The Washington times., 1922-04-16
Russia's MAN Of the Hour"
Doesn't Hesitate to Fix Off
oiaI Appointments for z
A. M.-Eats Drinks, and
Sleeps With Affairs OF
State Always in Mind.

high mindedness is that of a stern
religious brother who refused TO
allow back into the family of ma
tions the erring and prodigal
Soviet republic; that II was Hughes
who stood out all alone against
the Genoa conference until he
stampeded other members of the
Cabinet and even convinced the
President"
Hughes regards communism as
immoral as Tchicherin regards
capitalism. Both men posses that
unbending cold effectiveness, that
unattractive righteousness of at
titude toward those who disagree
with them which we know In
America as Puritanism. Both
would have made excellent bishops.
Nearly Assassinated.
One evening last spring hap
pened to be present when Tchi-
cherin was nearly assassinated. A
man flourishing a revolver appear
ed In the reception room and called
out for the foreign minister. This
reused a red soldier, half asleep in
a comfortable chair near the door
leading TO Tchicherin's private Of
flee. A scuffle ensued and the sol
dier succeeded in getting the pistol
before any harm was done.
Tchicherin refused to discuss the
incident and remained obviously
tranquil. He was annoyed when
the "Cheka" tried to put extra
guards at his door, and absolutely
balked at the suggestion that the
foreign office be made difficult
place to enter. He simply asked
everyone 10 forget the whole In
cident.
always believed that he Sc
cretly dislikes the "Cheka-" I re-
member the night that Santorai
Nuorteva was arrested. IT hap
spectacular. Tchicherin liked Nuor-
teva. He was visibly upset. and
for a whole week he would not
talk 20 a soul.
The confusion OF the foreign
minister's desk Is a national scan
dal. have seen his summer hat
there crushed under q pile of
papers in midwinter. I have seen
papers piled high on all the chairs
and the sofa and gray with the
dust of months.
Mispiaces Papers.
He has a fearful habit of mis-
placing important kilograms and
then sending out a search call.
Those are terrible moments in the
foreign office. All other work
stops. After everything is turned
upside down some subordinate gets
the courage to ask: "Comrade Tchi-
cherin, perhaps IL is on your own
desk" And there II invariably is.
almost on his nose, like grand
mothers proverbial spectacies.
1t was his habit to give a short
talk about once a month TO the per-
sonnel Of the foreign office. We
would meet about o'clock in the
foreign office club. Tchicherin was
persistently late, sometimes one,
sometimes two or even three hours.
From time to time someone would
whisper. He has lost another tele-
gram" There would be suppressed
laughter running around the room,
Then suddenly the foreign minister
would appear, glancing shyly about
him. clear his throat, and before he
began his address would explain In
his high, plaintive voice how sorry
he was to be tardy, but he had
somehow misplaced a telegram.
What a paradox! Here Is Mr.
Tchicherin, member OF one of the
oldest and most aristocratic families
in Russia, for four years now
guiding with such delicate hands
and careful brain the affairs OF
state, in order that all that once
was which gave his family and
class their wealth and power might
never be again. ~