The Washington times., 1921-11-06
WHO'S who at the armaments

WHOS VINO AT the drHlahheh'7
conference7 Balfour and Lloyd
George, BRAND, Hughes. Lodge,
Root. Underwood, and other OF their
ilk are widely known. But the town
is filling up with men OF less Off
cial weight who are equally impor-
tant from the point OF view OF 'hu-
man interest"
There's Robert Woods Bliss. for
instance, who may be described as
the official "greeter" for the United
States. As third Assistant Secre-
tary OF State, II devoives upon him
to welcome the foreigners as they
arrive. He has also TO work out the
program OF official entertaining
no small undertaking In view Of the
problems OF etiquette and prece-
dence which vex a capital where 90
cial usage has not been standardized
as II has abroad.
However. Mr.. Bliss has had sI-
perience in the capitals OF Europe,
which will be OF invaluable assist
ance, and he has a charming wife
to aid and sbet him. They are
wealthy and cultivated and at their
home one meets everybody worth
knowing in Washington.
A Missourian and Harvard man.
he has been in the diplomatic serv-
ice since 1901. starting In Porto
Rico and serving in Europe and
South America. During the war he
was at our embassy In Paris and
made a remarkable record. Mrs.
Bliss is going in whole heartedly to
relief work and displaying great ca
pacity as we'll as great devotion.
Mr.. Bliss Is on friendly terms with
NJ. BRAND. and 1t is suggested that
he would he an ideally unobtrusive
cicerone for the French premier.
whose one idea OF recreation is to
slip away for a solitary fishing trip.
HENRY p. FLETCHER. Under
secretary Of State. who b re-
bVNhe oV'i'Sn nus ShCc VA thc Oo
tails Of organization Of the confer
ence, Is also a diplomat by profes-
sion and not by politics. He was
once our Ambassador to Mexico and
has had other varied experience. He
halls from Pennsylvania and Is mar
ried to Miss Beatrice Bend, Of New
York, one OF Mrs. Willard Straisht's
closest friends. The FIetchers, by
the way, are now occupying q
county place on the Rockville road.
which belongs to Mrs. Straight
Mr.. Fletcher's chief aid Is Basil
Miles, who has charge OF the phys
ical arrangements. He's also one Of
the career men" OF the diplomatic
corps and the most interesting phase
OF his varied service was in Russia
while the revolution was brewing.
Then there's Irwin Laughlin,
formerly OF Pittsburgh. who has
been summoned here for special ser
vice with the conference. Since his
earliest assignment to Tokyo in
1gO4 ne has been sucCeSS1Vely sec
retary at Bangok, Pekin, Petrograd.
Athens. Cetinje, Paris, Berlin and
London. He IL married to Miss
Therese Iselin. has a largo fortune
and has just completed a splendid
residence on Meridian Hill. 1t - In
Crescent place. hard by Henry
Whites big house which is now let
to Senator and Mrs. Peter Goslet
Gerry. and Just above It Is famous
embassy row." The Laughlins
have already moved in. although
the house Is not yet in order.
IN the who's Who" Of the
Arnaments Conference appears
also the name Of a popular naval Of
ficer, Capt. Hayne Ellis. He ia to
serve as the navy's liaison officer.
His special duty will be to keep In
touch with foreign navy men hero
and to see to their entertainment.
For this he is exceptionally well cast
since he r. a singularly likable chap,