Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-01
BARON De CARTIER
|! HAS RARE RECORD
New Dean of Largest Diplo-
matte Corps in World First
| Came Here "a Years Ago.


service in this Capital has attained
the dignity of becoming dean Of the
largest diplomatic corps in the WORTH,
has lad q varied and most interesting
career. He is somewhat younger
than deans of the corps usually are
and will not attain his tifty-tifth year
until November 80. Senior Juan
Riano Y Gayangos, whom ne sue
ceeds, is 81 and the former Frehch
Ambassador, Jules Jusserand, was IN
his seyenty-second year when he lald
down the burden of statescraft. The
Belgian Ambassador is native OF
Brussels and belongs to a fine old
family of that city. He was, now
ever. untitled when he came here as
minister in December, 1916, to sue
coed NJ. Emmanuel Havenith, now
attached TO the foreign office of Brus-
sells. King Albert conferred the
barony on his envoy in washington
in recognition of his services at the
Versailles congress and to marx ms
elevation to the rank of ambassador
in 1919.
Baron de Cartier had brief
previous service in the Capital when
in 1902 he was secretary of legation
under Baron de Moncs,eur. lie had
entered the diplomatic service of
Belgium in 1898 after brilliant scho-
lastic record at the National UnlVere
sity in Brussels and after taking
course Of law and jurisprudence In
the University of Paris. HIS career
was along the customary channels, IN
a minor role first under the minister
of foreign affairs in Brussels and then
assignments to various capitals. tie
had been for some years Belgian MIN
lister to T6kto when he was transfer
red to washington.
Was LII Darkest Days of War.
This wsEs in the darkest days which
Belgium knew during the World
War and II became the sad duty OF
the diplomat to assist in the work
of gathering clothes, food and money
for the invaded country and to APP
pear at the various fetes which We're
organized for this purpose.
He performed this role most accept
ably and his travels during this period
covered the greater area of the United
sStatAs. Princeton University took
cosnfzance of his almost heroic ell
forts for his country ana WITHIN
few months after he had become Bel
gian Minister conferred on him the
LID. The Catholic University OF
VILLA Nova, near Niagara rams, gave
him the same degree in 1913 ana
Rr0wn in 1919. Columbia also honored
him. but this after he had attained
ina rank of Ambassador, and in lS2z
When, in 1919, this country elevated
Brand Whitlock to the rank Oh Am
haasador King Albert conferred the
same rank on his Minister in WASH
inRton who was also Belgian oele-
gate to the Versailles conference.
Soon after attaining this pronotloh
the newly created baron and Amnas-
IaI this country
He arrived in Washington at a
tragic iuncture of affairs. President
Wilson had just returned from his
Western tour in behalf of turning
public opinion to the league, strtck-
en- with what seemed a fatal Illness
and the presentation of official papers
yces impossible. Meantime the late
Cardinal Mercier arrived and soon
after the King and Queen of Belgium
for the purpose of expressing their
gratitude personally to the Chief Elk
ecutive of the American people for
their noble assistance during Bel
gium's days of sorrow.
Had Rare Distinction.
Baron de Cartier has the distinction
Of being the only diplomat ever ac-
credited to Washington who was COM
PEELED to assume a dominant social
and political role without having gone
through the formality of being re-
ceived by the President. The Secretary
of State, Robert Lansing, did all he
could to regulariZe the situation and
the baron accompanied the primate OF
Belgium on all his visits of State, en-
fertained in honor at the Belgian en-
bassy all the great world figures at
washington and in full uniform ac-
companied the churchman to the
White House, where he was received
by Mrs. Wilson.
Within a fortnight later, in Novem-
her. 1919, the Belgian King, his con-
sort and heir came to Washington and
the social pace quickened for the en-
voy and at the same time he acted
as companion to the King on his cour-
tesy visits to the cabinet officials and
other dignitaries of the government.
1t will be remembered that the PreSi-
dent had recovered sufficiently at this
time to receive the King at his bed
side, but this meeting was entirely
informal and private, and the Ambas-
sador remained in the blue room with
the Queen and Crown Prince, who had
been welcomed by Mrs. Wilson and
Mrs. Robert Lansing. 1t was not un-
til May 20, 1920, that President Viii
son received the Belgian as the first
on the waiting list of higher diplo-
mats, and though he had been in real
ity Ambassador from the Court of
Brussels to the Republic of the United
states from September, 1919, his Off
cial service is counted only from the
day he presented his credentials to
the Chief Magistrate.
Other Diplomats Received.
Within q few days three other Am
hassadors had been received, the Bra
lillian, DIR. Cochran de Alencar; the
H. ThnV1ooc pPnfnV.
and the japanese, Baron Shidehara,
and this is the longest ''interreg-
mum" or suspension of the diplomatic
functions of the President which is
written in American history
A few days after Baron de Cartier
had been elevated to the ambassador
ship he was married in Paris to Mrs.
Hamilton Carey and with his bride
he came to Washington and the Bar
oness aided in his many Inequalities.
BARON de Cartier had continued the
tradition of ENJOYS from his country
in having American wives. Baron
de- Moncheur, for nearly 10 years the
representative of King Leopold of Bel
piiln at this Capital married Miss
Charlotte Clayton. daughter of Gen.
powell Clayton, then Ambassador to
Mexico. at the time the Belgian was
serving in the southern republic. M.
F,nanual Havenith was counselor of
LEGATION in De Moncheur's regime, and
during this time he married Miss
Helen Ffoulke, daughter of the late
charles M. Ffoulke and Mrs. Ffoulke.
M. Havenith had been Minister to
Persia for several years when he was
transferred to Washington to succeed
his former chief Baron de Cartier is
the second diplomat under Baron Mon
cheur, who has attained premier rank
in the washington corps. Baron and
Iady de Moncheur have been for