The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-10-15
Capital Capers
BY GEORGE ARELL

NTHEN king dies in a foreign land, his de-
w mise has very definite and immediate
effect on the routine of official and diplomatic
Washington. The sudden assassination of King
Alexander I Of YugoSlavia, coupled with the
murder of Louis Barthou, foreign minister of
France caused a veritabie cataclysm of social
disasters in the American capital.
Hundreds of nOtableS who had expected to sip
champagne, dance waltzes, ogle lovely ladies,
nibble caviar, gossip and ride to glamorous So
cial functions in top hats and ermine suddenly
found themselves with completely blank
calendars.
News Of the royal murder had no sooner
reached this city than it caused near panic
and plunged the entire official and diplomatic
contingent into the deepest gloom. Some of
this gloom was caused by real sorrow at King
AleXander's death. Some of it was caused by
acute worry over possible political consequences.
And some was caused-quite naturaly-by selfish
disappointment.
HERE are few of the immediate results of
i L his majesty's death as it affected Wash
ington:
l. President Roosevelt Immediately sent
personal cable of coincidence to Queen Marie in
Belgrade.
2. Secretary of State Hull sent two wires to
ranking officials of the Yugoslav government.
8. Secretary of State Hull called at the Yugo-
slav legation and at the French embassy to ex-
press his regrets.
A. All formal diplomatic parties were can
celed immediately
5. The White House called off large recep-
ton which was to have been given in honor Of
foreign delegates to the Congress of the Fedora
ton Aeronautique Internationale.
6. Ambassador Andre de Laboulaye of France
recalled invitations to a dinner in honor of
French delegates.
7. Minister Ibrahim Ratib Bey of Egypt can
celed what was to have been a brilliant recep-
ton in honor of his majesty. King Fuad I.
s. Rumanian Minister Charles Davila an
nounced that he would not give a scheduled
dinner in honor of Prince and Princess Bibesco,
nor a reception which was to follow the dinner.
XXTORD of the assassination was flashed here
w crashing like a bomb amid frantic prep
arations for official revelry
Foreign visitors-especially those from coun-
tries in or adjacent to the Balkans-showed much
concern. They gathered in groups, animatedly
discussing every political angle to the murder
and specializing on the effect.
In most Of the foreign missions where dinners
and receptions were planned, CONSERVATION ruled.
Orchestras had been engaged, cases of cham
payne and whisky were piled high in the cellars
ma jor-domoS and footmen we're engaged in set
ting tables. flowers and other decorations had
been selected and arranged, enormous quantities
of food, ranging from such delicacies as caviar
were ready to serve.
After a series of hurried conversations all
these magnificent provisions for gay time were
summarily put aside When certain uniformed
guests silk-hatted and furred, arrived at the
place of revel they saw servants departing. A
footman quietly opened the door for each guest,
stated: The reception has been called of on
account Of King Alexander's death"
Cards Of coincidence replaced calling cards.
Thus does the assassination Of king many
thousands of miles away affect the doings Of
Washington society.