The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-08-02


competently.
The fact is that this current
wars as much a diplomatic strug-
gle as it is "a military, naval and
aviatorial affair. And Sumner
Welles is a natural diplomat. Fur
thermore, he's improved on nature
by a long course of training. A
good many OF our diplomats are
amateurs. He's a professional.
There are times when a diplo-
mat needs to be affable. and occa-
sionally more or less yielding. For
instance, such an attitude is Of the
highest Importance in our relation
ships with our Latin-American
neighbors. Sumner is great at it,
both by temperament and per-
sonal experience in their midst.
Yet he also knows when and how
to get tough, as with Germany.
and with Japan, just at present
Welles Well-to-Do
It happens that Summers quite
a rich man. Well, an American
diplomat needs to be rich. II isn't
so necessary at home in the state
department, but wealth is almost
an indispensibility for a foreign
assignment. An ambassador or
a minister's stipend sounds fairly
liberal, stated in dollars and cents,
but his expenses are something
fierce, too, at most foreign capitals.
I once had this pointed out to
me very convincingly. l was liv-
ing in Buenos Aires at the time.
DR.. Julius Klein was. sent there as
our commercial attache. He was
well equipped for the position by
education. He was a first rate
economist, spoke excellent Spanish
and had the personality to ingrati-
ate himself with the Argentinos.
Consequently he was great sue
cess.
Nevertheless, after only few
months service, it was announced
that he had resigned and was 60
ing home. Meeting him on the
street, asked him, How Gomez"
The truth is" he answered,
that I can't live on my salary, and
I haven't a sufficient income Of my
own to supplement it." I knew
what his pay was-s8,000 annual
~. It seemed to me that 1 could
worry along on that, and he saw
from my expression what I was
thinking.
"Oh, yes" he said, II could make
$4,000 do, too, If l could regulate
my own expenses. But, a day or
two after my arrival here. 1 had
to see the minister Of agriculture
and wrote him for an appointment.
His answer was warm invitation
to attend a big social function at
his house. Oh, it was a classy
gathering.
Too Expensive
The same thing followed in
connection with the ministers Of
finance and foreign affairs and
military affairs and assorted nota-
bilities. Now I've been the rounds
and it's up to me to reciprocate, or
/ can't continue associating with
them. But, if 1 do reciprocate,
it'll about clean out my Ss,000."
So there's an excellent reason
why a mans GOT to be rich to ac-
cept a diplomatic appointment.
The trouble is that a lot Of them
get such appointments only be-
cause they ARE rich, not because
they're capable diplomats.
Sumner Welles, however, while a
humdinger Of good diplomat, is
rich incidentally-by accident.
He's more coherent than any
democratic statesman whom I've
heard Of on the subject OF the kind
Of postwar world we ought to be
figuring on. Hardly any Of them
discuss the matter.
British Foreign Minister An
thony Eden's an exception. He re-
Gently made speech apropos the
question. His thesis was that Ger
many's got to be skwushed so fat
this time that 1t never'll be able to
peep hereafter. But that's what
they thought they'd done the
LAST time. and look how 1t