Evening star., 1938-10-02

DlOOdy revolution rl9ht at the back door OF
the United States semed threatening It
looked as though this country, on the eve
Of inaugurating the good neighbor" policy,
might again have to send troops to Cuba
as it had the right to do under the Platt
amendment-in order to protect American
lives and property.
To Mr.. Welles was assigned the Job Of re.
storing order in Cuba and avoiding inter-
vention. His work was doubly hard because
he must do this without seeming to inter-
vene and so wound the extremely sensitive
nationalistic pride Of the Cubans.
There is not space here to outline the
intricacies of his negotiations. But as an
unofficial mediator-never representing the
President officially, but always acting in
private capacity as friendly broker" be-
tween the opposing factions-he brought
order out of chaos. Machado fled the coun-
try. DR.. Manuel de Cespedes headed the
government briefly. but was deposed. For
while an army sergeant ruled the island
Two years were to elapse before Cuba set
tied down to real calm. But the imme-
diate danger Of Intervention had been
ended. and by December, 1888. Mr.. Welles
was able to return to his post as Assistant
Secretary of State.
Prestige Re-esta blished.
Mr. Welles then began collaboration with
Secretary of State Hull on constructive
Latin American program. Through the
Montevideo Conference of 1884 and the
Buenos Aires Conference OF 1886, which
Mr.. Welles attended as delegate, they were
able to establish the good neighbor" policy
in South America, to re-establish Amer
ican prestige. to lay the basis for peaceful
settlement of future disputes and to forward
a program Of reciprocal trade treaties.
The resignation early in 1886 of Under
secretary of State William Phillips to be-
come Ambassador to Italy opened the way
for Mr.. Welles' advancement to the second
highest post in American diplomacy-but
not without political struggle.
Two men had their eyes and hearts set
on that post-Mr. Welles and Assistant
Secretary of State R. Walton Moore, an old
friend and congressional colleague of Secre-
tary Hull The Office was left open for
months as result of this rivalry. Finally,
the matter was compromised by the crea-
ton of new post in the State Depart
ment-counselor-whic ranked, in theory,
parallel to the undersecretaryship Mr..
Moore was made counsellor and Mr.. Welles
undersecretary.
1t is post for which he is ideally fitted.
Under the American political system the
Secretary of State is almost never q pro-
fessional diplomat. Invariably he reaches
office through the Senate or through fame
as an International lawyer. Rarely does
he know much about the technique Of
diplomacy, about the thousand and one
little details and niceties of diplomatic pro-
cedure. His task is more one of formu-
lating policy. in cooperation with the
President than executing it. Therefore
he needs a lieutenant who is a highly
trained diplomatic technician-a man with
professional diplomatic background-who
can carry out precisely and effectively the
policies which the Secretary or the Presi-
dent may decide upon. Therein lies Mr..
Welles' great value to his chief.
Mr.. Welles is the acme of precision. In
his press conferences there is never any
wavering. His replies always either are
pointed or non-existent. mo comment"
is his invariable answer to questions he
will not discuss.
1t is doubtful that Mr.. Welles ever will
become great statesman" in the historic
American sense Of the term. He is too
far removed from the common man. His
journey through life has been in esoteric
circles. He has little Of the politician in
him-and, with few exceptions. only men
who are politicians become secretaries of
state. But as professional diplomat he
Is one Of the most capable this country has
yet produced.