Evening star., 1941-02-09

The Court of St. James has seen a
colorful and marked variety of American
ENJOYS, ministers and ambassadors to
changing times, the latest choice is John
Gilbert Winant, Republican turned New
Dealer, a former preparatory school
teacher, former Governor former chair
man of the Social Security Board and
director of the International Labor
Office.
Mr.. Winant, who will be 50 years old
February 23 does not fit the pattern
made by American Ambassadors to Lon
don since the first World War They
were John w. Davis, lawyer: George
Harvey, editor; Frank B. Kellogg, Sena-
tor and later Secretary of State; former
Vice President Charles G. Dawes, banker;
former Secretary of the Treasury Andrew
w. Mellon, banker and industrialist
Robert w. Bingham, publisher, and
Joseph P. Kennedy, banker and former
chairman of the Securities and EX-
change Commission.
Bevin Wanted Winant, Is Report.
If label must be pinned on the new
envoy, his intimate friends would agree
on public servant and advocate of social
justice" 1t was because of the very
general description, advocate of social
justice" that he was selected for the
new post, and it is one of the unverifi-
able reports in Washington that his ap-
pointment was asked of President Roose-
velt by Ernest Bevin, the trade union
leader who became Minister of Labor
IN the Churchill government. Mr.
Winant and Mr. Bevin worked together
at Geneva, when Mr. Winant was as
sistant director and later director of the
International Labor Office, now at Mon
treal.
In making the appointment, the Presi-
dent obviously had several objectives in
mind. Mr.. Winant, a well-to-do aris-
tocrat like himself, will be able to talk
the language of the two groups ruling
the British Commonwealth today, the
traditional officials from the public
schools and universities who represent
the privileges of the "old England" and
the officials from the Labor party like
Mr.. Bevin, Herbert Morrison, Sir Walter
Citrine, Sir Stafford Cripps, Maj. Glenn
ent Attlee and Harold Laski, who even
now are working for new England"
after the war
From the time he was elected to the
New Hampshire Legislature in 1917, when
at the age of g he introduced the State S
first 48hour work bill. Mr. Winant has
sought persistently to bring about greater
security and wider advantages to work
ing men, women and children. With his
comely and intelligent wife, he will be
at ease in the drawing rooms of May
fair and yet be completely and sympa-
thetically informed when he visits the
distressed areas" of England, Scotland
and Wales
What Winant Is Like.
Another reason for his selection was
his lack of those capacities which used
to be considered prime requisites of a
diplomatist. He is not quick thinker,
an adroit speaker or a man of the world
He is deliberate to the point of exasper-
alton to his friends he is shy, modest,
low-voiced, mystical, and a conscien-
tious plodder. Because of his stopped
figure which his clothes do not seem to
fit, his heavy eyebrows, deep-set gray
eyes and raven hair which falls over his
forehead, he is usually described as
"Lincolnesque," although he does not
have Lincolns rangy frame or rugged
features. There is resemblance, how
ever, to Lincoln's sadder portraits.
But in these transitional times here
and abroad President Roosevelt appar-
emily wanted contrast to the more
brilliant, more individualistic Joseph P.
Kennedy and the ubiquitous and voluble
William c. Bullitt. Mr.. Winant will not
get into hot water on his own motion.
AS one of his most intimate friends
observed somewhat sorrowfully, "Winant
does have his Hamlet side" He then
added, sympathetically, While this may
be a handicap in an administrator, it
may prove positive advantage to an
ambassador at this time"
Many of our non-career diplomats
have created misfortunes for them
selves and this country by talking too
much. Unless all signs fail, Mr.. Winant