Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-28
Gen. Crowder, Envoy
To Cuba. Facing Many
Diplomatic Duties
Ambassador Classed as. One
of Busiest of Uncle Sam 8
Representatives in For
eign Posts.

| The first Ambassador which the
United States ever accredited to Cuba
is Gen. Enoch Herbert Crowder, so
familiar to the world at Washington
as Judge advocate general for many
years and during the World War the
provost marshal of the Army. Gen.
Crowder is among the very few bache-
Tor diplomats in such an exalted role
and at present his sister, Miss Nell
Crowder, who was with him at times
during his Washington residence,
makes her home in Denver. But
nevertheless. no family man at the
Cuban capital has more excessive de-
mandS on his time and energy, not
to mention his income, than has Gen.
Crowder, and none dispenses a more
far-reaching hospitality and under
rather difficult conditions. 1t is esti-
mated that during nine months Amerl-
cans arrive i'm Havana monthly to
the estimated figure kept at the port
of from 1000 to 10000, and many of
these are distinguished citizens who
claim the attention of the American
embassy in some way or other and
usually in the social sense.
The American Amba ssador, who is
dean of the corps by virtue of his rank,
being the only envoy of this grade
in Havana, is now the victim of that
trouble which occurred when the late
William Jennings Bryan was Secre-
tary of State and his diplomatic APP
pointee at Havana, Gonzales, became
a figure of international complications.
Gonzales purchased for SS5, 900 an es-
tablishment for the American Govern
ment, an almost ruined house in Cerro.
This is now in a social back water,
but some $50 years ago Cerro was the
most fashionable suburb of Havana.
This house was specifically renovated
but now is actually falling to pieces
right over Gen. Crowders head. This
present Winter but two rooms are
actually safe and hospitable. and in
one of these the Ambassador enter
tains his friends, of course, one at a
time. During the past week he has
had the eminent DR.. William Mayo
as a guest.
Under these conditions social amen
tiles had to be relegated to clubs and
hotels, of which, fortunately, Havana
has a fascinating and numerous sup
ply. The American Ambassador has
many luncheons at the Jockey Club.
where he entertainS a large clientele
of visitors who find the races a mag
net. The superb yacht club Is always
center of attraction to naval guests
and to the Army, and for the scores
of lovers of aquatic sports from all
over the United States who come to
Havana in Winter. 1t is admittedly
one of the best equipped yacht clubs
of the world and it's initiation fee of
$1,000 and its annual dues of almost
$500 surpass all the demands of the
older and better known clubs of Long
Island Sound.
At present Gen. Crowder's staff is
largely bachelor, and of these may be
mentioned the first secretary, Mr..
Richard 3. Southgate of Massachu-
sets, who until five months ago was
connected with the Bureau of Eastern
Affairs in the State Department; the
military attache, Col. William H.
Shutan. Capt. Henry c. Clark, who
is assistant military attache, is mar
ried to the former Miss Maude Harvey
of Washington, and Mrs. Clark fire.
quently aids Gen. Crowder in his hos
pitable duties. Mrs. Carlton Jackson,
wife of the commercial attache, is an
other charming member of the diplo-
matte establishment, and she was Miss
Virgins of San Antonio, Tex. A
second secretary, Mr.. Harold l.. Will
hanson, has recently been appointed
and is expected in the Havana en-
baSsy about the second week of
March. He has been member Of the
Mexican Bureau, and will be accom-
panied to Cuba by Mrs. Williamson
who will then be the chatelaine Of the
American establishment.
AS dean of the corps, Gen. Crow
der's obligations are much lighter than
those imposed on such officers in
! other capitals. He entertains con-
(, stantly, but after no particular SEIZED
ule-rather as opportunities arise. He
usually invites his diplomatic col
leagues to meet American visitors or
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