Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-10
Mr.. Stimson's Diplomacy.

Secretary SttnSOn has confronted the
FIRST test Of his diplomatic skill and
met It astutely. The Curtis Gam So
cial precedence issue, which the new
Secretary Of State found on his desk
along with the Mexican revolution, the
Tn Alone irnbroelio and other momen-
tous foreign affairs, threatened endless
embarrassment for the State Depart
ment.
It involved not only such intrinsic
merits as it possessed, but it conjured
up the possibility of requiring Secretary
Stimson to reverse his predecessor, Sec
rotary Kellogg. As both Secretaries
we're Hoover administration cabinet Of
ficerS, a situation arose IN which the
administration might have to eat its
own words, with the world at large as
onlookers, during the first six weeks OF
its existence. It was not heartening
Get Of circumstances.
Then came Henry L. Stimson, piano.
piled In the talents of an Alexander,
and cut the Gordian knot. The Secre-
tary Of State, in courtly language, af-
Arms that while Mr.. Kellogg correctly
stated the custom which has prevailed
during recent years, neither Mr.. Kellogg
nor any other Secretary Of State has
intended to make any official ruling
Is to the precedence in which American
officials and their wives should be re-
ceived within the homes of the men,
bers Of the diplomatic corps but that
such decision rests wholly within the
discretion of the members of the corps
themselves"
In other words, says the suave and
Ghrewd Stimson, Mr.. Kellogg was quite
right In explaining that Mrs. Gam, ac-
cording to tradition, 5 outranked at
diplomatic functions by wives of Am
bassadors and Ministers but any place
assigned to her on such occasions is not
q matter which can possibly keep the
State Department awake at nights.
Secretary Stimson does not content
himself with this adroit and impeccable
presentation of the battle Of the CEN
tury. In priceless passage of the same
note, addressed to the British Ambas-
sador as dean of the diplomatic corps,
he adds: ANY courtesy which members
Of the corps choose to show the Vice
President and Mrs. Gam will be most
agreeable to me-"
Mr.. Stimson has recently been So
journing in a part Of the world where
Saving Of face" is the most revered
Of all diplomatic arts. He apparently
mastered well the delicate niceties of
accomplishing It, He has saved the
face" Of Mr.. Kellogg. He has saved
the face" Of the State Department He
has saved the faces" of Vice President
Curtis and his offlcial hostess. He now
1ives the diplomatic corps a graceful
opportunity of Saving face"
The distinguished and discriminating
gentlemen of. the corps will not fail to
note that word courtesy" in the Slim
son communique to Sir Esme Howard.
There's the milk in this cantankerous
cocoanut. Showing courtesy to the off,
Gals and governments Of the countries
to which they are accredited is the first
law Of foreign diplomats. 1t is alto
gether inconceivable that they will with
hold from the Vice President and his
sister the courtesy at which Secretary
Stinason, with Chesterfieldian charm,
deity hints as the golden bridge to
breach the Curtis-Gann chasm.
Diplomacy is not lost art. even in
this prosaic day and Capital. And
Henry L. stimson seems to be its
prophet.