The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-02-06

Neuv Division OF Protocol to Help SOLUe
PerpJexing Problems at Precedent and Precedence
viii Be Final Court Of
Appeal ii Questions Of
Official Etiquette;
James G. Dunn Its Chief

Official Etiquette
James 6. Dunn It's Chic
xCN0 they re tying up
the blue book with
red tape" was one comment
UPON the announcement that
tie State Department had
organized d Division OF
Protocol to serve as umpire,
referse, and what-not On mat
ters Of diplomatic precedence
and procedure.
Al amusing phrase, but
misleading For the new
md much needed bureau
win probably cut . good deal
Sc red tape and, even # It
doesn i, there II be 9 con-
eentration Of threads IN one
hand, which will be . great
relief to those Of rls who
have heretofore had to
thread our way through
labyrinthine windings ia
order to obtain authorita-
tire information on such sub
jscts.
ri CHANGED that the diplomatic
reception At the White
House was given this year
while the G vernon General OF
Canada and Viscountess VIII
linrdon were visiting in Wash
inrton. Everybody was inter-
ssEed ii knowing whether they
would be present and, Il 70,
what would be the procedure ~
extending them q welcome.
Rut those who sought TO lind
out were shunted about from
the White House to the State
Department, from the Canadian
Legation to the British Embassy
and back again. And none OF
them would admit knowing any
thing about it.
nENcEFoRTH. however. all
II such perplexing problems viii
Sc handled BY the Division Of Pro-
tocol: and there. IL anywhere, one
nay obtain necessaryinfor ton.
Presumably. TOO, the bureau will
sc the final court OF appeal in
questions Of precedence which
Wex official llostegseE. And
@ventauIIy. proba bly,. there will be
devised printed protocol. which
win put every diplomat and do
- effc dignftary In his proper
place. once and Tor alto the
satisfaction Of those who have
done their best to conform to &C
ceDted standards but who have
aiways been hampered by q divi-
sion OF authority and by differ.
ences cf opinion among authort-
ties.
Almost every capital in Eu-
rope has such an official guide to
dseorum and the wonder OF II il
that Washington has muddled
through 80 long without some
fhfnR OF the sort and that the re-
su1king confusion has not been
verse COMPOUNDED.
-
RRlHE new division Is to be iR
good hands. for its chief II to
bs James Clement Dunn. cere.
faoH:als officer at the White
House. with Charles Lee Cooke
a. cerenOnia1s officer and Ny
ron A. Hotter as administrations
officer. Mr.. Cooke. who h.. been
chief OF the ceremonials bureau
OF the State Department since the
memory Of man, probably knows
more about matters Of precedent
and precedence than any man in
the country; and has had wide ex-
perience in looking after the dig
nifty and comfort Of distinguished
visitors to the United States--one
~ the duties with which the new
division is to be charged.
Probably there will be some
complaint about the introduction
Gf court customs" into a demo-
cratic society. But precedence
nauet be observed In every cap
ital: and there can be no ques.
ton but that 1t is better to play
the game according to definitely
established and universally OBJ
served rules.
1T all events the Division Of
a Protocol is here. And the
specific duties Of "P. R."--its
office name-wilI be-:
!. Supervision Of and action on
all matters involving questions
Of ceremonial and precedence.
2. Preparations for all presen.
tations of ambassadors and min.
listers at the White House.
,. Miscellaneous appointments
with the President diplomatic
Presumably.
4. Preparations for functions at
tbs White House in so far as
questions of ceremonial and prece.
dsnce are involved.
s. Arrangements for visits and
entertainment Of royalty and dis
tinguished foreigners.
Preparations for State De.
paftment functions.
= Correspondence relating to
functions held under the aus.
plces Of the United States Gov.
erhment.
:. Disposal Of tickets for diplo.
matte galleries at the Capitol.
3. Matters involving irnmuni.
ties and rights Of representatives
of foreign governments In the
United States.
IN fEns~rsnav.av, NAAAA ..nf. 49,. A.