Evening star., 1934-11-14

Washington is about to lose one of
its shrewdest foreign diplomats in
Charalambos SimopouloS, Greek Min
lister to the United States since 1924.
He has been transferred to London.
Mr. Simopoulous' chief achievement
in Washington was the funding of the
Greek war debt to the United States
in 1929. In the local diplomatic
corps he is noted for his exceptional
grasp of the American system of
government and its functions. A
lawyer by profession. he began his
diplomatic career 80 years ago and
was stationed successfully in Egypt,
Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, France, Italy,
Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Turkey.
MIR. and Mrs. Simopoulous are popular
figures in Washington society. Mrs.
Simopoulous is renowned as brilliant
bridge player.
President Roosevelt's housing pro-
gram, on which more and more stress
is to be laid, Is now being dramatized
in Nationwide radio broadcasts di-
rectly from homes which are actual
beneficiaries of modernization loans.
The stunt was originated by Louis J.
Alber, chief of the F. H. A. Speakers
and Radio Bureau, for the purpose
OF acquainting the public In brass
tacks fashion with the actual work.
ings of the housing act. Home
owners tell in simple language exactly
what they did to get Uncle Sans aid
and then explain just how the money
is spent to spruce up the old vine
and fig tree.
Frederick H. Gillett, former Speaker
of the House and later United States
Senator from Massachusetts,, has
turned author He has just published
life of George Frisbie Hoar, famed
Republican Old Guard Senator from
the Bay State, who for 27 years Q877
to 1900 was one of the Republican
giants OF Congress. Mr. Hoar died
80 years ago, but he was SO conspic-
uous in party and national affairs
that Mr.. Gillett concluded it is not
too late to write his biography.
Secretary Ickes' current visit to the
Texas oil fields lends interest to his
references to oil in his recent book,
"The New Democracy" Mr.. Ickes
says that when he took Office and
found the oil problem dumped on his
lap only the Secretary Of the Interior
knew how little the Secretary of the
Interior knew about OIL" His book
spins graphic tale about how "this
industrial behemoth, brought to its
knees, came to Washington begging
for help, and with the startling propo-
sition that the Government, in effect,
take over the oil industry and run it"
1ckes listened in amazement to the
urgent representations of men whose
very names had always filled me with
awe, end adds: ''The mental state OF
these great industrialists can be
judged from their willingness to
intrust the destinies Of . great busi-
ness enterprise to a Government OFF,
cial without scientific knowledge of
oil as a product or special acquaint-
ance with oil as q business far cry
this from less Government IN busi-
ness"
+ +
Beginners In the foreign service,
dispatched to American consulates,
legations and embassies abroad on
their maiden assignments, are known
as boy Scouts" The current State
Department Foreign Service Journal
discloses that the original boy
Scout" was none other than John
Quincy Adams, sixth President Of the
United States, who, at the age Of IA,
was appointed secretary to the Amer
ican Minister to Russia.
~Gcopyrisht. 1a3za