The Washington herald., 1909-03-07
THE DIPLOMATIC DEAN
Probable Departure of Baron Mayor des Planches
Gives Rank to Baron Hengelmuller.

peror Francis Joseph as a very able and
discreet statesman. who, under an ap-
.pearance OF Indifference and Incidence. Is
extremely wide awake. lie got the better
on two or three occasions Of the late Lord
Granville, who was deeply disgusted at
being '-rouled" by a mere charge daft
faires. Indeed. the conviction that Hen
gelmUeller was too clever by half coupled
with the i'll will Of Lord Granville ended
in affecting his position in society.
Baron Hengelmueller is a Hungarian OF
German extraction. In Washington. where
he presented his papers as Ambassador
December q. 1902. he is a general favor
ite. inside as we'll as outside the corps.
The title and dignity OF baron of the
kingdom of Hungary was conferred upon
Baron Hengelmueller a little over a year
ago In recognition of his great diplomatic
services This title was bestowed on the
Ambassador by his Emperor by way of
Christmas present Hungarian baronets
are OF greater importance and much more
highly valued than those OF Austria For
whereas the Austrian barony carries moth
ing with il excepting the empty title and
the right 70 surmont ones armOrial bear
ings or monogram with a seven-pronged
coronet. the Hungarian barony invests its
possessor with a seat in the House OF
Lords at Budapest. In fact II is a peer
age in the English sense OF the word.
Baron Hengelmueller is, therefore.
peer OF the Magyar realm. These peers
are known in Hungary by the distinctive
title Of ''Magnat," or magnate. and their
House OF Lords Is known as the Magma
ten Tafel. or Table OF Magnates. The
magnates, as such. wear on state occa-
sions most gorgeous Magyar costume
Of medieval style and Oriental magnifi-
cence. In fact, there Is no Shower or
more picturesque garb to be seen at any
Of the courts Of Europe than that OF q
magnate Of Hungary. And those CT them
who fill the Office Of envoy. like Ambassa-
dor Hengelmueller, invariably wear il on
official occasions IN preference TO the or
dinary diplomatic uniform
There have been many rumors ever
since the baron's appointment TO the
Washington post OF his impending recall
only 10 be met with an unqualified denial
either by him or the Austrian foreign
Office. 1t has been stated again and
again that the leaders Of the Magyar Do
liticai world In Vienna and Budapest were
not satisfied with HengelmueIler's action
in Washington for some time claiming.
among other things. that he neglected 10
hoist the Hungarian flag on the Embassy
building whenever opportunity demanded
such action. They have attacked him re-
peatedly for his lack OF energy, pointing
out that the Increasing Importance OF the
relations between the dual monarchy and
the United States. especially in regard TO
the emigration question, requires a young
er and more strenuous man. able TO carry
out Magyar plans OF keeping the Hun
garian emigrants in closer connection
with the fatherland- Hengelmueller has
almost been fOrty-twO years In the diplo-
matte service OF his country. Discussing
the matter with me recently, the Ambas-
sador remarked that there is no limit Of
age or time I'm the Austrian or Hungarian
service regulations. Forty years OF serv-
fee entities an official to retire with full
pay, but do not make his retirement OBJ
| liEatOry- On the other hand. the govern
ment may have and exercise the right TO
retire an official al any time II they think
another incumbent would be more erfi-
cient
Years ago MexicO's Ambassador at
Washington was Senior Don Manuel de
Aspiroz. who was the public prosecutor ar
the trial Of the unfortunate Emperor
Maximillian, who was left in such a mis-
erable plight by the French Emperor.
Consequently, the Mexican Ambassador
could not be invited 20 any private house
at which either the Austrian or the Bel
gian Minister were expected. A number
OF winters ago Mnna HengelroueIlar- and
the wife OF the Belgian Envoy. the Count
ess de Lichtervelde. definitely refused 10
| accept an invitation from the President
when they were told that the Mexican
Ambassador would take IN TO dinner one
Of the two. An invitation 20 dine at the
White House, II must be remembered. has
under all circumstances the force and
dignity Of royal command or summons.
although II ought to be admitted that il
was rather tactless 10 bluntly inform the
two diplomettes that either OF them had
been selected to honor a person who was
| regarded with the greatest possible dis
approval by their soverelgns.
Although If reaching the post as dean
OF the Washington foreign diplomatic col
ony, Baron Hengelmueller will not retain
II long. as he also before many moons
will take his departure. The baron and
baroness, accompanied by their daughter.
Baroness Mia Hengelmueller, sailed yes
terday for Southern Europe. where they
Will spend the rest Of the cold season and
all Of the coming summer They viii re-
turn to this country October / and win
spend the early part OF the fall In Ienox.
as Is their custOm-always, OF course. un-
! less his government viii make other dis
/ positions of the Ambassador.