The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-11-27
Return TO Normally
lin Reopenfng of
Old German Embassy
Baron Won Hermann
Sets Up House,
keeping

that at the same time that the
delegates from the Allies are here
In conference, and being lavishly.
almost royalty, entertained, Baron
Edmund Won Hermann. a veteran
Of the world war should be here
trying to gather up the fragments
OF what was once the imperial
German embassy, and making
ready to re-establish German diplo-
matte representation in Washing
ton once more.
He arrived early in the week
accredited as charge d'affaires. to
represent his country for the pres
emit until better times come-when
he is expected to- stay on as coun-
selor Of the embassy. For the
present, you know. Germany pre-
fers not to have full fledged am
bassador-for ambassadors come
high. and no man who was not
very wealthy in his own right
could afford to take the post. The
salary. in marks would mean SO
little in American dollars.
Baron Won Hermann is very
busy cleaning house at the old
embassy building. upon Highland
Terrace, an the north side Of the
1400 block on Massachusetts, avenue
is called. 1t was a surprise to me
to learn that the building had been
SO completely stripped. for ] had
supposed that while the Won Bern
storffs of course took their personal
effects. the embassy was left fairly
well furnished when the Swiss le-
cation took 1t in charge. But 1t
IL a sorry looking place now
musty and dusty. and furnished
with cheap stained wood desks
and flimsy rugs. which they tell
me are some sort Of papier mache
composition. that would dissolve II
they got thoroughly wet.
And there isn't any too much OF
even that sort OF furnishing. though
I believe there In more on tho way
over. Germany could not afford to
buy here. for the cost-considering
the exchange value Of the mark,
would be prohibitive indeed!
BARON Won THERMANN. the
new German representative. IL
a comparatively young mana
clean cut. mild-mannered. south
German type. fair-haired and blue
eyed. and apparently in the neigh
borhood of forty-probatly between
that and forty-five. He comes from
a family that for generations has
been producing eminent jurists. His
great-grandfather was friend OF
Goethe; and his chief concern at
present seems to be to get the en-
bassy In such shape as to make 1t
as comfortable a. possible for his
wife and three children whom he
expects to Join him before Christ
mas-and to avoid anything that
could possibly be construed as Ger
man propaganda. OF course he does
not admit that there Is any ground
for BRANDS. fears that Germany IL
Matching any more wars; but he has
no idea Of getting into any arsu-
ment.
He 10 20 entirely pleasant ano
an,isble that he reminds one of
think It was Won Haimhausen. who.
coming to America after the begin
ming Of hostilities, when the French
ambassador was no longer going
around socially. happened to NEE.
him in the ante-room Of the Secre-
tary of State and made himself
agreeable-as he very well could.
After he had been shown into the
Secretary's office. M. Jusserand-
SO the story goes--commented on
that extremely pleasant gentleman
and wanted to know who he was
greatly embarrassing the affable
doorkeeper who didn't think 1t
would be diplomatic to tell him.
Ono cannot but be sorry for this
scholarly. quiet-mannered German
gentleman, realizing that he is prob
ably swallowing yet another bitter
pill for his country's sake-and
that he hasn't an entirely pleasant
task ahead of him. OF course he
has a quiet faith that his country
will right itself. and gradually re-
turn to normally" But when one
remembers the German embassy as
1t used to be-, and sees it rs 1t is,
thinks back to the days when SER
wants and clerks and secretaries
swarmed. to say nothing Of the
shining lights Of Washington
society. with whom the Won Bern
storffs were in high favor-and
sees him settling about the reha-
with two clerks, a butler.
a cook and handy man: and look