Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26
BY WILLIAM LEON sMYSER.

YN every century there are some Few
figures who so stand out in d1plo-
macy that they personify rare in
1 ternational friendships. FRANCE
and the United States are especially
happy in this. Benjamin Franklin, a
Poor Richard" received in the elegant
salons of the doomed st. German ar1s-
tocracy; Jusserand, writing magnificent
French criticism of Anglo-SaXon life
during his residence in Washington, and
Myron T. Herrick, an Ohio farmer boy.
organizing the war relief in France, arc
all from the same mold.
OF the three figures, Herrick is the
most immediate. His is true record,
that of having served as American AM
bassador to France. with but one break,
under five Presidents - Taft, Wilson,
Harding, Coolidge and Hoover. No
American will soon forget how he
turned the superlative fight OF Lind
bergh from an event of sportsmanship
and grit into coup d'adresse diplo-
matique.
The slump of the franc, the debt
question. Washingtons refusal TO enter
the League and the State Departments
ban on loans to France had added &C
tual injury to the humiliation of Yankee
speculation in French currency anc
tourist caravanseries without taste or
reserve. In Paris, when the Spirit of
st. Louis arrived, Ambassador Herrick 5
great personal popularity was unshak-
en-. but that of his Government was be-
ing sorely tested. Fortunately, he was
an adept in the art OF exploiting the
unexpected. He demanded and received
an invitation to address the chamber.
Gentlemen" he said in introducing
Lindbergh to the deputies, Gentlemen.
I have the honor to present to you the
present American Ambassador to
France"
Excellent Teamwork.
1t was a gesture typical of the excsl-
lent teamwork between diplomat and
airman throughout that crucial month
Herrick was able to appreciate the quail
ity of Landbergh because the Western
boy shared with him so many traits,
the same dry humor. the same self
reliance and the same rare faculty for
developing every opportunity.
What made you offer hospitality &c,
Lindbergh?" I asked the Anbassa dor
after his sponsorship had been called
flying diplomacy
Pure chance he confessed with a
smile Pure chance, good luck and
Lindy's wit. The Frenchmen at the
hangar were making up a cot for him
vi Illt SpOI, anu dlbel L lldu lOuilu
they kept urging us to be seated. He
said, No, thank you, l have been sit
ting 1 was so captured by his sense
of humor, his smile and his general
appearance that the thought then frs
occurred to me to ask him to become
my guest at the embassy"
After that the French flag flying
over the American embassy, the visit to
the mother of Nungesser and the Me-
mortal day speech on bolshevism were
all brilliantly conceived elements in a
diplomatic Stratagem which placed
American prestige higher than it had
haen for a decade.
Sentiment is tho lcaven of demo ,racy
The interplay of opportunity with
preparedness to meet opportunity was
the keynote of Herrick's life and work
Now there are opportunists and oppor-
tunists. When they called the flyer
Lucky .1dy," he retorted that he
had Sp two years preparing foG his
"break' - hat, when it came, he stood
prepared. That was the Herrick
inethod--tha mctrod Of all those
so-called lucky plungers" whose luck
somehow sticks b. them beyond all