The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-27
THE NEW SECRETARY OF STATE
A DIPLOMAT WITHOUT FRILLS

lessly dressed and even debonair fg-
ure that sits at the huge desk.
When. on June Q, Mr.. Lansing be-
came by Presidential order Secretary
of state ad interim and the people
about the place began to call him "Mr
Secretary" he elected to remain in
these quarters rather than move, as
he might. to the more spacious and
more dignified apartments which Mr..
Bryan had vacated.
His first official act, by the way,
demonstrated his conviction that dig
nifty is not incompatible with democ-
racy. He called in the newspaper
men and asked them to cease the
practice of b~uttonholing Ambassadors
/ and Ministers who were calling Off
clally at the Department in the cor
ridors.
What does Mr.. Lansing actually
I think of his job?" the average man
| asks, for all the world realizes that II
is a tremendous job he has taken upon
himself.
1t is impossible to quote Mr.. Lam
sing in direct response. The delicacy
of his position prevents. But some
idea may be obtained from what he
told his fellow alumni of Amherst at
a dinner last spring when he first
came into larger public attention.
There. in discussing the work Of the
Department of State in these troubled
times. he pointed out that the Depart
ment now. in one aspect, has to deal
not merely with the daily questions
of neutral rights and duties but the
new responsibilities of a veritable
J clearing house of the world"
And. going on. he startled the prece-
lent welded lawyers present by say
ing:
1T is my duty. as many OF you
know, to deal with the questions of
international law and usage which are
arising every day in our relations with
other countries. These questions are
Of absorbing interest and many OF
them are extremely complex because
tits wal in its magnitude and methods
is different from all the wars which
have gone before.
"One can look in vain for ~precedents
in many cases. In fact we have to
abandon that time honored refuge OF
~jurlsts and diplomatists. presidents,
and lay hold Of the bedrock OF prin-
ciple. Diplomacy to-day is wrestling
with novel problems, 10 which it must
apply natural justice m practical
common sense.
This great conflict has introduced
the submarine. the aeroplane. the wire
less telegraph and new forms of ex-
plosives. 1t has made mechanical
motive power an absolute necessity in
military operations. The old strategy
If surprise has given place to mobility.
THE petroleum products, essential
to rapid motion in the air. on land
and beneath the sea, are as necessary
10 the modern army and navy as arms
and ammunition. New devices for
communication and transportation are
used now for the first time in war and
new modes OF attack are employed.
The result is that neutral nations
have had TO meet a series OF problems
which have never peer solved. The
liability OF error, the great danger of
u~nintentional Partially and the COM
plant Of n or another OF the bellig-
erents make the path OF neutrality
rough and uncertain"
Born in 1864 in WATERFOWL, y. Y. OF
an old established family OF Dutch
! GeSCent-tnc name, TRADITION says, WAS
originally spelled Lansingh-Mr. Ian
sing took his A. h. at Amherst in 1856
AZ college he vas captain OF his class
football team. but never made the
varsity. Returning home he studied
law and was admitted to the bar in
1889 and Joined the firm Of Lansing q
Lansing.
Tina, year he married. his bride be-
ing Eleanor. the daughter of Gen. Fos-
ter. II has been said that he mar
ried into the profession Of diplomacy
Certainly he chose a bride wei
equipped as the wife OF a diplomat.
Reared In the atmosphere Of state.
, craft and diplomacy-much Of her
childhood as we'll as OF her mature life
being spent in world capitals-grace-
ful. accomplished. Mrs. Lansing Is a
fitting helpmeet for a diplomatist ant
. minister OF foreign affairs.
Watertown of course has been the
real family home since their marriage
but Mr.. and Mrs. Lansing nave jour-