Evening star., 1938-01-23
CONCLUDING PACT
|SKENNEDY'SCOAL
New Envoy to Britain Has
Traders Viewpoint and
That Counts.
BY H. r. BAUKHAGE.

It's "au revoir and not good-by''
that the Washington buddies Of Amer
icas new Ambassador to Great Brit
ain, Joseph Patrick Kennedy, will be
saying to him as he swings OF to
sign up for his new job in foreign
waters.
Not that they expect him back on
the Maritime Commission, for Chair
man Kennedy always picks a different
branch Of service when he starts a
new hitch. But his friends say he's
not going to the Court of st. James
just to wear out pair of silk knee
breeches but to do a job, and when
its done he'll be back again. And
now the Ambassador has confirmed
1t to this writer.
That puts his appointment in a
class unique in American diplomatic
history. Selection Of this healthy,
wealthy and wise-cracking Boston
1rishman as our Ambassador extraor-
dinary and plenipotentiary in London
is distinct departure from tradition
His acceptance of the job is, on the
other hand, quite consistent with his
record. Taking on specialists Job
Is right in Mr.. Kennedys line.
No Diplomatic Training.
True enough, he has the ordinary
un-of-the-mine qualifications for the
job-a big campaign contribution and
no diplomatic training whatever. But
he also has something else which
makes him particularly fitted and pro-
vides more than usual satisfaction on
the part Of the State Department.
That's what makes the appointment
unique.
did you think they had q special
assignment COR you" the new Ambas-
sador was asked between engagements
in the Offices of the Maritime Com
mission. "or did you consider the ap-
pointment merely recognition of past
service?"
There wasn't any pause before the
answer:
There's job to do. If it hadn't
been for the Job. wouldn't have taken
the appointment I'm not going to
play the social end I've done busi-
mass in England. Two Of my boys
went to London University. But I
don't know the crowd I'll meet now
I don't know thing about diplomacy"
To Work on Trade Pact.
The job, of course, is concluding
the important reciprocal trade agree
ment and handling the ticklish ques-
ton of international exchange. We
have rehabilitation fund" and sta
bilization never was consummation
more devoutly to be wished for than
now. But to consummate 1t, dollars
and pounds have to get together un-
der sympathetic auspices. We know
money talks. but it doesn't have to
express itself in diplomatic language.
It uses the language of the man in
the street-at least the Street known
by the name Of Wall. Mr.. Kennedy
is at home there He knows the trad
er's viewpoint and he knows the other
side-he learned that as pioneer head
Of the Securities and Exchange Com
mission.
Recently, a visiting Englishman re-
marked:
Your new Ambassador will make or
break himself at the Pilgrims dinner
In London" That's no "man-in-the-
street" affair.
When Mr.. Kennedy heard this re-
mark, his only comment was, 80 I
hear"
Society Started in 1902.
Just why the Pilgrims have the sole
right to initiate new Ambassador
has been forgotten by all but old
timers at the State Department. A
small group Of Americans and Britons
started the society in 1902. Gen.
Joseph Wheeler, visiting in London,
obtained the support of Lord Roberts,
Brtain's hero-seneral of the Boer
War and with long record in India.
Rider Haggard, the novelist, whose
popularity was at its height, made
suggestions as to the organizations
device.
The Importance of MIR. Kennedys
maiden speech before the Pilgrims
may be exaggerated, except that he
must prove he can open his mouth
without putting his foot into it, and
prove he is able to steer his course
safely between too ardent American
ism and too ardent praise for his
hosts. The latter is more important,
because the one thing the British
foreign Office fears Is an American
Ambassador whose remarks are inter-
preted as "pro-British" to the Ameri-
can press.
Suspicious Attitude.
Once this reputation gets abroad
ut home, the British diplomats know
their every approach toward America,
be it ever so innocent, will be regard
ed with suspicion.
Chatter Of the society columns to
the contrary. the other qualifications
which Mr.. Kennedy may reveal or
conceal at Pilgrim dinner-social,
literary or otherwise-mean very little
to Downing Street or the State De-
partment. Neither institution expects
the present American -you-go
system to produce a Metternich or a
Machiavelli Our foreign embassies
are equipped with trained staffs.
In Mr.. Kennedy's case, he has one
Job to do, and, If he does as well for
the United States in his dealings with
Britain as he did little over a decade
ago for himself, nobody will kick. He
made his first million then, at IS, as
an unknown" in Hollywood, selling
cannily acquired rights to British films
ut his own price
(Ccpyright. 1898. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Inc)
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