Evening star., 1933-08-14
|WELLES ENERGIES
NATIONALLY KNOWN
Cuban Strife Seen as Brinr-
ing Young Diplomat Into
Public Eye.
BY the Associated Press.

! BY the Associated Press.
| Cimaxlng the turbulence of Cuba s
| recent political life is not only a change
of administrations for the island repub-
.ic. but also the emergence Of a young
career diplomat as a nationally known
figure in this country.
| Although 41-year-old Ambassador
Sumner Welles had, previous to his ap-
| pointment to Cuba, spent a number Of
years in the diplomatic service, filled
with considerable achievements, he was
little known outside diplomatic circles
before his success in mediating the COM
| pleX Cuban situation, which has now
brought him squarely into the public
! eye.
Listed as Marylander.
! Although his nomination as Ambas-
sador listed him as Marylander. mem
bers OF that States congressional dele
CATION Tor the most part and Mary
landers generally did not know him
The best-known directories Of nationally
prominent men do not list him.
AT the time the administration was
| see king a man for the difficult Havana
post. Senator Tydings and Maryland's
House delegation recommended another
Marylander, Francis White of Balti-
more. then serving as Assistant Secre-
tary of State
President Roosevelt decided upon
Welles. whom he had known since his
Gays as Assistant Secretary of the Navy
and in whom he apparently had sufi-
I cIent confidence to intrust the delicate
Cuban situation.
I Selection of a man to handle the Is
land problems was regarded as OF vital
Importance not only as it concerned
this countrys relations with Cuba. but
with all of Latin America as well. since
the American attitude n Cuba was GER
administrations policy toward much OF
| South and Central America.
Welles' has an estate overlooking the
! Potomac just beyond the Maryland
boundary line of the District of Colum-
bia Flowers being his hobby. the es-
tate contains garden blooming with
iIiSeS. tulips and rare South American
orchids
His wife was Mrs Mathilde Townsend
Gerry. formerly wife OF former Senator
Gerry of Rhode Island
The Ambassador entered the diplo-
matte service following his graduation
HUH 11dI di u 1lICl q Va Itl dPPASAAtiSt
ship at Toxic he was transferred to
Buenos Aires. In the Harding admin
istration under Charles Evans Hughes.
hen Secretary of State. he became AS
sistant Secretary of State in charge OF
Latin American affairs
Kellogg Sought Reward.
He wrote the Central American treaty
of peace and amity in this period and
as a reward Secretary Kellogg, Hughes
successor. suggested q mlnistersnlp 1or
him-to Guatemala or Honduras. Presl-
dent Coolidge. however held him to be
too young for such post.
In 1922 Welles left the service OF
the Government. but his nome was
something of diplomatic establish
ment itself Several Of the Latin Amer
lean envoys in Washington developed
the habit of going there to discuss mat
ters with Welles who seemed to have
a grasp of Latin American affairs ano
an understanding of the working Of the
Latin mind rare in Washington Of
fiCialdOm.
Though never active in American
politics. Welles is said TO have been
close to Mr. Roosevelt in last Falls
campaign and to have gone over some
of the campaign speeches. Shortly after
Mr.. Roosevelt took Office Welles was
made an Assistant Secretary of State
and then shifted TO the Havana post