Washington Journal., 1943-05-14
".
Japenese Resentment

That was shortly after an hostile lemon
~stration of native fanatics in Tokyo, who were
aroused against our country by the dis
appointing results Of Theodore Roosevelt's
~stoppage of Japan's victorious war. A
frenzied mob stoned a house where Lloyd
and Mr.. Hartman were being entertained by
a Japanese cabinet minister. During the
affair some 80 rioters were killed and several
hundreds wounded by the troops quelllng
the disorders.
President Roosevelt, who at that very time,
had sent a courteous personal message to
Emperor Mutsuhito, to be conveyed to him
Through Lloyd, during his talk with me made
the following significant remarks:
eve may as we'll grid ourselves for a
coming war with the japanese. They are so
flushed with their victory that they will not
stop there. Their slogan now is Asia for
the Asiatics'. They hope to drive all Western
ers from what they hold to be their sphere
in the Far East. That will include Korea,
all Manchuria and Mongolia, Indo-China, the
Dutch East Indies, British strongholds In
Wei-hai-Wei, Hong Kong, Singapore and Co
llombo. as well as our Philippines. The ques-
tion. who is to dominate the Pacifc-we or
the Japanese-in the end will have to be de-
cided by thessword."
Incidentally the President told me he in
tended to recall Lloyd to promote him to a new
OIL ASSlSlduI SECRETARY VI 0OdJC
under Mr.. Hay.
The death of Secretary Hay, not long
afterwards, changed that intention, since he
was succeeded by Elihu Root, who naturally
preferred an assistant of his own choice in
the conduct Of the State Department.
Promoted to Ambassador
So, when Lloyd was recalled at last, Presi-
dent Roosevelt rewarded him for his brilliant
service in Japan, by promoting him to our
embassy in Brazil.
There it fell to his lot presently to have to
entertain Secretary Root and his family,
when the Roots came to Rio de Janeiro for
the Pan-American Conference there. Like
the visitations Of the Tafts and Hartman
liz Tokyo it meant a severe drain to his funds
Of money, energy, and health. No wonder the
Halter gave out, bringing him to death IS door.
He was saved from death only by a merciful
transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Rome, where
he succeeded Henry White as ambassador.
Of Lloyd's diplomatic career in Europe but
few inklings reached me at home. From the
newspapers / learned that he resided at Rome
opposite the Quirinal in the Palazzo del Drago
that once had been the home Of Queen Maria
Christina Of Spain. He was instrumental in
adjusting the difficulties that arose in Italy
whenever male Italian-American citizens, who
had evaded military service in Italy, returned
to their homeland. 1t was a vexatious problem
that had disturbed our country's relations
with several European monarchies.
The Kaiser's False Step
Presently I read in a newspaper that Lloyd
had got a leave of absence from Rome to go
to Berlin for a farewell party Of Charlemagne
Tower, who was quitting his embassy to Ger
many. Next | read a dispatch from abroad
that Emperor William III, without consulting
president Roosevelt, had asked Lloyd to get
himself transferred as ambassador from
Rome to Berlin. It was followed by a dis
patch from Rome that Lloyd in a newspaper
interview had disclaimed any intention Of
quitting Italy, unless recalled by the Presi-
ldent.
OF course the German Emperor's fduG pas
kicked up much diplomatic dust in Berlin,
Rome and Washington, since it had been an
nounced previously that President Roosevelt
had chosen David Jayne Hill as the successor
of Charlemagne Tower in Berlin. Knowing
Col. Roosevelt, as | did, | felt that he was
not the man to let the Kaiser force his hands
in any Of his diplomatic appointments.
The Kaiser's fauG pas, so | guessed, must
IhaVe caused serious embarrassment to Lloyd,
as indeed it did. When the President read
that newspaper dispatch about Lloyd's de-
sired transfer, so Secretary Root privately
told me later, he gritted his teeth and said:
If Griscom can't explain this, I'll have him
out of the service SO quick, he won't know
what hit him."
Of course Lloyd must have explained his
Innocence in the matter to the State Depart
ment, so he was saved from the ignominious
fate that befell some Of our other diplomats
abroad, who thought they could play world
~|politics without sanction from their chief.
A Growing Achievement