The Washington times., 1938-10-07
GIRL INTERVIEWS.
CHINESE ENVOY.
OR DOES SHE?.
New Ambassador Has
Little to Say"
BY LUCIA GIDDENs

1
In the middle Of a gray after
noon yesterday, the city editor
uttered the fabulous glittering
words: GO down to the station
and meet the new Chinese AmbaS-
Sador."
To a newcomer in washington,
here was her first chance to meet
great envoy. The complicated
questions which instantly shaped
themselves in my mind must have
IreSembled a Chinese puzzle.
WHAT TO DO?
How would one approach an
ambassador? Would there be
bit of pageantry on the platform?
And once in his presence. what
question would one aSk-the one
perfect question which would be
important enough to summon up
a significant answer and yet guile
less enough to disarm wariness?
The cab, instead of its Gus
tomary crawling in traffic, seemed
to speed to the station, with the
rush attributed to q legendary
Chinese dragon. (My question
was still unframed. in tranSit0
There, in the great gray cavern
of the station, members Of the
embassy staff were beginning to
collect. Their calmneSs and
quiet reminded me to be more
self-contained, but the reminder
was practically wasted. I was still
fishing frantically for a question
worthy to greet an ambassador.
The wife of one Of the attaches
in a Chinese dress Of rich
rose color, cleaning beneath heE
coat. But there was no trace Of
or colorful uniform inI
the crowd.
Other newspaper reporters am
bled up, looking as If they were
used to meeting ambassadors
every day in the week. No use to
ask them If they remembered how
it felt to be a newcomer facing
one for the first time.
Several men from the State De
partment appeared, looking impres-
sive and formal. The entire group
to meet the Ambassador began
briskly along the plat
form as the train slid to stop.
Suddenly a man, smiling around
his spectacles, stood on the train
step. The new Ambassador, DR..
HUI Shih was hailed-by q flash
Of camera bulbs, just as any other
celebrity.
EASILY CORNERED
Quickly he was turning to right |
and left, shaking hands with per
sons in the welcoming crowd,
greeting old friends, making new
ones on sight.
The press, with q minimum Of
maneuvering, cornered him.
Instantly he hedged off any
questions on international affairs
by saying:
Il have never had any diplo-
matte experience before. I am
here to learn my new job. Until
I learn it, will have very little.
to say"
So could stop trying to think
of the one best question to pro
pound to the new ambassador. It
would be wasted.
1t was easy to talk to this smil-
ing friendly man. He was saying
IN a low clear voice:
my life has been that Of q
professor of philosophy"
And with Oriental understate-
ment he added:
II hope that will not be en-
tirely useless"
He was smiling and saying:
II am happy to come to this
country where have been off
and on for nine years."
Someone inquired about his fam
lily, and he said that his wife and
two sons are now in China, but
may come here later.
Then he smilingly inferred that
he had talked enough for the pres
ent, since he had started out by
saying that he would talk very
little"
AS ran to the telephone to tell
the office that the Ambassador
had arrived, a question rose in
my mind:
What, after all, is the formal
way to approach an ambassa-
dor2"