Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-20
DIPLOMACY OF WORLD
CENTERs IN WASHINGTON
That City Suddenly Becomes Most
Important OF All Great
Capitals.
ALL SEEK AMERICAN FAVOR
Duo to Appreciation OF Part This
Country Will Play in Peace Coun-
Gil and to Recognition OF President
as Best-Informed Man in Universe.

country VIII Play in Peace Coun-
Gil and to Recognition OF President
as Best-Informed Man in Universe.
WASHINGTON, October 19.-Wash-
inston. D. c., which recently has
emerged at the top o. the world" in
finance and military preparation. also
suddenly has become world center Of
diplomacy.
The fiscal Importance OF the United
States capital Is pretty generally real
lied, because 1t Is lending billions right
and left. and its preparedness activity
1s apparent from the hustle Of indus
trial and military mobilization. and tho
presence of captains OF commerce and
thousands In uniform.
But the diplomatic cmergencc OF the
capital is not SO widely appreciated by
the public. though there is evidence on
every hand that the nations Of the
world realize II. 1t has not been so
long since Washington was an anomoly
to diplomats. Accust omcd to the gold
braid, extreme ceremony and secret
councils of European continental dip
iomatic negotiations. the emissaries Of
the old school never did become accus-
toned to the frank. friendly, off-hand.
unguardcd methods Of the new world.
When the world war started Paris
was the acknowledged center Of world
diplomacy. except for the subcellar va
riety indigenous to Berlin. After the
war started the ceLter moved westward
to London. When America entered the
war tribute to It's new importance in
world relations was paid by the success
n ha Toe ;or
britain. France and Italy. But that
only was a beginning.
Neutrals began to get in the game.
Ihey had diplomatic. as well as eco
nomic. stakes to play. So the missions
from Norway Belgium and other CONT
mental nations arrived in Warrington
All these. however, were to be ex-
pected as compliment to the new.
power In the war. and more significant
" less in the limelight. are many of the
smaller missions that have come and
gone since that time. They pay the real
tribute to the influence In world az
rairs they know the United States to
possess.
THE GOVERNMENT HEARS
ALL SIDES OF QUESTION
Is there dispute in Greece? Along
come missions, OF picked men. to rep
resent to the United States each side
OF the question. IL there an opportun-
ity Tor certain racial units to become
Tree because OF the Russian upheaval?
Along come the cmissaries Of Poland.
and the other provinces, to present
thefr case to this country. Is there diff
terence engendercd by clashing Italian
and Serbian ambitions? In due time
arrive Jugo-Slav mission. one Of the
most recent to come. TO present their
case. Even in the eyes of far away
Japan. clear around the globe. the
United States takes new import
ance in the year OF 1917. and Viscoun,
lshti comes and goes. and behold, a sec
ond mission arrives to bring about ar
even fuller understanding OF the posi-.
ton and feeling OF Japan on world is
sues. and a closer cooperation between
this nation and the Orient.
These appeals to the United States
come about. diplomats state. because OF
the recognition OF two things: The
prominent part this country Will play
in peace councils and an appreciate
of The fact that President Wilson prob
ably is the best informed man in the
world to-day on the underlying prin-
ciples Of the world war. This is not
mere compliment on their part. II
would surprise many Americans who
hold their President in Highest esteem
to talk for time TO some of the great
men OF other countries who have come
here. and to realize their estimate OF
world problems and his influence.
'r scam ~ all this effort members
Of the missions and delegations who
are still here welcomed joyously the
news mat ii is practically certain that
the United States will be represent ed
at the forthcoming conference Of the
allied nations. There have been signs
that the United States must forsakc
it's aloofness from the allied councils,
and al least consider problems of con-
ccried action outside the purely MILL
tary field. Therefore. those who have
tried to SOW the seed of their ideas
here now see hope OF their fruition.
HOUSE DESIGNATED
TO COLLECT DATA
Equally joyous was tho welcome ac-
corded the announcement that Colonel
House had been designated 10 collect
data to he used when tile time came
for peace negotiations. some amusc-
nent was expressed a the announce
ment that Colonel House was not to
go abroad in his hunt for inforrna-
ton along geographic, economic and
political lines"
For Colonel House to go abroad, It
was pointed out, would be waste of
time and money, when all he needed to
do to get both sides of any question
affecting any people anywhere on the
glope would be to watch the registers
ut about four OF WashinStons leading
hotels. For sooner or later mission
or ar individual envoy, either Official
or unofficial. is sure to arrive here.
That this fact was realized was indi-
Gated by the announcement OF state
Department officials that Colcuel House
WOULD be able to find experts on al
most any question. from Russian to
Balkan, from Paris to Hongkong
right here in this country.
Nor Is the coming OF all these rep
resentatives to Washington the only
significant fact that historians OF the
future will record. diplomats predict.
The older ones shake their heads grave
ly. tho younger ones go about their
work in new way. For in coming to
washington these diplomats all must
adjust themselves to a new condition,
or find opportunity lacking for accom-
plshing what they set out to perform
The attitude of this government has