Evening star., 1944-04-09
BV joseph H. Baird.


A statesman who took part in the
young Turk movement which ended the
absolutism Of the Sublime Porte and
paved the way for Turkeys transition
into modern democratic state has be-
come dean of Washingtons ever-grow-
ing diplomatic corps.
The new dean, VINO will, represent his
colleagues in any collective relations
they have with the American Govern
ment and act also as final arbiter on
questions Of protocol within the corps,
is Mehmet Munir Ertegun, the Ambas-
sador of Turkey. He succeeded to this
post few days ago upon the death Of
Don Manuel de Freyre y santander, who
had served Peru here since 1880.
Ambassador Ertegun received the
writer in his Embassy. on Twenty
third street NV. just Of Sheridan
Circle, and for an hour answered ques-
tions about the diplomatic corps, him
self, his country and his outlook on
world affairs. As this talk was designed
to give readers 4 picture Of the man
and his work rather than to yield cur
rent news on world affairs, we agreed
to detour around political controversies.
The Ambassador doesn't forsee much
work ahead for the cean OF the diplo-
matte corps-as least so long as
America is at war.
A Matter of Finesse
In times Of lush entertaining all sorts
OF problems arise to vex q man in Mr..
Erteguns position. The question of who
outranks whom-the sort of squabble
which resulted, for instance, during the
Hoover administration when the late
Speaker Longworth battled it out with
Vice President Curtis over whether the
formers wife should take precedence
over the latter's sister-demands the
keenest sort OF finesse. In the instance
cited the principals were Americans, but
the diplomats had to decide on how to
seat them at Embassy dinners.
But now lavish entertainments are
barred in official Washington "for the
duration" The White House social sea-
son is entirely blanketed. Embassy A.
fairs are limited to small, informal din
ners. So the new deans work in the
social field probably will be light until
the guns stop roaring.
Even SO, the position carries weight.
Mr.. Ertegun will be consulted by the
State Department on all matters Affect
ing the diplomatic corps as a whole,
such as the scope Of diplomatic Inn
munity and the application of American
laws and regulations to the foreign mis-
sions here. In turn, he will act as the
spokesman for his colleagues on all
questions they wish to take up as body
with the State Department.
Speaks Flawless English -:
The Turkish Ambassador is a man OF
medium height and build, slightly bald
and with dark, steady, penetrating eyes.
He speaks fiawless English, even indulg-
ing now and then in idioms, and, in his
leisure, iI1clines more to intellectual and
artistic pastimes than to sports. He
works In metal, making cups and bric-
a-brac from silver and aluminium, and
Is keen student Of history and judicial
literature. q. -as-,. rr -.
Nine. Ertegun IS q thoroughly modern
woman of the new democratic genera
ton IN Turkey, who takes keen inter-
est in the broadening intellectual and
political activities Of her sex.
The Erteguns have three children, all
OF school age. One son, Ahmet, gradu-
uated last week from st. John S Col
lege. Another. Nesuhi, for some time