New-York tribune., 1910-01-12
HONOR MIR. WHITE
PILGRIMS HIS HOSTS.
Retiring Ambassador to France
Warmly Greeted.

Henry White, former Ambassador TO
France, was welcomed home last night by
the Pilgrims Of the United States. who
gave dinner IN his honor at relmon.co's,
and when the evenings speaking was over
every man there could feel that the well
cone rang true
II was not large dinner. as dinners go,
hut Joseph H Choate characterized it
when he said very simply. Il don't remem-
Ter any such company as this gathered TO
honor any man"
Two men who had formerly bee9 ac-
credited 10 France were there to honor Mr..
White-John Bigelow and Levi p. Morton,
who were in Paris forty years ago and
twenty years ago. respectively-and as Sir.
Cnoste, former Ambassador TO Great
Britain. looked at the two aged diplomats
he turned 10 the Pilgrims and said laugh
ingly, ''Weii there is thing ! can tell
you TOW. and that is that II you want TO
i've TO be hundred years old, just have
yourself appointed Ambassador TO France"
Each Of the four American speakers who
addressed the diners-AIr. Choate Mr..
While. Senator Depew and F. Hopkinson
srlitn-enlphasized at some stage of their
remarks the point of the housing of Amer
tcan representatives in foreign countries.
The President and 'The King the
customary toast at Pilgrim dinners were
followed last night by another, particular
20 the occasion and the guest, toast TO
President Failieres, each accompanied by
the national anthem. Then ". Butler
Duncan, the toastmasteF, proposed the
health of the venerable John Bigelew.
which was drunk to the strains of Yankee
Doodle"
To Mr.. Choate there fell the task OF pro-
posing the health of the guest of the
.-1,1 s1s1~a
tsties of Mr.. White with the tribute, He
has had genius for friendship"
Mr.. Choate bernoaned the fact that a
efplomat of such training and ability as
Mr. White should leave the diplomatic
service of his country, and though he con-
sideree il a great loss to that service, he
said his countrymen at home became the
Eainsrs by his return 10 his native land.
fr. White Visibly affected bya the
tribute Of Mr.. Choate and the greeting
the Pilgrims gave him when lie arose to
speak
He had always thought, he said, that
when diplomat became knows too wide
y, when he achieved anything that was
referred 10 as "a diplomatic trump" his
usefulness as such was of the past, but
the words of welcome he received from
The Pilgrims lessened the strength Of that
belief
OPPOSES TOO MANY TRANSFERS.
1t was good thing, SAID Mt White that
young men in the diplomatic service of
their country should be able TO lock for
ward TO promotion as d reward for fidelity,
but he deserted the tendency, which he
J said was prevelant among younger diplo-
1natio attaches of the present, toward fire.
ouent transfers from one post TO another.
! "A young man in the Diplomatic service"
bsio Mr. White, should grow up In the
IEervice slowly; he should devote his life
| 80 the service, and make the acquaintance
snd gain the friendship of The men Of his
own age in those countries to which he
would be assigned so that when he gains
the prominence he earns ne will have then
the friendship of those men with whom he
las grown up automatically and 5gho will
then be IN positions OF responsibility with
their OWE governments
Referring briefly to the housing Of Ameri-
can Ambassadors. Mr.. White asked the
Pilgrims TO consider it from a business point
"f view, leaving aside the humiliation of
an ambassador. and to drive home his
point, told OF a recent incident in Paris
when II was necessary for several French
-nen to testify in certain matters connected
. with an American case.
J Those men. he said, would have been
unwilling TO go to a hotel. 10 a court or
70 business office 10 offer their testimony
. the NATTER, but suggested themselves
that they would willingly 80 20 the EN-
bassy for the occasion
AS it happened. at that time he said.
u was able to bring them to an Embassy
house, but there should be, as with other
governments, home for the representative
Of our country in each capital
Mr.. White referred TO his early exper-
IN,
secretary Of legation he had served under
and been with such men as Judge AIphonso
Taft. the father Of President Taft, and
James Russell Lowell. and later with Mr.,
Choate
The Presidents recent recommendations
on the diplomatic service. and the efforts
launched by Colonel Roosevelt and Elihu
Root, as Secretary of State, Mr.. White said
would be iBealculable henefit to the service.
Il saogld be- said Mr. White, that
while the posts OF honor be always open
20 men of experience end culture who have
net served apprenticeship in the lower
grades Of the diplo nEtic corps, they should
ps ecpally open to those whose experience
las taken them up through the grades TO
rhe highly responsible positions"
Senator Depew enlarged upon the same
ipsint, telling with good effect the story Of
74r. choate lost in London, and acccsted
by z policeman with a warning that he
should go home.
why, my dear sir" was Mr. Choate's
reply, according 10 Senator Depew, Il have
no hons; Tm the American Ambassador
1T IS Z shame and a disgrace" said
Senator Depew. chat any man, De lie ricn
or poors should have 20 take from his own
pocket to maintain the dignity Of our
COUNTY,
z. Hcpkinson Smith described the mag
lniheent embassy homes of England,
Frsnee. Germany and Russia for their
iEnbassadors in Coustantinopie and then
drew graphic word pictures Of the embassy
hcEles ot two American ministers to Tur-
key with whom he had come IN contact.
1T Is an outrage" said aIr Smith, that
eighty-fve million Americans, richer by
fer Than any OF these other countries. ask
our representatives there TO provide their
own establishments, 10 maintain cur dig
nifty az the Sui.an's Court"
~ E de Ia Rocco, first secretary of the
French Embassy at Washington, offered
brief tribute 10 Mr.. White, and W. But
ssF Duncan read the regrets Of Ambassador
Bryce and Senator Nelson W. Aldrich.
Among those at the guest table were
Postmaster General Hitchcock, ]. Pierpon+
Morgan. Major General Leonard Wood, Al