Evening star., 1924-10-26
Minister of Finland
Denies the Accuracy
OF Society's S Surmise
Not to Enter Matrimonial
Ranks, Despite Change in
Household Plans. Popular
Envoy Declares.

When his eXcellcncy from Fin
land, Mr. AXel Leonard AStrom, one
OF the prominent bachelors of the
diplomatic corps, removed from an
apartment house and set up his
household goods in Il commodious
mansion on Sixteenth street below
Corcoran, it was inevitable that his
name should Immediately be con
nected with a matrimonial rumor
The American Capital is famous for
such and often these pleasant sur
misses have very fiimsy basis. TINS
seems to be the case III regard to the
Finnish Minister. for he denies the
report, though acknowledging q SIN
cere admiration for the daughters OF
/Cnclc Sam and for the many comelE
rnaidenS of his own race whom he mas
met here during his diplomatic serv-
ice. His change of living is ascribed
to a yearning for home after many
months in clubs and hotels. and
though he partly expected his
widowed mother, Nine. Maria Astrom
who lives in Helsingfors, to become
his chatelaine, he has renounced TINS
pleasant possibility.
Mr. Astrom is the second Minister
whom the Republic of Finland has
sent to Washington. and he had been
regarded as one of the foremost pun
licists and had attained considerable
reputation as an Ithor on economic
themes. He had been engaged III
educational work previous to the his
+oric revolt of Finland against the
Russian government and its ultimate
victory. first over the Russian armies
and then over the bolSheVlst horoes
which invaded the country. he spent
some of the intermediate years ue
tween the first revolt in 1917 ana the
final achievement of liberty IN iS1s III
various countries representing the an
,.ient and well founded claims OF FIJI
land to complete independence. he was
in London on this mission when ne
was selected to succeed Mr. Armas
Saastsmoinen as envoy to ash-
ington.
The. Minister spent the crucial years
of the World War until 1917 in Hell
singfors the beautiful and very Ola
capital Of Finland. and having Keen
appreciation of the shifting policies of
Europe, he wrote in Finnish charm
ing volume of essays called "Polltlcai
Adventures" which had a wide vogue
in his country but which unfortunately
has never been translated into any
other language. He has written sew
eral volumes of essays on economic
subjects and has pub iShed some pro-
chures which rank very high IN the
educational world of North Europe.
He received all his scholastic training
at the University of He singfors. but
pursued special studies in the various
countries to which he has been as
signed since entering the diplomatic
service of Finland. The University
of Helsingfors was in it original site,
-abo, one of the most renowned mad
oldest in north Europe and its library
contains some of the choicest volumes
pertaining to the north Europe peoples.
1t was re-estab ished in the Finnish
capital in 1927. but under the Russian
domination it was entirely denational-
lied and the Finnish tongue did not
form part of the curriculum.
The Minister was born in Meaborg
in northern Finland and his father the
late Axel Astrom, lived there until his
death. His mother has resided at the
capital for many years past He took
his degree of NJ. A. in 1909 and i'm
mediately entered on pedagogical
career, which was interrupted by the
stirring events which began in August,
1914.
His valuable work has been
acknowledged by several govern
ments. and all those who have seen
the diplomatic corps resident in
Washington in ceremonial attire will
recall the splendid decoration of the
white rose which this envoy wears
on a crimson sash, with a cleaning
star across his breast. This is one
of the hereditary orders of chivalry
which pertains to the old Finnish
state and is much priced by it's
recipients He has also the insignia
of the commandry of the Legion of
Honor.
MI Astrom is fond of travelling and
since presenting credentials to Presi-
dent Harding in February. 1922, he
has made extensive tours of the
Middle West and Northwest and has
taken special interest in those parts
where emigrant Films are most ex-
tensively established. There are more
than $4,000 former residents ~of
Finland now prospecting and becom-
ing valuable citizens of the United
States. During the past Summer. Mr..
Astrom was the guest of Representa-
tive Oscar l.. Larson in Duluth, Mimi,
who is the only native-b born Finn at
present in our national legislature.
Quito in keeping of the traditions
of his homeland. Mr.. Astrom is fond