The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-04-15
Observations
New Ambassador of
Turkey Soft Spoken,
Modest Philosopher
BY Helen Esssry

Corps has new uedn. lie 10 Mcu-
met Munir Ertegun, ambassador
extraordinary and plenipotentiary
Of Turkey.
A soft voiced, modest philoso-
pher. with a wise understanding Of
people and nations. is this slender,
dark, be.spectacled little gentle
man. Something of prophet, too,
is Ertegun and one who shines in
city OF false prophecy. The day
after Pearl Harbor he said to
friends. MY country will remain
neutral
Badgered by Axis nations and
Allies alike for help, Turkey has
managed to stand aloof. And to-
day Nehmet Munir Ertegun, her
representative in Washington.
holds a most important position
among the diplomats in the capital.
II is both interesting and re-
assuring to raddled nerves that
the dean OF the Washington corps
should be the ambassador OF the
most powerful OF neutral nations.
For. being dean, contrary TO the
opinion OF most people. is not an
empty ph The dean OF the
WASN'T IS has special re-
spon ID influence. He
is n ceremonial officer.
Frequ directs the attitude
OF othe. natives in the cap
ital in natter where a mistake
might offend many Americans. For
example. during the days OF pro-
hibition, 1t was the dean OF the
corps who. on calling his group
together for regular meeting.
suggested the attitude OF the for
eign embassies toward strong
drink and such.
Ambassador Ertegun will exert
a calming influence on the Wash.
ington diplomats though at the
moment they seem to be in a most
amiable mood. Turkeys represen-
tative is man OF honest humility.
He is self-effacing and deeply re-
ligious. A deyout Mohammedan,
he has faith in the ultimate broth
erhood Of man.
How can you be an optimist
now Mr. Ambassador? | asked.
These are the dark ages OF slaugh-
ter and destruction"
Il believe" said Ertegun solemn
ly. that war is like any other
disease which affects human be-
ings. The way TO cure many dis
eases has been found. Some day
the way 10 cure the disease OF war
will be found. That there are still
many diseases preying on human
beings should not be a discour-
agement. Human society goes on
and on. II is immortal There is
much more time to treat its sick
nesses than there is TO treat the
sickness OF individual human be.
ings whose lives are short
Perhaps" ventured, "it is
your religion, your Mohammedan.
ism. that teaches you such faith"
Il cannot presume to give an
answer TO such a serious question
Ambassador Ertegun said. with.
out thinking all day. But | do
not find anything in my. thoughts
or reading TO make me believe that
all people are not striving toward
the same goal The identity O;
the religion Is not important. The
purpose OF all religions is the
same-the effort of human intel
sigence 10 solve the doubts OF the
unknown which surrounds all of
US"
The ambassador is probably one
or the most earnest students in
the Washington corps. He reads
and studies many hours a day.
The ambassadors wife. Hayrun.
nisi Rusten Ertegun. is a lovely.
gracious person with pink and
white complexion, flair for
bright, chic clothes, a quick smile
and friendly. happy manner. She
VIII make charming doyenne OF
the corps. AS a hostess in the
handsome embassy at Sheridan
circle, designed by George Oakley
Iotten, Madame Ertegun has al.
ready shown skill and cleverness.
She has entertained many people
elegantly at big parties. at state
luncheons. dinners. And for a few
special friends in small groups
there have been luscious Turkish
olshes, exciting to the palate and
dangerous 10 the waistline.
Pretty Selma, Ahmed and Mes.
uhi Ertegun, the three college.aze
children OF the dean OF the CORPS
and Madame Ertegun, are brilliant
students Of whom impatient par.
ents OF Washington children have
OFTEN spoken thusly: why can't
you be as smart as those young
Erteguns? They have had to
learn the language you grew up in
and yet they are far ahead OF you
in classesl"