Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-13
SUBJECT OF MUCH TALK
Why Some Persons Are Barred From
the White House.
EXCLUSION OF NOTED WRITER
South American Countries interest
ing to Tourists-How the
Trip Is Best Made.
BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS.

written LOT Inc star ana Inc chicago hecOru-
Herald.
There has been a good deal OF gossip
in Washington recently about the re-
| fusal of the President and Mrs. Roose
welt to receive or to invite to social tunc-
| tons at the White House a notorious
nobleman who is about to marry an
American heiresS and an English woman
| who has written a notorious book. Both
of these people have friends in Washing
| ton and have recently visited this city,
and both have reason to be disappointed
with their reception.
The duke came last spring and happened
| to be here at the time the French fleet
was visiting the exposition at Jamestown.
The admiral and his officers were brought
to Washington as the guests of the ma
ton. the President gave them reception,
and they were the recipients of much pri-
vate hospitality, which the duke was not
invited to share The attaches of the
French embassy were quite friendly with
him. but he was not received by the am
bassador. The people he was visiting
telephOned to the White House to say
that neither they nor he had received in
vita tons to the function that was given
in honor of the fleet, and We're informed
that the omission would be inquired
into That was the last they heard of
H. The lady then requested a friend to
call at the White House and inquire why
they and their duca guest had not been
included in the invitation list. He d d not
find it difficult to obtain the information
desired. He was told very frankly that
the President and Mrs. Roosevelt did not
entertain such notorious people He was
also advised of a rule that has always pre-
vailed at the White House not to invite
or receive foreigners who have not been
presented by the diplomatic representa-
TVS of their countries.
Rule Strictly Observed.
This rule is strictly adhered to for obvi-
GUS reasons. No English subject can be
invited to the White House or be intro
duced to the President or Mrs. Roosevelt
without the approval of the British am
bassadOr. The same is true of Chinese
visitors. or strangers from the Argentine
Republic. or Italy. or Norway or France.
Not long ago Prof. Milukoff one of the
most eminent and able Russian patriots,
came over to deliver a speech at New
York and was entertained at dinner by
Herbert Parsons. a representative in
Congress from New York city! Members
of the cabinet and other gentlemen con-
nected with the administration and con-
spicuous in public life accepted invita-
tons. and it is certain that the President
would have enjoyed meeting eminent
and accomplished a man as Prof Milu-
koff. But he could not do so unless that
gentleman had been introduced by the
Russian ambassador; and as the professor
is the leader of the anti-constitutiona
democrats he is not persona grata with
the Russian government. Not long ago
little Japanese schoolgirl who was visit
ing Washington Expressed d desire to
meet President Roosevelt. of whom she
had heard, and read 2 great DEAL and for
whom she had an ardent admiration; but
the rule had to be applied in her case as
in every other. and gentleman who
asked permission to bring her to the
White House was advised that he must
first obtain the approval of the Japanese
ambassador.
So long as the French ambassador.
therefore, did not ask an invitation for
the duke, and SO long as he did not pre-
sent him. his grace received no invitations
to the White House. 1t would have been
easy for the President to have telephoned
the French ambassador that the duke
had applied for recognition. or he might
serand any pleasant afternoon on the
tennis court back of the White House.
Perhaps he did: but. at any rate. the
same answer was given to people who
to the diplomatic reception and to a
musicale given by Mrs Roosevelt during
the week he spent here.
But it is safe to say that he would not
have been invited at any rate. Mrs.
Roosevelt would undoubtedly have fol-
lowed the same rule she has adopted
toward other notorious foreigners who
have been officially presented to the Pres
ident by the ambassadors and ministers
of their countries.
Two or three years ago q diSreputa-
BILE prince of one of the royal fam
lilies of Europe was visiting this country.
and, escorted by the ambassador of his
sovereign. visited Oyster Bay to pay his
respects to the President, as official et-
quette required him to do. And the Presi-
dent was compelled to receive him for
| the same reason. The schedule of railway
| trains brought the prince to Oyster Bay
at noon. and the President could not
avoid asking him to luncheon. Mrs Roose-
| welt. however. was not present. Shortly
before the arrival of the royal guest she
| and her daughters drove to the residence
| of a neighbor and remained there until
| the obnoxious visitor had departed.
Not Lioness Here.
The woman who wrote the sensational
| novel had got herself into the New York
newspapers good deal. She was received
and entertained by the rapid set of that
| city. and, for a time, was quite loness
And when she came to Washington she
| brought a number of letters Of introduce
ton to ladies prominent in social and of
fetal life. She stopped at the leading ho-
tel and sent out her letters and her cards
the next day. Some Of the ladies who re-
ceived them invited her to dinner some to
tea and some of them merely returned
her call She did not attain the role of
a lioness here. Several declined her re-
quest to introduce her at the White
House and explained to her the etiquette
| which regulates such matters. AS the
British ambassador did not offer 10 do So
she and her sister who accompanied her
called there alone one afternoon and left
| their cards for Mrs. Roosevelt. They then
requested several of their acquaintance
| here. one after another, to obtain them
| invit atoms to the reception to the diplo-
matte corps and to musicale that had
| been arranged by Mrs. Roosevelt The
authoress also expressed her eagerness to
| dine with the President, because she in
tends to put her American experiences
| into a book. and dinner at the White
| House would make an excellent climax
Several notes, I think six was the num-
| Der. were received by Mrs. Roosevelt from
| Washington society people with this sug-
| gestion. but thus far have been allowed
| to remained unanswered. Finally the au-
| thOress persuaded the wife of a senator
| one of the most gentle and gracious la
dies in Washington. to intercede in her
| behalf The answer was that no for
eigners could be entertained or even re-
ceived without an introduction or re-
quest from the diplomatic representative