The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-08-28

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 6aito is in the toughest spot, at the moment, of any foreign emis- sary in Washington. To cope with his great responsibilities, he is equipped with 8 suave sense of hunor, an unquestioning belief in the might and destiny of his country, and an unusual knoWl- edge of the United States and its people.
 He knows this country far better than the average Anaeri- can and is never pertnrbcd by any turn which public opinion may take. He is not surprised at the ugly pictures of the Nipponese war lord appearing in current cartoons, any more than he was surprised when, in 1923, Americans in Q great surge of sympathy donated $16,70O,- 900 for the relief of earthquake victims in Japan.
 From the day that Japanese troops marched into what is now Manchukuo, Saito knew what Americans would say about his countrymen. He is not disturbed. With Q mildly critical eye, he has watched the ebb and flow of American public opinion since he first came to this country at the age of 25. He has lived here 17 years in all, more of his adult life than in any other country, including his own.
 Starting as consul in Seattle, he has served as consul general In New York, as attache in Wash ington, counsellor, and finally ambassador.
 Golfer
 saito's great outdoor passion is golf. He is a member of Wash- tngton's exclusive Burning Tree club, and on Sunday morning, passing motorists may see his di- minutive figure making the rounds of the course with . six- foot senator or supreme court justice. He shoots around 90.
 Save for his complexion, Saito does not look particularly Oriental = . fact that he is se- cretly proud of. His cast of features Is decidedly Oriental. Further, his speech has only . slight trace of accent. Even before he left Japan as . young
 man, he had a fluent command of English, learned first from his father, who taught English fin Tokio.
 Knowledge of English ran in his family. Saito's younger sister, Etsuko, before she died at the age of a, made a translation of Longfellow's "Evangeline' into Japanese. The ambassador had 1t published, with a foreword of his own, and it is still sold in Japan.
 Saito was 47 years old when ap. pointed ambassador to Washing. ton in 1884. He was the young. est ambassador Japan had ever sent to this country, and in be. ing elevated to this prize post he was jumped over 20 seniors in the Japanese diplomatic service.
 Wise Cracker
 His youth is accentuated by his youthful appearance. Asked once by a dinner companion for the secret of his boyish appear aflce, he replied with a grin: "I dissipate, have done so all my life. Whiskey and soda every afternoon all afternoon"
 Before he arrived in Washing. ton from his last post as minister to the Hague, the embassy staff here received a cable from saito in Paris. It consisted of three words: How is cave?" The cryptic message puzzled the secretaries, until they realized that leave" re- ferred to the embassy's wine cel- lar and Saito was preparing to stock 1t, if need be, with famed French wines.
 When he arrived in New York reporters went aboard the shin to meet him. He greeted them cordially and invited them to the bar for drinks. He respond- ed to all questions with the smooth adroitnsss of which he is . past master. Asked about Japan's alleged desire to seize Alaska, he said, "vvhat for? What would we want with that frozen ceuntry?"
 Asked about possible war be- tween Japan and the United States. he replied, "That's poppy. cock"
 Of the post he was entering upon in Washington, he said, Its . great responsibility, but . cinch of . job"
 Would.Be Novelist
 saito is quick on the comeback, and equally quick to smile. He brides himself on his knowledge