Evening star., 1936-11-21

SOiilC wiz
is himself an ardent believer in the
bolshevik philosophy or at least mildly
sympathetic with its general aims and
purposes. Such an ambassador, how
ever, would hardly win the confidence
of the many American business men
who look to the American Embassy to
protect them in their commercial re-
lations with the Soviet.
The new appointee is not a New
Dealer in the Tugwellian sense, but he
is a progressive who halls from Wis
consin and who was one of President
Wilson'S favoriteS a couple decades
ago. Indeed, Mr. Wilson broke pre-
cedent in behalf of Davies by de-
liberately sending letter indorsing
Davies candidacy in the Democratic
primaries for the nomination for the
United States Senate.
Student of Foreign Trade.
It may not be generally known but
Davies, when chairman OF the Fed
eral Trade Commission under Presi-
dent Wilson, made an exhaustive study
of foreign trade in connection with the
drafting of the Webb-Pomerene law
permitting combinations of American
firms in the matter of price fixing in
foreign sales The knowledge gained
then by Joe Davies, as the Capital
familiarly calls him, will stand him IN
good stead in understanding the nu-
merous commercial problems arising
out of his new post.
Davies has long represented i'm
portant corporations and interests n
the National Capital as lawyer, one
of his most important cases being that
in which acting as attorney for the
late Senator CouZens, he recovered for
his client a large overpayment OF
taxes in connection with the early
development of the Ford Motor
Car Co.
Rumored for Foreign Post.
It has for a long time been ru-
mored that Joe Davies would be sent
as an ambassador to some European
post, but it was generally believed
he would 60 to either Great Britain
or France. There is no vacancy at
either London or Paris, but If one
should occur it would not be Surpris-
ing If some day Davies was trans
ferred there.
The appointment is being discussed
In the national Capital as possible
clue to future diplomatic selections.
1t is true that Davies was prominent
in the New Deal political campaign
and that he was heavy contributor
to the cause, but Davies was also
prominent in the 1882 campaign and
could have occupied an appointive
position in the New Deal three years
ago had he been so inclined.
Judgment Weighed.
If it is the Presidents intention to |
reward men who have been active in |
his campaign or have contributed to |
the campaign expenses, it is also de-
sirable, naturally, that the men Sc
lected shall be capable of filling the |
posts to which they are sent. Thus, |
Judge Bingham, who is now Amer
lean Ambassador to Great Britain,
contributed $4,000 to the 1892 cam
paign, but his background and judg-
ment appealed to Mr.. Roosevelt as the
very kind that would fit him for a
successful career as a diplomat.
Joe Davies is the type who ordinar-
lily cannot be persuaded to leave an
active life in the Nations Capital for
q far-off post in the realm of diplo-
macy. But with the stirring events
that lie ahead in Europe and the
prospect that Moscow may become
an important center of diplomacy in
which the American Government
needs an impartial and a well-quali-
fed observer, anybody who wanted to
have a behind-the- e-scenes seat in the
coming drama would wish to be an
American Ambassador in some Euro
pean capital. The President is evil
IDENTIFY going to make his ambassa-
dorial appointments from among his
close personal friends, men whose
judgment he knows. And Joe Davies
ought to make a good ambassador. be-
cause he has Mr.. Roosevelt'S complete
confidence.
(Copyright. 1866