South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-22
IPLOMATS NOW
COURT REPORTERS
European War Breaks Down
Barriers of Dignity" and
Foreign Representatives Are
Eager to Be interviewed.
BY Victor Elliott.

WASHINGTON. April 22.-When the
ambassador from Great Britain is in
terviewed over the telephone by "a re-
porter for % minutes. and the mili-
tary attaChe Of another empire is told
in firm American terms by another
newspaper man 10 Ego chase your
SELF" Or something 20 that effect. the
war apparently has done something
for the dignity Of the press These
two incidents Of the past months in
Washington mark a forward step
from the days as late as year agO,
when the chief diplomats in our cap
ital would permit themselves to be
interviewed only under the severest
restrictions.
The fact that the press has scant
recognition from the am bassadOrs and
ministers and the cOunselors of their
respective embassies and legations
was not due. before the war, TO per-
sOnal aloOfneSs. 1t was traditional
dignity" and had TO be maintained.
Once in a while an individual diplO-
mat left the beaten path of this GUS
tom, and made friends with the men
OF pencil and pad. but he was the ex-
ceptiOn. His own suite usually made
up for his lack Of dignity" by an eX-
ira degree OF hatueur.
But when the war came. and Amer
lean public opinion had TO be cOurted.
which has continued and developed
down TO the present hour. From shy
and cold retreats the diplomats have
ventured out TO talk 20 the press on
every occasion when 10 served the
purpose of their government 10 ask
for understanding and sympathy. In
the corridors OF the big office building
where the state department offices are
located they stop smilingly, when met
by the reporters. and answer fusll-
lade OF questions upon every phase OF
the negotiations which may be under
way. German or French. British or
Austrian-they are putting cheerful
face on the fact that the American
news-reading public wants them to
talk
Russian il Given Wide Berth.
There is one notable exception TO
the rule of geniality. The Russian
ambassad dor, Gerge Bakhmeten, gen
sfally declines 20 answer any saluta-
ton. much less an inquiry. He is
given a wide berth when he appears
In the corridor opposite the office or
the secretary of state.
During the early stages Of the Eu-
ropean war. when the Mexican trouble
had apparently been forgotten. and
Gen CarranZa'S triumphal entry into
Mexico City had been followed by
signs Of the coming reputation OF the
first chief by Gen. Villa, an enterpris-
ing newswriter suggesting to the con-
gritutiOnal agency its need of press
agent He pointed out that an Amer
fcan reporter. familiar with publicity
details. could get into all the Amer
lean newspapers. from Washington,
the news of Mexican affairs which the
Carranza government should wish to
have pubi- ned.
His idea was endorsed. The press
agent went TO work Villa declared
war on CGrranZa For many months
the Carranza agency had all the best
OF the news. other than that from the
state department, on events in the
southern republic Finally Enrique
c. Llorente. the confidential agent of
Villa. arrived here and established
Headquarters He looked over the
press field and decided 20 hire an
agent of his own. Today the two
Mexican camps are in the hvehest sort
of competition for press notice for
their dispatches from the scenes of
Mexican war.
rivals III News Field.
The CarTanzista agency, which
gained possession of the Mexican en-
bassy building before Villa broke
away. received dispatches every day
from its cOnsuls along the border ana
from its military leaders in the field.
The Nillaistas also have a list of mes
sages 10 quote, morning and evening
TO prove that their cause is sweeping
on TO complete triumph. Villas agent
puts an official stamp on each bulletin,
which is carried around by his press
agent TO the various correspondents
IN the state department building.
The German embassy has maintain
cd a press bulletin service since the
first month of the war Each dis
patch 20 he made public is copied In
multiple form and all principal news
bureaus are notified by telephone OF
its arrival The British and Austrian
embassies prepare similar copies of
DISPATCHES or announcements, ana
send them TO the news bureaus. The
Russian military attache has similarly
made public the dispatches which his
government has recommended for the
press in the United States.
There appears no likelihood that
the end of the war will bring re-
turn of the former conditions OF
chilly silence. The diplomatic corps