Evening star., 1932-01-10
Women of Diplomacy
Interesting Interviews With Interesting Person
Il ages Now in Washington.
BY PAULINE A. FREDERICK.

at is absurd to say that Belgium
escaped the depression" Mme. Made
iaine May, wife Of the Belgian Ambas-
sador TO the United States, countered
recently when informed that such, a
rumor had gone abroad about her coun-
Belgium has felt the hard times as
much as any other country. The only
difference exists in the fact that she is
smaller, and, therefore, has less to hurt
than Q country like the United States.
IF you have heat wave here 1t
seems hotter than one we might have
in Belgium because there is so much
more OF your country affected by 1t.
Everything Is amplifled here because OF
the size of your country. But to say
that Belgium has not been touched by
the depression is entirely inaccurate.
"Of course" Nine. May continued,
s'we had our great crisis in 1925. At
that time the franc went down to one
tenth of its former value that Is you
could obtain almost SO francs Tor
dollar. whereas. before the war you
could obtain only francs for dollar.
Things were faced bravely, however,
and the franc stabilized at one-seventh
of its former value. The money value
has been steady in this depression
often above the fixed rate. Our money
has withstood this battle" and she dis
missed pleasantly the status Of the eco
nomic distress in Belgium with the
declaration that the people are cour-
ageousiy making the best OF the situa-
ton
Mime. Nav looks like a queen. 1t is
not that her Excellency has a. manner
aloof and forbidding, for quite the con-
trary Is true. She is graciousness per-
sonifed, But, somehow her stately car
riage and striking profile fulfill ones
imaatnative picture of benefacent SOW,
ereiSn, beloved Of her people.
81 was born in Paris" Mime. May salo
when asked about her self.
She was wearing smart tailored
frock OF navy blue crepe with pm
stripe of gray. Her hat was a Snic
sailor drawn low at one side so tnat
her urofile was most effective against
IT. She wore pearl earrings and
choker.
INV father was Senator r. @. Levy,
q member of the French Institute, she
continued. referring to the prominent
French political figure whose name was
linked to The Immortals" IN 1917,
when he was elected to the Institut de
France. one of the five academies.
Madame May obtained most OF ner
FIllcALfOn 1TOUl kONClLCooCS oAAA SNVS%S'
school teaching in France In those
days was not a regular occupation, she
explained. AT that time I was very
fond Of history and literature, and stlll
like to read very much, although
have so little time for IT"
Although Madame May was born and
reared in France, she was soon to de-
velop q keen interest in the little coun-
trv OF Belgium. A fashionable ball was
held in Paris to which Mile. Levy was
invited 1t happened that the first sec
retary of the Belgian legation In Lonoon
was invited also. Thus occurred tne
first meeting between the French sena-
tors daughter and the Belgian diplo-
mat, the present Ambassador to the
United States, M. Paul May. And the
first r,ost they served together was at
London, where Mr.. May went as min
ister
II have three daughters" Madame
Nav said, proudly. ''Francoise mas
finished school and takes an active part
in social events in Washington THIS sea-
son. Alberta Elizabeth, Is. and CHS
laine, il, have attended some classes In
Belgium. Although they have gov
ernsss with them, plan TO have them
take some courses in French here.
MY daughters have always been IN
serested in girl-guiding, or girl scouting,
as you call It in America believe, sne
continued. FRANCHISE was lieutenant
in an English company The Girl Scout
movement had small beginning IN
Belgium, but has grown In numbers
and popularity very rapidly. believe
it is. an excellent means OF developing
well-rounoed lives.
And Madame May. indicated that Just
4. l,xY srf lffa-fhHt IL
should be well-rounded She has ad-
hered TO this principle in her own case,
for her interests and accomplishments
have been broad in scope.
She has lived In the Near East, where
her husband was counselor OF the Bel
vtan embassy at Constantinople. She
was present at the legation in Mexico
City when the Dictator Diaz was over
throws by revolution and Madere was
elevated to power. For her devotion 70
che Belgian colony and her fearless at
titude at this time, she was decorated
by her king with the Order OF the
Crown, most unusual distinction for
woman in pre-war days.
During the war, instead of taking
her small children to China, where Mr.
Nav had been appointed Minister, she
remained in London, doing her bit for
the cause For five years the, Mays
occupied the legation at Stockholm
Then came the first An1bassadorlal :ap-
pointnent sending them to Brazil, and
now the Massachusetts, avenue embassy
in washington Is the present home Of
this interesting Belgian family.
#-#* =, -.
ut Is rather difhcult TO pick out the
genera characteristics Of the people
when 2one is so close to them" Nine.
Nav replied when asked for her general
impressions of the Relgians.
Il should say that they are an ex-
treu1ely thrifty people" she went on,
land, above all. courageous. They have
suffered a great deal, but they seem
perfectly willing to- make the best of
whatever crisis happens kto be facing
them"
How do you account for their loyal
ty and admiration for the King when
monarchies have become paSse in 80
many neighbor1ng countrtes2" she was
asked 80.
king Albert is loved and respected
IA A "a a a "a a. A - A