Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-11
MRS. GANN'S RANK 4
AT CLUB REMAINS.
Senate Ladies Hold Ruling of
Diplomats Does Not
Affect Them.

Although Mrs. Edward Everett Gam
sister Of Vice President Curtis, will ranl
the same as wife of Vice President
at diplomatic dinners, her status as az
associate member" of the Senat,
Ladies' Luncheon Club remains un.
altered, it was learned today.
The seat at the head Of the table Al
the Senate Ladies' luncheons ordinarily
assigned the wife of the Vice Presiden'
will continue to be occupied by Mrs
George H. Moses, wife of the Senator
from New Hampshire.
Mrs. Moses. as wife of the President
Pro Tempore of the Senate. was elected
president Of the club at meeting Feb.
ruary 6 last, following a discussion q:
to the status Of the Vice President s
sister and ofiicial hostess.
Decision Does Not Affect Club.
1t has been the custom of the club
to elect the Vice Presidents wife as
leader of the Senate hostesses. Since
Vice President Curtis Is a widower. it
was decided that the wife of the Presi-
dent Pro Tempore of the Senate was
next in line for the presidency. Mrs
Gam was accorded the status of as
sociate member. thereby becoming in
eligible for the post of president.
Questioned today regarding the pos
sible effect Of the diplomats agree
ment" of yesterday that Mrs. Gam
should receive the social courtesies OF
wife Of the Vice President, Mrs. Moses
said that the Senate Ladies Luncheon
Club is not affected In any way by the
opinion. tr
.trrt1o r,,iiv,r, 80 49, z,-,.-..4. - q,
she explained, has absolutely nothing
to do with activities of our club. we
are not concerned with the social code
at all. Personalities do not enter into
the question. The constitution Of the
club controls our procedure.
You see, Mrs. Gam is an associate
member and under the constitution C:
the club, an associate member is not
eligible to become its president"
Announcement of the diplomatic
agreement under which Mrs. Gam will
outrank the wives of ENJOYS, cabinet
members and Senators was contained
In a letter sent to Secretary of State
Stimson late yesterday by Sir Esme
Howard, British Ambassador and dean
OF the diplomatic corps.
Speculate Over Ruling.
Much speculation has arisen over the
fact that the diplomats emphasized that
the arrangement is provisional" and
must be considered as being without
prejudice to any final arrangement. "
The agreement, 1t was added, "is not
altogether in accordance with the cue
tom which has prevailed during recent
years." but will hold until we can
obtain some definite ruling on this
point from a constituted American
authority"
What constituted American authori-
ty is there. If the State Department no
longer can settle such Questions?" the
British Ambassador was asked.
None, at present" he replied.
In some quarters it was thought that
Congress might be asked to create a
Constituted American authority to act
as final arbiter In questions of official
social precedence. The protocol division
of the Department of State heretofore
has exercised functions to that effect,
but under an order issued yesterday by
Secretary Stimson 1t must restrict its
rulings to matters of priority of service
among foreign diplomats.
Becomes Operative Tonight.
The diplomats arrangement will be-
at formal dinner to be given at the
PAN American Building by Ambassador
Davila of Chile to Finance Minister
Ramirez. Mrs. Gam will be seated in
the place which heretofore would have
been given only to the wife OF the
highest ranking guest.
The Vice President and Mrs. Gam,
with her husband, will be the hosts at
reception to ten Diplomatic corps to-
morrow night, but that function would
not have been affected even If the corps
had not acted on the question OF pre-
cedence, as the problem dealt only with
her status as guest at oficial dinners
and similar entertainments.
Towards Letter Of Reply.
Ambassador Towards letter to the
State Department follows:
ION behalf of my colleagues Of the
diplomatic CORPS and myself. have
to thank you for your courteous letter
In reply to the memorandum which l
handed to you yesterday. gathered
from our conversation of yesterday
that there exists no United States au-
thority at present which can deter
mine questions of precedence, ana II
appears from your letter that MEM
bers of the diplomatic corps are ex-
pected to decide such matters for
themselves in their own houses at their
own discretion.
you add that any courtesy which
they may choose to show to the wee
President and to Mrs. Gam viii be
most agreeable to you. In these cir
curastances my colleagues and ]. de-
sirous. as already stated, Of showing all
possible courtesy to the Vice President,
will, with great pleasure, accord TO his
sister, Mrs. Gam, at all official and
cereNlonious diplomatic entertainments,
until we can obtain some definite rul-
ing on this point from q constituted
American authority, the precedence Que
to the wife Of Vice President OF the
United States.
TN view Of the fact, however, that
this is not altogether In accordance
with the custom which has prevailed
during recent years, as you have YOUR
self pointed out In your letter OF yes
terday to the Vice President, my coll
leagues and I wish to add that this
provisional arrangement must be con-
sidered as being without prejudice to
any nnal arrangement We all sincerely
hope that this solution win meet with