Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

year This was his entrance into dl-
plomacy, profession which thereupon
claimed him. Returning to Berlin aiter
a year. he left the army and took posi-
ton In the foreign office Two years
later he began the round of legations
and embassies as secretary as the pre-
liminary steps to higher rank. Secre-
tary of legation at Belgrade Tor Two
years. at Dresden for year secretary
of the embassy at ST. Petersburg for
two years, and then of the legation at
Munich for five years-this experience
rounded out his apprenticeship.
1t was in 1902 thai he received his first
substantial advance in being named coun-
selor of the embassy at LONDON II Was
in the days of war scares. English
newspapers OF a certain class We're
plunging the country into war with Ger
many every other day. They were GER
tain war was inevitable.
Count Wolff Metternich was the am
bassador. He was inclined to pursue an
inactive policy and permit the agitation
to die out However. Count Won Bern
storff was of the opinion that actte
steps should be taken to win over Brit
ish public men and to promote better
understanding. Count Metternch, after
the two had talked the thing over thor
oughly, gave his young counselor free
rein. Results were wholly happy. COUNT
John, as he was called by the hosts OF
friends he made. became one of the most
popular figures in London. and the Brit
ish newspapers, delighted with his tact
full treatment of them and of their rep
resentatives, abated their war scarces.
After four years in London the count
was made minister at Cairo in recogni-
ton of his efforts. In 1905 he was pro-
NOTED to the post of ambassador at
Washington.
Like his predecessor in the post. the
we'll liked Baron Speck Won Sternburg.
Count Won Bernstorff has an Amer can
wife In 1887 he married Miss Jeanne
Luckemeyer, daughter of a German
American family of New York. which
later returned to the fatherland. But the
Countess Jeanne is a native New Yorker,
nevertheless, and proud of the fact.
In Washington the ambassador has had
no war scares to abate. He confessed
not long ago that in viewing the horizon
of international politics he could see no
possibility of trouble between the coun-
tries.
What about the German colonies in
South and Central America and the
Monroe doctrine?' some one asked, mis-
cheviously-
The ambassadors eyes twinkled: If
the German colonies in the United States,
which are much more numerous and
much larger do not cause friction, why
should those?" he asked.
Once a year the ambassador journeys
to Berlin to confer with his government
and the kaiser. This journey and usually
a brief stay at the seashore constitute
his periods of comparative relaxation.
The remainder of the time he Is busy at
his allotted task
Pending the erection of the new en-
bassy in Washington-a building in which
the kaiser IS taking such keen interest
the Germany embassy is housed In
diynified old red brick structure Set high
on terrace at 1855 Massachusetts, ave-
nue..
Call there and you, Instantly are struck
with fact not common to all embassies
and lepations-every one about the place.
from the huge. liveried footman who
opens the door to the ambassador him
self speaks English fiuently. 1t is one
of the things that not only the ambas-
sador but his government as well In
sists upon. Without mentioning any
names, there are countries which do not