Evening star., 1922-01-14
Who's Who asss::ss:: e.ss: 4s@:
LI-John Work Garrett
Ohm Work Garrett, who was
nominated by Seer ary
Hughes and elected secretary
general by the limitation of

nominated by secretary
~ Hughes and elected secretary
general by the limitation Of
armament conference at the first ses-
sion. is one of the many former
American diplomats who were called
back into service to help in the
functioning of the parley machinery.
Because of his extensive experience
i'm the diplomatic field in SO many of
the European countries. and his wide
friendship among foreign statesmen.
he has proved of the greatest value to
both the State Department and the
American delegation. His wide train
ing as secretary and in other capaci-
ties at former international meetings
made him eXcellently fitted for the
position. as he has shown.
Although Mr.. Garrett had made
distinguished name for himself in the
ordinary run of diplomatic life prior
to the war. it was during those try
ing years that he gained the reputa-
tion throughout Europe as we'll as at
home for his peculiar ability to ham
die capably ditticult. delicate and un-
usual situations Just before the war
broke out he was serving as minister
to Argentina, and hostilities were de-
clared while he was crossing the
Atlantic to join his wife, who was
formerly Alice warder of Washing
ton. in Switzerland. He Immediately
returned to America and obtained
commission as special agent and set
sail ag in on the L. S $. North Caro-
lima. which was bound to take aid to
stranded Americans. Burdened down
with gold, Mr.. Garrett went straight
hn hAlf ~
arrange facilities for American tour
lists to leave for home. Following
this he went to Paris. where he re-
manned helping at the embassy until
that time when the French were be-
ing rushed in taXicabs to the defense
with the French government, to
Bordeaux, to take charge of American
and German interests there. for the
next three months.
His biggest war work and that
which took actual genius in dealing
with unusual and unprecedented af-
fairs was his handling Of prisoners.
In 1914 he was put in charge % all
the German and Austrian civilian
prisoners In France. numbering
around 10000. 1t was vast work
that demanded endless labor. a keen
wit and daily display of tact 10
satisfy both the French and the Ger
mans. In August OF 1916 he went into
Germany and made a close eXamina
tion of more than half of the prison
camps throughout the country and
submitted a thorough report on con-
ditions. At that time there were
number of "reprisal camps in Ger
many. in which the allied prisoners
were treated with inhuman measures.
BY obtaining many letters from Ger
man officers and others held in France
and by the expose of the reports Mr..
Garrett convinced Nle Germans that
these camps were unjustifiable and
should be discontinued. and they sub
sequently were. This he considers as
the best accomplishment in his career.
In 1918 MIR. Garrett was made min
lister to The Hague and while there
continued very actively in war affairs.
Toward the end of the war he again
went to Switzerland. this time to ne
gotiate a treaty with the Germans in
regard to prisoners. He was there
seven weeks and was able to accom-
plish the notable coup of forcing the
Germans to agree to release all Amer
lean prisoners in Germany. but this
clever bit of work was little heard
of. because the treaty was signed
Armistice day and its effect. Of course,
was lost.
Mr.. Garrett was born in Baltimore
in 1872. His early education was
gained chiefly in Europe. where he
Travelled extensively with his family.
but he returned when he was eighteen