Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-15
Our New Envoy to Italy
W. of Dpmac,

upon him by his numerous "chiefs OF
mission" in his diplomatic secretarial
days contains two extremely significant
entries under the interrogative headings,
"Habits?" and "Affectation of Foreign
characteristics"
It is not generally realized how mi
nutely the State Department demands
from chiefs of mission-and from other
sources-a detailed analysis of the char
acter and behavior of our professional
foreign service officers. The list Of in
protracted that it might seem to be a
model for a preliminary examination
of a patient by an exceptionally indus
trious psychological physician.
Under "Habits?" is was early reported
and then repeatedly re-reported regard
ing John Garrett that, for instance,
He has no designations and leads a
dignified, proper life" Under "Affecta-
ton of Foreign CHARACTERISTICS" pa
tendency which the State Department
is supposed to encourage but which it
actually resents, reprehends and repels-
1t was steadily reported regarding John
Garrett that HE has no such affecta-
ton and is thoroughly American"
Rich but under rigorous Self-control
utterly familiar with the great world
abroad but wholly retentive of his
Americanism, John Garrett persevered
up the diplomatic ladder toehold by
toehold and rung by rung.
From being secretary OF legation at
The Hague he became second secretary
at Berlin and then second secretary at
Rome. His chiefs of mission-Mr.
Charlemagne Tower, Mr.. Lloyd Girls
com, Mr.. John G. A. Leishman-con-
tinuously and monotonously filled their
44a ;a1 &c 4f Al INTEL
rative and prophetic words and phrases
as: industrious. Attentive. Sensible.
Great information. Great cultivation.
Thoroughly efficient. Tact. Discretion.
Pleasing personality. One of the ablest
and best secretaries in our service.
Worthy of promotion"
The promotion came in the reign of
President william Howard Taft. BY
Mr.. Taft Mr.. Garrett was appointed to
be Minister to Venezuela.
Within very short time the head of
the division of Latin American affairs
IN the State Department was reporting:
: "Mr. Garrett has been effective in
creating the best feeling in Venezuela
that has existed toward the United
States in a long time"
Ability the Nation Needs.
That observation upon him is really
OllG 6DlbOUlG Vi UllC CyRC VA uAP1OhAidb
that Mr.. Garrett perfectly represents
and symbolizes. Mr.. Garrett, whatever
the policies of our country may be to-
ward the country to which he is accred-
tied. is able to make them as palatable
to that country as in their nature they
possibly can be made to be. He can
get out of any situation the maximum
of good feeling which 1t is capable Of
producing. He can convey even brutal
message with alleviating correctness.
He can deliver q thunderbolt with
charm. He can present his country's
requirements unfinchingly but unrasp-
ingly. He can cure misapprehe tensions
He can dispel fogs He can bring things
into the white light Of courtesy and
courage.
Mr.. Garrett indubitably win be on
good terms with Mussolini at Rome. He
viii arrive at those terms with him not
through becoming more italian than
the Italians and not through under
taking to be a volunteer pupil and
propaet of Fascism, and not through
succumbing to the local color Of his
post-a sort of error into which many
American diplomats In many foreign
capitals have fallen-but through re-
naming American and through repre-
sentins Arnericanisni as persuasiyely as