as a part of an economic survey, and in 1920, helped negotiate oil concessions.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49015434/the-dayton-herald/ |title=Southard-- |date=December 4, 1935 |work=The Dayton Herald |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418220938/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49015434/the-dayton-herald/ |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}} In 1923, he participated in an economic and agricultural survey in Mandatory Palestine.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49061290/morning-register/ |title=U.S. Observer Claims Holy Land Soil Is Poor |date=March 25, 1923 |work=Morning Register |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419153101/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49061290/morning-register/ |archive-date=April 19, 2020 |page=24 |via=Newspapers.com}}
=Ethiopia=
In 1909, Hoffman Philip was appointed to serve as the United States' first ambassador to Ethiopia, but only remained in the position for one year due to health problems. In 1914, the consulate was formally closed as there wasn't a high enough level of commerce to justify another commercial treaty with Ethiopia. In 1917, Southard visited Ethiopia and reported that the Ethiopians were displeased that there was no longer a diplomatic mission from the United States in Addis Ababa. In 1923, Haile Selassie wrote to President Warren G. Harding asking for the consulate to be reestablished, but did not get a reply until 1925, from President Calvin Coolidge.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2ZjOJxfRF88C&dq=Addison+E.+Southard&pg=PA12 |title=Page 10 to 12 The 1903 Skinner Mission to Ethiopia & a Century of American-Ethiopian Relations |last=Skinner |first=Robert Peet |date=January 1, 2003 |publisher=Tsehai Publisher |page=10 |isbn=9780974819815 |via=Google Books}}
On October 12, 1927, Southard was appointed as the Consul General to Ethiopia while the Senate was in recess and was later recommissioned on December 19, 1927. On March 1, 1928, he presented his credentials to the Ethiopian government and would continue to serve until October 26, 1934.{{Cite news |url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/southard-addison-e |title=Addison E. Southard (1884–1970) |date=April 16, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416234611/https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/southard-addison-e |archive-date=April 16, 2020}}
In 1930, he was commissioned by National Geographic to report on the coronation of Haile Selassie as Emperor of Ethiopia and the report was released in June 1931.{{Cite news |url=https://www.derekbishton.com/the-coronation-of-his-imperial-majesty-haile-selassie/ |title=The coronation of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie |date=November 2, 1930 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200416235058/https://www.derekbishton.com/the-coronation-of-his-imperial-majesty-haile-selassie/ |archive-date=April 16, 2020 |access-date=April 17, 2020 }} During his tenure a lake was discovered in the northwestern part of the country and was named "Southard Crater Lake" in his honor by Selassie and he received the Order of the Holy Trinity, an Ethiopian warrior costume, a lion skin, a lion's mane, a silver mounted lance, and other gifts from Selassie.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49021050/green-bay-press-gazette/ |title=American Envoy Is Seeking New Trade In Ethiopic Wilds |date=January 4, 1932 |work=Green Bay Press-Gazette |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418231924/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49021050/green-bay-press-gazette/ |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49021704/the-berkshire-eagle/ |title=U.S. Consul To Abyssinia Knocked Down By Officer |date=January 18, 1932 |work=The Berkshire Eagle |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418232622/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49021704/the-berkshire-eagle/ |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |page=15 |via=Newspapers.com}}
On January 17, 1932, he was being driven through Addis Ababa when his chauffeur ran over a woman's foot. A police officer attempted to arrest the chauffeur, but Southard protested against it while several other officers arrived and was later thrown to the ground by the officers. The officers were later arrested and sentenced to one year in prison and given heavy fines for the beating.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49022824/the-boston-globe/ |title=Big Apology To A.E. Southard |date=January 22, 1932 |work=The Boston Globe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418233906/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49022824/the-boston-globe/ |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |page=36 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49031313/evening-star/ |title=U.S. Envoy Assaulters Get Year And Big Fines |date=January 25, 1932 |work=Evening Star |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419013250/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49031313/evening-star/ |archive-date=April 19, 2020 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} Foreign Minister Heruy Wolde Selassie, Addis Ababa Mayor Makonnen Endelkachew, and three cabinet members apologized to Southard for the beating.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49023125/the-baltimore-sun/ |title=Attack On Envoy To Abyssinia Draws Protest From Stimson |date=January 23, 1932 |work=The Baltimore Sun |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418235027/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49023125/the-baltimore-sun/ |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}
In 1934, he was appointed to serve as the Consul General in Stockholm, Sweden.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1934/07/22/archives/foreign-service-changes-addison-e-southard-moved-to-stockholm-from.html |title=FOREIGN SERVICE CHANGES; Addison E. Southard Moved to Stockholm From Ethiopia. |work=The New York Times |date=July 22, 1934 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416235539/https://www.nytimes.com/1934/07/22/archives/foreign-service-changes-addison-e-southard-moved-to-stockholm-from.html |archive-date=April 16, 2020}} In 1936, he was appointed to serve as the Consul General in Paris, France.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48982682/the-philadelphia-inquirer/ |title=New Consul In Paris |date=January 19, 1936 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418155911/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48982682/the-philadelphia-inquirer/ |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |page=11 |via=Newspapers.com}}
