Evening star., 1914-11-01

American public by President
Wilson, are by no means con-
fined to the State Department. Ask
any hostess of the National Capital
whose social functions are attended by
members of the diplomatic corps how
many hours of worry. what deep
thought and careful consideration, have
been entailed by the fact that half a
dozen or more of the nations of Eu-
rope are at each others throat.
And as the season for social activities
advances the more care and circum-
spection will be required in planning
for these formal society affairs. Din
ner lists will have to be compiled with
the most painstaking care, because
never in the world would it do, let us
say, for Ambassador Jusserand or any
member of the French embassy staff to
be guests at dinner at which Count
Won Bernstorff or any attache OF the
German embassy was to be present.
Nor could the oversight ever be atoned
for should Sir Cecil Spring-Rice or any
member of his official family be hidden
as guests to an affair at which Dr.
Dumba or a member of the Austrian
embassy were to be present.
>
Germany and Austria against practi-
cally all the rest of Europe is the So
cial lineup in Washington TINS WINTER
lust as it is the actual lineup on the
battIefelds of Europe. To be sure. up
to the present time. the diplomatic
representatives in Washington OF
Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland,
Holland ami Greece may safely pc ASK
ed to attend functions at which the
representatives of any OF the remain
ing nations of Europe are TO be suests.
They may be asked to sit beside the
diplomats who represent the Ierhiah
kaiser and the Emperor OF Austria,
hungary, and they may also u,he ~ d
company which includes Great Dl ll..'H 80, :.
official representatives, OF frdnes "
Russia's. But not at the same tih'e.
This problem of maintaining heul a.
ity is Il peculiarly trying one at oe ~
of WashinSton's biggest ciuos,
Metropolitan. Since the outpreak u
the European war an atmosphere sur,
charged with electricity has enVelopeo
the handsome building at the souen-
west corner of 18th ana strees' .s
northwest; and the nerves seo OF have s,uo been o
on wire edge for the past tWeive
weeks. because OF the effort-none 1ne
less positive because unoDtfuSlVe-lo
avoid unpleasant occurrences Which
might be occasioned should two dlpio-
mats whose countries happen to De at
war be usnered into the same dlnlng
room at luncheon or dinner, OF oe
shown to seats at the same or adJoih-
ing tables.
The reason for this feeling of appre-
hension within the walls OF the Metro-
politan Club is that all foreign dlplo-
mats, by club rule OF long stanolhs,
have the entree to the club, and most
OF them are either active or honorary
members. .
The Metropolitan is really cosmopoll-
tan, in fact, and members OF the dlp!o-
matte corps representing practically
every nation that maintains an EN-
basSy here or that accreditS : tniiflste |
or other representative to the Unlteo
States may be found ON the clubs lists
Now, with the representatives. OF Two
of the greatest powers OF Europe not
on speaking terms, as one may say
with the diplomats who represent
about half dozen of the other Euro
pean nations. the problem presented
to the clubs management is that OF
preventing even the possibility OF an
unpleasant contretemps within the
clubs precincts.
Not that anything like murder. violent
assault or sudden death is 10 be appre-
hended European diplomat, under all
circumstances maintains an air OF savoir
faire he is always a diplomat, else he
would never have been sent to the cap
ital of the United States But imagine.
if you can, Ambassador Jusserand being