The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-02-13


Sonality, great charm, considerable
brains, q wife who almost has
brought his downfall and a per-
severance which usually gets him
what he wants.
In this case 1t probably will get
him advancement to the Eu-
ropean post he covets-but 1t has
been hard battle. He is going
back to what he considers the
backwoods Of Brazil for the "time
being" but soon will be trans
ferred.
How Gibson has managed this
indicates how politics, personality
and pull work in the career SER
vice. II a man has friends in the
right places, II he lunches at the
right clubs, II he invites the right
people to dinner, he will 60 long
way in diplomacy.
Taxpayer Pays
In Gibson's case, he persuaded
tho State Department to SUNNI
men him homo for consultation"
Immediately after elections, even
though Secretary Hull knew that
Gibson would have to turn around
and 60 back to Rio de Janeiro inn
mediately to welcome Roosevelt.
1.-THE consultation" Gibson was
interested in pertained chiefly to
his promotion. And having
brought him to Washington at
government expense, the State De-
partment sent him back again for
the Roosevelt goodwill trip, then
brought him to Washington for
more Consultation" now Is re-
turning him to Rio de Janeiro,
soon will shift him to Europe.
NOTE-Meanwhile the State
Department asks Congress for
increased appropriations.
Mrs. Gibson
Probably Hugh Gibson's chief
handicap Is his wife. He Is de-
votedly In love with her, SO he
can be forgiven many things. She
may have contributed TO his hap
piness, but she has contributed
uCtle 10 MS career.
She Is Belgian, and seems to be
imbued with the idea that Moth
ing American can be tolerated.
Furthermore, she makes little ef-
fort to conceal 1t.
Although she held no rank or
position In Belgium before she
became an ambaSSadress, she
now nurses an Overweening
sense of superiority. Once while
her husband was minister to
Switzerland, she horsewhipped
farmer whose frightened
horses got I'm her way. II
caused such q scandal that II al
most became necessary TO trans
fer Gibson from Switzerland.
In Rio de Janeiro Mrs. Gibson
has made little effort to conceal
her distaste for the Brazilian
people. and she, in turn, Is far
from popular. While In Brazil
she spends much Of her time at
q country place In the mountains
overlooking the capital. where she
dresses In riding boots and shoots
snakes. One day she shot hun
dred.
Hoover Help
Gibsons chief boost up the lad
der came when Hoover was food
administrator, later Secretary Of
Commerce.
Gibson was secretary OF the
American Legation In Belgium
during Hoover's food relief days,
and they became close friends
Later Hoover asked that Gibson be
detailed to help him on diploma
tic questions In other parts of
Europe.
SO attached did Hoover be-
come 10 this dapper young dip
lomat that he induced the Wilson
administration TO skip him
through .several grades Of promo
ton and make Gibson minister to
Poland. Again. during the Cool
idge administration. Hoover gave
Gibson q boost up the ladder, and
he was made ambassador TO Bel
GUM.
Later he was Ho0ver's chief
disarmament negotiator In Eu-
rope, and played an important
part in the Stimson- Hoover
foreign policy. When he came TO
Washington he was always
white House guest, being among
the chosen few accompanying
Hoover on his Rapidan week.
ends.
Close friendship with Hoover
did not particularly help Gibson
after Hoover's defeat, and II II
had not been for the pleading OF