The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-08-31
Observations
Welles' Departure
Upsets Washington
Diplomatic Scene

WASHINGTON wen Washing
ton which enjoys gossip and feuds
more than Black Market roast beef
is distressed by the unhorsing Of
Sumner Welles from his post OF
Undersecretary OF State.
Regardless of general admiration
and affection for Secretary Cordell
Hull as a public servant and a low
able personality the abasement OF
man OF Mr.. Welles' ability and
loyalty is not a happy spectacle.
Nor is u one that gives comfort 10
a country anxiously lighting a bit
ter war
Mr.. Welles has served the Ad-
ministration and his country faith
fully. When he leaves the State
Department as undersecretary'
there will pass from the interna-
tional diplomatic scene a distin-
gulshed and vivid personality.
There are thousands OF people
who know Sumner Welles only As
a name. other thousands think OF
him as symbol of stlff-backed
diplomacy. Neither group would
agree With my choice OF the word
vivid" However, vivid is the
word | mean,
Mr.. Welles Is as dramatic In his
aloofness as picture book ed
ton of a career diplomat. Hand
some, remote and formal. he is as
self-conscious as state Depart
ment manual on correct diplomatic
usage.
Mr.. Welles does not wish 70 be
aloof. Close friends say he has a.
ways desired 20 possess above al!
other qualities the quality OF being
good mixer He has hoped that
people would like him not because
OF his position, but because under
meath his austere manner he is ar
everyday citizen.
Friends declare likewise that the
departing undersecretary would be
grateful IL he could be fri ndly in
the simple American way. He would
like, for example. 10 be able to slap
neighbor on the back and in a
good old campaign manner. ask
after the new Daoy's new teeth and
grieve over tie failure OF the corn
crop. Unfortunately country folk
who live near OXon Hill Manor. the
Prince Georges county estate OF
Sumner Welles' say these are things
Mr.. Welles could never do. Yet the
retiring undersecretary has a cheer
ful sense OF humor, laughs an hon
est laugh az a good story and is
amused more often than is imag-
ined
Speaking NJ the corn crop Nj.
Welles might inquire about. he him
self is a farmer. An elegant farmer
IL you insist, but still a farmer. He
takes particular pride in the gar.
dens, livestock and crops OF his
country estate. He white washes the
walls OF the barns and digs around
flower beds. No. not with doeskin
gloves protecting his hands.
Mrs. Welles was a beauty and a
belle in Washington as debutante
Mathilde Townsend Lately she has
not taken an active part in socie'a.
but she has been punctilious about
her diplomatic obligations Mrs.
Weltes closes friend is probably
Mrs. Stanley Reed. wife Of Supreme
Court Justice Reed. Newcomers and
old-timers have grown accustomed
to seeing Mrs Reed and Mrs.
Welles arriving together at large
official parties.
The lack OF sympathy between
Mr.. Hull and Mr.. Welles has not
oil ia Z ~ ~
Mrs. Hull and Mrs. Welles. Not long
ago ! lunched at Oxon Hill, where
Mrs. Hull was guest OF honor j.
was an informal and pleasant little
party. We talked easily and gaily
on the terrace before luncheon.
The town house Of Mr. and Mrs.
Welles-that big white marble man
sion at Massachusetts Avenue and
Sheridan Circle is reminiscent Of
the Petit Trianon built by Louis
XIV at Versailles for his Marie Ar
toinette. The mansion is now used
by the Canadian WACS.
Perhaps. as | indicated In a pre-
vious column. Mr. .Welles will re-
tire" from diplomatic life. settle
tleman while pursuing his real am
bition-a seat in the L. S. Senate
from Maryland.
A discussion OF Mr. Welles natur.
ally suggests Latin-America. Latin
America suggests to me the note
that came in this mornings mail
from Betty Kirk In Mexico City.
Mics Kirk'e HreT Maxicap hCOk ~
such a success that her publisher
has been at work on a second vol
ume.
enjoyed this glimpse OF Mexico
City which the note from Miss
Kirk, a discerning journalist. gave
me.
you wouldn't recognize Mexico
City now. It's filled with glittering
nightclubs. swell new Bankers