The Washington herald., 1920-03-14
SIR AUCKLAND PAYS
TRIBUTE TO LADY ASTOR.

TRIBUTE To LADY AsTOR.
Sir Auckland has gotten in good
with the ladies here. even before
he arrives, by his declaration TO the
effect that there was no one better
qualified to succeed him as British
envoy at Washington than the Vir-
ginia-born Viscountess Astor. peer
ess of the realm, and at the same
time member OF the House OF Com
mons.
Sir Auekland's suggestion to the
effect that Lady Astor was better
qualified than anyone else for the
difficult post of principal representa-
tive of the British crown at WASH
ingteR is less startling than IL may
appear at first sight. -,
For instance, according to The
Attache," eight years ago the Re
public of Uruguay appointed Seno-
rita Clothilde Luisi TO be its minis
ter plenipoteniary at Brussels. The
nomination of >Senorita Luisi. who
adopted the prefix of DIR" TO her
name by virtue OF her degree from
the University OF Montevideo. proved
, very successful.
For both the officials of the Bel
Gian government to which she was
accredited. and the members of the
foreign diplomatic corps at Brus-
sells, accorded to this very charming
and fascinating young woman a far
greater degree of consideration than
ordinarily falls to the share of the
representative of the smaller Latin
American republics in the capitals
of Europe.
Some IL months later the Norwe-
Slan government followed suit, and
appointed a very pretty and clever
! girl of the name of Mile. Henrietta
Hoegh, possessed of university de-
gree of doctor of international law
ana OF political economy TO The post
OF hrst secretary of King Haakon's
legation in Mexico, where ~h., las
had occasion to repeatedly Ieprn-
sent her country as charge Iaf-
faires.
IL Is generally admitted .hlt Nro-
men possess an intuitive insigh
lhto the character and motives O
1 those with whom they are brought
INTO contact, that Is denied to Ihs
eoarser fihered and more matter of
Iact intellect of the male dipI1mot
BUT neither Senorita Luisi. nor Mile
! Hoegh, can claim to be the first
woman diplomat.
history furnishes numerous in
stances of women playing a r..
markable and successful role in the
direction and MANAGEMENT OF tho
uIpiomatic Interests of their nativ
anu ever since Catherine di Benin
Sasa was accredited by Pope Greg
! DRY Nj, in 1873. as his ambassado,
TO Florence, where, thanks TO h
eHorts, successful peace was ne
| gotiated with the advarsaria.
the Holy See. vi
.aHohized under the name of ST
Catherine of Sienna, her creates
Poiiticai victory was when she man
aged to bring about the return NJ
.he fontifical Court from Avipnon
IN france, TO Rome. after an ah.
sence OF 1S years, which eccIesias.
ueA writer's are fond of terminc
ch paoylonian captivity of tn,
Louise de ouerourailles. tho din.
Ga.ic agent of Louis XIV. at the
rt ol CHARLES H., had that mon
lie, only one of all the lon
n Hi english rulers to bear tn.
ror,nI surname OF 'Merrie"- so
completely under her sway Tho,
was entirely subseryient 70 ,ha &;
Huence OF the Court of VersaiIIas
she was rewarded for ber dinio
matte services with the French
pukedom of d'AubIgny, which has
uescended through the son whom
she bore to the sovereign to whom
sne was accredited. to the Duke Of
hlchmond and Gordon of the pra.-
ent day. INV pres
other women who have achieved
tame In the realms of diplomacy did
not consider 1t necessary to go to
sucn extremely patriotic lengths in
rartherance OF the interests of their
country In foreign lands. n is tr,,a
that few could boast of the Ioveii-
ness of the first Duchess OF d'Aubie-
ny, upon whom Charles II bestowed
the british dignity OF n Duchess of
Portsmouth.
Thus the celebrated Princess Lie
ven, who was Russian ambassadress.
first In England and then In France.
during the first three or four dec
ades of the 'niaeteenth century, and
who was the real REPRESENTATIVE OF
the Muscovite Empire IN these coun-
tries. her husband being a mere non
entity. was quite the reverse OF
good looking.
Yet, by her extraordinary clever
ness, her wit. her tact, and her In
tuition. she managed to carry every
thing before her, first In London
and then In Paris, exercising so pre-
ponderant- an influence In the affairs
OF those two countries that she ha
to be treated as weighty factor
a +.