Evening star., 1927-11-13


L dor in Washington, comes TO
America with q. title illustri.
Gus in the annals of history and with
a name which he has made for himself
bv his talent his personality and ms
services TO his country.
Although only 81 years old, he has
fulfilled many diplomatic missions and
has taken a distinguished part in the
DEVELOPMENT of the great Belgian col
ony in Central Africa.
This is his first diplomatic post in
the United States, but not his flrst
visit: little more than 20 years ago
he spent a short time here. His con
| act with Americans then and his close
study of American affairs have given
him a special interest in the country
and n high admiration for the spirit
of the people.
In any case, it would not take Prince
de I.jcne long to become acquainted
and to make friends. He Is that sort
4 man of the world, with broad sympa
thes and interests. cultivated, frank
and generous. fortnight and courte-
| Gus. He speaks perfect .and fluent
English. which he learned in boyhood
from his father. who had spent much
time in England and Ireland.
From his father. who was we'll
! ireland. Prince de Ligne not only ac'
quired English but also inherited a
| taste for outdoor life. AS relief from
| the grinding work OF stuffy diplomatic
! cha nceries he seeks the open spaces
whenever possible. Both he and the
| princess are fond of horses and are
accomplished in the art Of horseman
ship The princess also comes by IT
naturally. Her father, Monsieur Saint
Paul de Sincay, is a thorough sports
man and master of hounds Of one of
the best packs in Belgium.
THE prince began his diplomatic
career as attache to the Belgian
| legation at Vienna, after which he
! served for about five years as secre
! tarv of legation at Berlin. In 1870.
King Leopold II, having noted the
princes ability. transferred him to tht
| service of the kongo Free State, which
| was at that time under the absolute
| SOVEREIGNTY Of the king and in which
| the latter took great personal inter
est. The men he gathered to develop
! the future colony of ieigium were
hand picked for the task.
| The prince was attached to the cen
trail administration Office of the konE'
State at Brussels. About three years
later King Leopold presented tbs
kongo as a gift TO the Belgian peopit
and turned over the administration oi
this immense area to the government
The transition was a difficult period
| Among the few vino were chosen tc
| undertake the task and TO carry or
| under the new regime was Prince
Albert de Ligne.
After the transition had been sue
cesSfullv accomplished. Prince dc
Lgne again took up his diplomatic
career. In 1911 he was appointed II
the legation at The Hague, where he
remained as counselor, and sometimes
~ charge d'nffHircS until the close
of The World War. After brl"1
! period a. charge d'aifaires III ths
Grand Duchy OF Lu%tmburS, at Tho
time the American troops were there
lie was again sent 10 The Hague, IL
1919, "a envoy extraordinary ana idin
ister rhibuteuiiary, and was hohiInl
that post when he became Amha~SadnI
To the nlted states.
During his service at the PelSiat
legation at The Hague both the primes
and the princess were brought intt
Hose touch with the work Of The Amer
/ lean Commission for Relief ia Belgium
and had opportunity In appreciate the
! lllle SWftI III lhe American lhhpit
The princess took The lead in organ
izing relief workers and IN distributing
contributions from the United States
and other countries. She put hei
! heart and energy into the task of pro
viding for the destitute children and
orphans and the still more delicate
task of helping the middle class, whose
pride made them reluctant to accept
charity. She orga nized shops to pro
vide employment for women and ar
ranged disposal Of their handiwork
much Of which was bought by Amer
leans.
All Of this brought the princess ir
close contact with the United States
Recently, in talking over the past she
told me how well she remembers the
generous help from America---the thou
sands Of boxes Of clothing, the Christ