Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-10
MRS. GAM VICTOR
IN CONTEST WAGED
OVER SOCIAL RANK
Diplomatic Corps Awards Her
Status of Wife of Vice
President.
ACT AFTER DECLINATI0N
OF RULING BY STIMS0N
Envcys Declare It Is Pleasure to
Show Courtesy at Official
Functions.

The diplomatic corps this afternoon
settled the social precedence" con-
troversy in the Capital by announcing
its agreement" that Mrs. Edward
Everett Gam, sister of Vice President
Curtis, should be accorded the social
status of "a wife of the Vice President
Of the United States"
The announcement was made by Sir
Esme Howard, British Ambassador, dean
of the corps. following meeting of the
corps at the British embassy, called
after Secretary of State Stimson had
advised the diplomats late yesterday
that they must decide Mrs. Cams
status for themselves.
Secretary StimSon will be advised oil
the action of the ENJOYS in letter be-
ing prepared by Sir Esme.
Glad to Make Decision.
I'VE have come to a general agree
ment, and it was reached easily" the
British Ambassador told members of the
press after the parley. In view Of tA@
is no authority in America to decide the
question of social precedence, and as
we are desirous of showing every
courtesy to the Vice President, it gives
us great pleasure to accord his sister
at all official and ceremonious diplo-
matte functions the precedence due to
the wife of Vice President of the
United States
The Ambassador explained that this
agreement" was in line with the in
depreciation" placed by his colleagues
lAA& Af
transferring the problem to the doors
of the diplomats He said the ENJOYS
were happy to be in accord with the
State Department on this matter"
Status of Agreement.
Sir Esme added that the agreement
would stand until and unless we can
obtain some definite ruling on the ques-
ton from constituted American au-
thority." In other words. he pointed
out the understanding will be perma-
nent so long as no recognized American
authority disputes it.
He stated that the diplomatic corps
"does not aspire to become social
arhitanp- for Washington society in gem
eral, and that its action in the case of
Mrs Gam was for the guidance Of the
members of the corps alone.
The agreement will become effective
for the first time at the dinner to be
given tomorrow evening at the Pan
American Building by the Chilean AM
bassador, Sir Esme said. Vice Presi-
dent Curtis and Mrs. Gam will be
guests of honor.
Mrs. Gam Is Pleased.
When the news of the decision of the
diplomatic corps was given to Mrs
Gam by The Star she expressed herself
as being pleased, and especially as it
would the better enable her to carry on
side by side with her brother while act
ing as his hostess, but she absolutely re-
fused to be quoted.
Meanwhile, determined not to have
another Gam case on his hands, Sec
retary Stimson ruled today that in the
future the protocol division of the State
Department shall supply information
only as to the dates of arrival here
of foreign diplomats, which, of course,
fixes the precedence. 1t had been an
nounced yesterday that this action
would be taken by the State Depart
ment head.
The opinion of the diplomats is a
complete victory for Vice President
Curtis, who had protested to Secretary
Stimson against the ruling of former
Secretary Kellogg that Mrs Gam
should rank below the wives of diplo-
mats.
Drafting Formal Letter.
Ambassador Howard held in his
hands after today's meeting a sheaf
of typewriter papers, which, he said,
composed a tentative draft of the letter
to be sent to Secretary Stimson. He
said there were numerous alterations to
make in the text before it could be dis
patched.
The meeting was attended by a ma
jority of the more than half a hundred
foreign representatives in Washington.
1t consumed considerably more than an
hour. The conferees came out of the
session talking spiritedly in a profu-
sion of tongues. All seemed in high
good humor, however.
Asked If the diplomats had given
any thought to the appointment of a
standing committee to handle such
problems as they may arise in the
future, Ambassador Howard said that
something of that Sort might be done
later. -
Suggests Club Action.
"It seems to me-" he added, with a
laugh, that it would be a splendid
idea for your Gridiron Club to appoint
a committee to decide the social prece-
Oence prODAem IN washington. WOulQ
like to suggest that you take the mat
ter up at your next meeting"
Secretary Stimson's letter on the
precedence dispute. dictated after a visit
to the White House, advised the dean of
the corps that the question of social
precedence to be accorded American
quests within homes of ENJOYS is one
that rests wholly within the discretion
of the members of that corps them
selves"
In a letter dispatched at the same
time to Vice President Curtis the Sec
retary of State held that his depart
ment has no authority to Ak the social
precedence of any one but foreign rep
resentatives Mr.. Stimson remarked
that the ruling Of former Secretary
kellogg, which placed Mrs. Gam below
the wives of diplomats and to which
the Vice President had voiced strenuous
objection, set forth correctly the custom
Of precedence~of recent years.
He also advised for the first time that
the department would no longer give
a1y advice on precedence among An1eri-