Evening star., 1943-05-22
Glamour Of Embassies
Draws Big Crowd Of
Paying Sightseers
Sponsors Of Charity
Project Give Visitors
A Thrilling Show
Rv HELEN LOMBARD.

bY hELEN LOMbAhD.
The glamour of old-time diplo-
macy, of which the gold salon and
the fower-decked banquet table
were the outward expression, still
holds for the feminine residents of
Washington.
One thousand women or more
were SO eager to get an intimate
glimpse into some of Washington's
embassies that they were willing
to pay $3.50 for the privilege. The
money to charity-one of Wash
ington's oldest institutions, the
Home for Incurables. The drive
succeeded so we'll that both the
sponsors and the foreign diplomats
who agreed to lend their residences
were surprised at the response.
Among the missions which CO.
operated were the Turkish, the
Yugoslav, the Greek. the Norwegian
Embassies and the Luxembourg Le-
cation. The British Embassy was
unable to place either the grounds
or the building at the services of
the charitable ladies due to the
current pressure.
Set "Show" Table.
Sponsors of the drive, determined
to make it success, went in for
realism on a grand scale. After the
committee had obtained permission
from the various ENJOYS to per-
NIT paying sightseers to wander
through the residences, the mem
bers worthily decided to give their
visitors their moneys worth.
The ladies of the committee called
at one of the embassies on the sched-
uled tour and asked permission to
set the table for a dinner of IA.
They proceeded to bedeck the board
with the finest china and glassware
and to ornament it with flowers
which they thoughtfully brought
along.
When the curious were uShered
Into the dining rooms they saw the
table set according to the rules of
Schedule A''-that is to say, with
the silver, glass and napery reserved
for the highest ranking officials who
ever accept an embassy invitation,
the Vice President or the Chief JUS
tice The President of the United
States never dimes on foreign soil,
as the embassies are considered
Realists have long accepted the
fact that the diplomacy of the
League of Nations era is as out
moded as the hustle and crinoline.
The days when affairs of state were
arranged across banquet table and
toasted in champagne are no longer
with US.
AS an illustration the City of
Washington is today host to two dis
tinguished foreigners. Prime Min
lister Winston Churchill of Britain
and the President of Czechoslovakia,
Eduard Benes.
Churchill Hides Away.
Mr. Churchill, who is here to dis
cuss vitally important matters. is
socially incommunicado. He has his
meals on tray in President Roose-
velt's Office or sees the Chief EXecu-
tive late at night.
On the other hand there have
been number Of formal entertain
ments attended by the rank" of
Washington in honor of President
Benes, whose countrv's eXpectancies
are, TO say the least, somewhat nebu-
lous. In fact, some diplomats in
Washington actually become
alarmed when new diplomatic hon.
ors are suggested for them.
The envovs of the occupied coun-
tries have been almost without ex-
ception elevated to ambasasdorial
rank. Not long ago one of the few
remaining ministers, the envoy
from neutral Sweden, Mr.. w. Bos-
trum was asked when he expected
to be made an Ambassador Not
soon," answered the Swedish Minis
ter with twinkle in his eye My
country does not expect to be in
vaded"
In spite of the fact that banquet
diplomacy is a thing of the past.
the curious f1OCked in numbers to
glimpse the, decors in which old
world diplomacy moved. So success
full was the drive that one of the
diplomats who had loaned his en-
hasSy for the occasion was unable
to get into his own front door. The
woman who had been put in charge
of the gate would not let him in
without ticket The envoy was
unwilling to pay $3.50 in order to
enter his own house. Knowing the
grounds, he went around to the back
door and got into his quarters
tRelessed by Bell syndicate)