Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-10-19

being a Cork man and is very proud
IF this distinction He was born in
the lovely old city of the Shandon
bells and his parents. Mr.. and Mrs.
William Smiddy. are among its hon
cred citizens and are much gratifed
at. the distinction which has been
bestowed upon their son. He has
been exceptionally we'll prepared for
the historic role to which he has
been assigned. that Of representing
a free Ireland in the capital of
land where such earnest sympathy
and such cordial support has been
meted to those struggling these sew
eral centuf rs for political autonomy.
Like so many of the recent ap
pointees in the diplomatic corps, the
irish Minister is an economist and
he has specialized in banking, for
eign exchange and the various prob
lens of commerce. His early train
ing was received at the venerable
college of st. Finbarr in Cork, where
he received his NJ a. degree. lie
then spent four years in Paris at
the Grande Seminaire de St. Sulpice
at Issy and another year at a col
1ege of commerce in Cologne, Ger
many. His studies at both these
famous institutions led to his re-
ceiving degrees, but. more useful
still, he was prepared not for
career in economics, but for posi-
ton Of leadership in political econ
ony At the time Prof. Smiddy was
selected to enter the diplomatic corps
at Washington as the first envoy
from his country, he was dean of the
faculty of commerce and he'd sew
eral other important posts IN the
University of Ireland. This institu-
ton, as we'll known, has three diff
l.
way and in Cork. and it was at the
last named that the minister was In
residence.
Dr.. Smiddy is at present residing
at Wardman Park Hotel. but he eX-
poets Mrs. Smiddy in Washington soon
after Christmas with his family, and
then he will establish himself in home.
The Irish Free State has many propiens
to solve, but as soon as possible IL
Is proposed TO purchase a suitaole
donicile and be reckoned among the
permanent powers represented III the
American Capital.
DR.. and Mrs. Smiddy were married
in Cork some % years ago and there
are six children, al of whom VIII
accompany their mother TO TINS part
of the world carly In the new year.
There are two daughters, Miss Pearl
and Miss Cecilia Smiddy, who have
and who will be welcome additions
TO the younger contingent, and two
Younger daughters, Miss Murlei
Miriam and Miss 1ta- who are sun
at school and who will continue their
studies in Washington, as VIII the
son, Sarsfeld Smiddy. Mrs. Sm1doy'
who has been active in the unlFer-
sity life Of Cork, was MISS Lillian
O'Connell and had been resident
in 1901.
DR.. Smiddy assumes place similar
to that held by the Minister from
Egypt and will be recognized as
Minister plenipotentiary and envoy
extraordinaire but with no ANNA tlon
with the British embassy. He makes
the fifty-third representative OF the
independent countries holding friend
" relations with this republic, and at
present he is engaged in a general
summary of the most important work
which must engage him at once and
the details of the formation of stan
of assistants remains for a more
leisurely period. He has however al
ready attached Mr.. McHuSh Slattery
Of Belfast. and a few clerical aids to
his legation. established for the nonce
in the Investment Building, Fifteenth
and streets.
DR. Smiddy is paying many visits
TO the officials of the executive de-
partfnents in which most of his Ia
bors will be staged, the Treasury, the
Department OF Commerce and the
various bureaus of research. He is
specially interested in chemistry and
is making painstaking eXamina-
ton of the Government publications
on the themes of most vital impor-
lance to the Free State and it is his
intention n nroyide the most vain
able of these brochures for the cabi-
net at Dublin. Between times he is
receiving all manner Of hospitality,
almost an embarrassment Of riches
for so busy an envoy and one with
such imperative and important duties.