The Washington times., 1925-08-11
BOOKS DUEFOR
READING I'm
WINTER
Earl Grey and Princess
Bibesco Among Authors
Getting Volumes Ready


A MoNG the new books sure TO
n be found on the reading ta-
bIes of many in Washington sd
ciety this winter will be the auto
biography of Earl Grey, of Fallo-
den. and collection of short
stories by Princess Bibesco, wife
of the Rumanian minister to Wash:
ington. and daughter of the Earl
and Countess of Oxford and As.
Quith, the latter more widely
known as Margot Asquith, herself
the author of an autobiography.
The reason given for Lord Grey's
leaving Washington was Ill health
and falling eye-sight. Due to the
treatment of an American dentist
40 the report was-he has practi-
caIly recovered his sight.
Speaks No French
And Travels Little
Lord Grey was head of the
British Foreign Office during the
greater part of the war, and what
he doesn't know about that catas-
trophe isn't worth knowing. The
question is: Will he tell us all?
Although French is the official
language of diplomacy, Lord Grey
does not speak it. At least, he
said he didn't when asked the ques-
ton point blank during the war.
Instead of finding it q handicap,
he insisted it was a blessing, for
it meant that a third person. an
Interpreter, had to be present at
all Diplomatic conversations where
French was spoken, which gave
Lord Grey the advantage of more
time for thought before replying to
questions.
Earl Gray is better remembered
perhaps as Sir Edward Grey, who
served as British Ambassador here
for about six months, but VINO never
presented his credentials. He ar
rived in Washington the day that
President Wilson left for his ill-fated
Western trip in behalf of this coun-
try's adherence to the League Of Ma
tons. which was followed by the
prolonged illness of the President
thus preventing hi~- from receiving
several ENJOYS who were waiting to
be recognized officially.
At that time Lord Grey was a
wIdower-his wife having been
killed in a terrible accident Of rum
away horses. Since leaving Wash.
ington he has married Lady Glen
conner. who, with Lord Glenconner,
was one time his guest in Wash
ington. Lord Glenconner has since
died.
Lord Grey says that. except for
q world trip when he was quite a
young man just out OF college, ne
had done little travelling outside his
own country. That, too, he found
rather helpful instead of a draw
back as head of the foreign office.
For when a foreign diplomat would
saw to him, for instance. You know
how things are in Germany, he
would reply. mo, I've never been
to Germany, won't you tn me-!
Thus, you see, nothing was taken
for granted and consequently mis-.
understandings were less likely.
Lord Grey was in charge OF the
British embassy when the Prince Oh
Wales paid his first visit to this
country-back in 1918. At that
time the entire embassy staff was
wifeless.
Princess Bibesco's Volume
Called ''The Whole Story
Princess Bibesco's collection of
abort stories will be entitled 1.-THE
Whole Story" which will probably
be a fit companion for her scintil-
lating and epigrammatic volume
called II Have Only Myself to
Blame
Princess Bfbesco seems to sue
coed better in the short story field
than in other means of literary ex,
preston. Her novel, 1.-THE Fir and
the Palm did not seem to IN
crease her reputation as a writer,
and, according to reports from Eng
land, her play presented in Lop1on
last winter did not bear up well
But her short stories have won
difficult praise.
Just now the princess is in Eng
land, where she divides her time
between visiting her parents in Their
country home and her little daugh
ter, Princess Priscilla, who with heI
English nurse, is staying at a seq
shore place. Then there are also
times when she takes short trips
on her yacht.
Prince Bibesco, who has been in
Paris. has gone to Bucharest Il
discuss with his government the
Rumanian debt to this country
Princess Bibesco and Princess Pris
ella are expected to return with
the minister when he comes-per
haps in October-as head OF the Ru