=Hong Kong=
On May 1, 1937, he was appointed as the Consul General for Hong Kong and Macau.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48972651/green-bay-press-gazette/ |title=Assign Southard As Consul In Hong Kong |date=May 1, 1937 |work=Green Bay Press-Gazette |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418121625/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48972651/green-bay-press-gazette/ |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} During the Canton Operation the Japanese dropped three bombs on the American owned Lingnan University, causing criticism from the United States which was delivered by Southard.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48975368/the-los-angeles-times/ |title=New Bombing Protest Filed |date=June 9, 1938 |work=The Los Angeles Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418135746/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48975368/the-los-angeles-times/ |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} On November 30, 1938, Lydia Liliuokalani Kawānanakoa, the daughter of former Hawai'i Prince David Kawānanakoa, married journalist Clark Lee and Southard served as a witness to the wedding.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48975958/the-central-new-jersey-home-news/ |title=Clark Lee Married To Daughter Of Hawaiian Prince |date=November 30, 1938 |work=The Central New Jersey Home News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418141349/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48975958/the-central-new-jersey-home-news/ |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}}
In 1941, Lauchlin Currie visited China to determine whether or not to advise President Franklin D. Roosevelt to extend the lend-Lease program to China and was greeted upon his arrival by Southard and a representative of Chiang Kai-shek.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48877744/edmonton-journal/ |title=Arrives in China For U.S. Survey |date=February 5, 1941 |work=Edmonton Journal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417010158/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48877744/edmonton-journal/ |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} In November 1941, he was surprised by the British evacuation order for Britons in the Fujian province, due to the advancing Japanese army, as a similar warning had not been issued to Americans in the area.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48879059/chicago-tribune/ |title=British Advise Flight; U.S. Aid In China Surprised |date=November 10, 1941 |work=Chicago Tribune |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200417012022/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48879059/chicago-tribune/ |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 17, 2020 }}
During the Battle of Hong Kong his home in the city was destroyed, forcing him to live at the consulate general building.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48878718/johnson-city-chronicle/ |title=One American Listed Killed |date=December 25, 1941 |work=Johnson City Chronicle |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200417011526/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48878718/johnson-city-chronicle/ |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |page=5 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 17, 2020 }} On December 25, 1941, the Japanese took Hong Kong and imprisoned him. On March 12, it was reported that Southard and his staff were in two houses in a select residential district of Hong Kong and were later moved to the Stanley district.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48901064/the-daily-telegram/ |title=Southard Imprisoned |date=March 12, 1942 |work=The Daily Telegram |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417130943/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48901064/the-daily-telegram/ |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |page=17 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48901073/daily-press/ |title=Southard Imprisoned |date=April 8, 1942 |work=Daily Press |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417131107/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48901073/daily-press/ |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |page=6 |via=Newspapers.com}} After six months of imprisonment he was released as part of an exchange agreement alongside sixty three other diplomats and was taken to Maputo on board the Asama Maru before returning to the United States on August 25, 1942.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48901911/the-capital-times/ |title=Japs to Exchange U.S. Consul Seized As Hong Kong Fell |date=April 9, 1942 |work=The Capital Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417133808/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48901911/the-capital-times/ |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48902031/nashville-banner/ |title=Diplomat Exchange |date=June 30, 1942 |work=Nashville Banner |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417133922/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48902031/nashville-banner/ |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |page=17 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48902312/the-courier-journal/ |title=Eight Kentuckians Included Among Ship's Passengers |date=August 26, 1942 |work=The Courier-Journal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417134036/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48902312/the-courier-journal/ |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}
On June 30, 1942, Southard left his position in the Hong Kong consulate generalship. He retired from governmental service in 1943.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48874394/oakland-tribune/ |title=Funeral Held For Addison Southard, 85 |date=February 17, 1970 |work=Oakland Tribune |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417002028/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48874394/oakland-tribune/ |archive-date=April 17, 2020 |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://hk.usconsulate.gov/our-relationship/policy-history/past-consuls-general-hk/|title=U.S.-Hong Kong Diplomatic History | U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau|website=U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau}}
Later life
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Southard, Addison E.}}
Category:20th-century American diplomats
Category:Consuls for the United States
Category:Businesspeople from Louisville, Kentucky
Category:National Normal University alumni
Category:University of Santo Tomas alumni