Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-30
Wife of British Envoy to Hold
Ranking Position at Pre-
mier's Dinner.
STIMSON ANNOUNCES
VICE PRESIDENTS ACT
Society Is Reported Aroused to
High Pitch Over His Sisters .
Plans to Return Here.

BY the Associated Press.
Vice President Curtis has waived the
rights Of precedence for his sister and
official hostess, Mrs. Dolly Curtis Gam
at the state dinner to be held at the
White House in honor Of Prime Minister
Ramsay Macdonald.
Secretary Stimson in announcing this
today said the Vice President had
graciously waived his sisters precedence
In favor Of Lady Isabella Howard, the
wife Of the British Ambassador, who
will be the ranking British lady at the
dinner.
Spontaneously stimson disclosed
that Prime Minister Macdonald had
asked that his daughter Ishbel. who is
accompanying him on the trip to visit
President Hoover, not be regarded Of
ficially at ceremonious functions held
while he is in the United States.
In Next Position.
Stimson said he assumed that the
not permanent. would place Mrs. Cam
in the next position to Lady Isabella.
The State Department head described
the Vice Presidents action as especially
graciou: and appropriate in view of the
fact that Sir Esme Howard together
with the diplomatic corps last April had
made provisional arrangement where
by Mrs. Gam at Official and ceremon-
ious diplomatic functions would be ac-
corded the position in precedence which
Is normally given wife OF the Vice
President.
The action of the Vice President will
dispose of the troublesome question of
precedence which arose when Mrs.
Washington from her home In Topeka,
Kans.. in time for the premier's visit
to the Capital.
In Higher Position.
Since she will be in Washington at
the time of the ceremonies, she would
have been accorded a position superior
to Lady Isabella. No question of her
standing at the dinner to be given at
the British embassy will arise. however,
since Stimson has been invited as the
always made it a point never to invite
any one who would outrank the Secre-
tary of State while he was a guest at
an embassy dinner.
The question Of Mrs. Cams seating
at the dinner which Stimson will give
to the prime minister also will be
avoided, since 1t will be an informal
stag" affair. .
Social Washington was surprised. and
its interest aroused to a high pitch.
upon learning today that Mrs. Gam
will be in Washington.
Interest in Mrs. Cams rank as a
guest at ofiicial dinners had been on the
wane, in view of expectations that she
would remain in Topeka and that Mrs.
Alice Longworth, wife of the Speaker
of the House, whose rank in relation
to that of the Vice Presidents sister
frequently enters discussion of the SUBJ
ject, also would be out Of the city.
Returns Here Saturday.
Mrs. Longworth, whose husband is
not expected to return to Washington
for some time, has disclosed no intention
Of coming here during the Prime
Minister'S visit. Mrs. Gam, however, is
expected back in her brothers house.
hold Saturday, one day after Mr.. Mac
Donald's arrival.
That means she will be seated at the
White House dinner In honor of the
distinguished visitor. Naturally, nothing
has been said about the place she will
be assigned.
TWO Of the three other principal social
functions arranged for the Prime Min
ister's entertainment which involve the
question of precedence will both be
stag" affairs.
One will be the luncheon at the Brit
ish embassy Saturday, at which Mr..
Curtis will be the ranking guest. Mr..
Macdonald will be the host, Sir Esme
Howard, the British Ambassador, having
relinguished the privilege of serving as
host in his own residence so that his
repay some of the social obligations he
will incur.
Another "Stag" Affair.
The other "stag" affair will be Sec
retary StimSons dinner to the prime
minister October 9. The decision not to
invite the wives and hostesses of guests
Secretary'S desire to relieve Mrs Stim-
son, who has been Ill, of the burden of
serving as hostess.
The dinner to be given by the British
Ambassador to Mr.. Macdonald October
8 will not be a stag" affair, but the
question Of Mrs. Cams rank does not
enter into the seating arrangements.
In accordance with long established GUS
tom for such functions, no guest out
ranking the Secretary of State will be
invited, so he and Mrs. Stimson will be
accorded unquestioped precedence.
The Ambassador, who as dean Of the
diplomatic corps attempted to settle
the social controversy over Mrs. Cams
rank some months ago by announcing
that she would be given the recognition
cuStomarily granted only to a Vice
Presidents wife at officia1 diplomatic
dinners, is expected to invite Mr.. Cur
tbs and his sister to the reception which
will follow his dinner to the prime
minister.
Published suggestions that this ar
rangement involves a slight to Mr..
Curtis and Mrs. Gam are denied by
embassy officials, who point out that
the Vice President could not properly
t.a iy1Iyifad IN khn Afuuar hAeatise he