Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-03
HENRY WHITE, EXPERT
IN EUROPEAN POLITICS
Eek Ambassador is Admirably
Equipped for Peace Mission,
Says Gertrude Atherton.

| No american has = wide acquaintance
with the worlds public men than Cert.
| rude Athcrtpn the writer, and her views
| regarding Henry White. appointed by
| President Wilson IL represent the Re
| publican party on the peace commission
are interesting and Illuminating IN view oi
the protest Of The Republican leaders
who do not regard him rs an adept at
modern politics as the game - played
| IN this country In the New York Times,
Miss Athcrtnn writes
II has seemed 10 nc that the biographi-
cal skctchcs of MIR Henry White have
been rather inadequate, and think 1t is
due the American people that they should
know what tcry good reasons the Prcsi-
dent had for selecting Nj White 10 rep-
sent rs n the Peace Congress
There is no ono IN the United States
who has the exhaustive first t-hand knuwl
edge of European politics and diplomacy
enIovcd bv Mr. White lie began his
diplomatic carccr IN Nionnn III 1888 and
WAS transferred IN The following wear 70
London. where hr remained with the
exception of tie vcnrs 1897, until 1905
having been First Secretary of Eu,bassv
from 1907 10 1905 One heard far moro
ol tho First Secretary IN those days IN
london than 81 the Ambassadors and
probably no American ever lived ~ Ing
land who h;pd such Il wide circle of friends
among the men " ho were making history.
He was tmcricnn Ambassador 81 italy
from 1905 tn 1907. and 10 France in01-l1
II was during his stay III italy hat he
distinguished himself IN the eyes of EtI-
rope bv his mnstcrly domination nf the
Agc"ras Conference As Mr. Whlrc hrs
alwa}e avoldcd ,hc limelipht, and ns the
! nitcd States has heretofore taken little
interest ~ European diplomacy. and rs
hc hns never hctl Office IN fhls country
he IS naturally far hotter known 10 Euro
pehns and - tmcrlcans living abroad
than 10 thc bun - III own people
That hlS arrNicce Nerc highly v4lncd
by successive Governments. however Is
sufficiently demonstrated not Only by his
almost uninterrupted career IL tho Diplo-
matte Service for 50 many years brt hy
hi~ appointment as hairlnan ~ the
tmerlcan delegation 10 fhe Fourth Pan
American Congress II Buenoe AIRES
1910. and as Special Ambassador 10
GhIe for he celebration If tho centenary
of that country . iniepondence IIc vas
also senior delegate fr1m the United States
Ia the agricultural Conference ~ Rome
IN 1905. which resulted III the Foundation
# the international Institute 81 Nrr-
culture IN a camtal Heretofore associated
IN the American mind with r1ns and art
There j. no diplomatic wllc unknown
- Mr. White Ilc enJoys the respect
II tho oiplomatists If Europe He IS.
moreover man II distinguished ap-
pearancc and manners Good NIpcreaus
may s1ifT at this last brace of tpiaIIfeatl. rs
but II they knew thcir Europe they neril3
he profoundly grateful for Furopf
arc accustomed to distinction IN thrff
diplomats. and half the battle i son
when the recognize an American plrni-
roicntiarv ~ one II thcir own kind
Diplomats do rot look poised m dlstln-
gnshcd without 4 good deal Of practice
do not hesitate II brHg that he WIS my
Cholcc from Tho FIRST aud this with no
detumcut t. the otncr eminent Rcpubh
cans suggested Outstanding abilities
are not enough IN themselves II this stage
Of the game VIC need all The wits we
ever had. plus a long experience n every
diplomatic conyolution, to SIT at thai
peace table. and President Wilson has
shown his usual far-secing wisdom in ms
appointment - Hcnrv White
A~ - lt, u'tcrnances regarding neu-
trahty Ia 141i. Wc are still allie 20 recall
il spite IF thr terrific drama Which la,
mad" our memories freak during the last
iour year. that this w,t9 n = time when
Wc were Al trying desperately 70 be neu-
trail defer ng 10 the expressed wish Of the
President And although Mr. Whites
daughter did marry Prassian. hat event
occurred some time before - great war
and after Wc entered i. l11. he never
made IN attempt 10 communicate with
Ter These things should &c taken for
granted i, i man "ho has served hl~
country with ~u'h devotion fer 50 nlanN
years, and ! feeI almost apologize fer
putting thon DOWN iii boldtlach and white
But a- I'll cIassc~ IN the | nlted States
are calling for the truth ni nothing
but the truth lpt ) pass