Evening star., 1948-11-28
Specimen of Finest in
British Education
and Culture
BY Raymond ?. Brondt

| VI ~ SNitNsS
BY Raymond ?. Brondt
Sir Oliver Franks, the youthful
looking British Ambassador to. the
United States, Is following in the
footsteps of his illustrious prede-
cessors. He Is seeing for himself
this diversified agricultural and in
dustrial Nation that is helping his
country and the free governments
of continental Europe to rebuild
themselves from the rubble of war.
For Sir Oliver the trips through
out the United States will be more
of an essential duty than they were
for Viscount Bryce, the Marques
of Lothian, the Earl Of Halifax and
Lord Inverchapel. Those Ambassa-
dors were merely carrying out the
tradition that o British A.nbassa-
dor see as much Of the country as
convenient and be seen by as many
Americans as can be accommodated.
His predecessors were either career
diplomats or experienced politicians.
Sir Oliver lacks this professional
background 1t 43, the second
youngest Ambassador Great Brit
ain has sent to this country, he is
a teacher of moral philosophy who
was drafted from the quiet cloisters
of oxford University to serve his
country In world crises.
! An Excellent Speaker
Last week he was in Michigan.
Next month he will be in Missouri
and Iowa. He hopes to equal Lord
Halifax's record of visiting each of
the 48 States.
His American audiences may think
they are seeing and hearing "typi-
cal Britisher." He is far more than
that. He is, rather, highly devel-
oped specimen of the finest in Brit
ish education and culture.
Six feet three and a half inches
tall, weighing lS5 pounds-he has
added = few pounds since his arrival
here in June-he has many of the
platform manners of Gen. Eisen-
hover and some of the felicitous
clarity of expression Of State Secre-
tary Marshall. He can speak on an
involved subject for an hour without
notes, rising on his toes to give en-
phasis to a single word or lowering
his voice to focus attention to
paragraph. An experienced public
speaker with a clear baritone voice,
he dislikes the public address system.
He told this correspondent he had
not yet written his speeches for his
present and forthcoming trips, say
ing. however, that he would un-
doubtedly discuss the Marshall Plan
and its Importance. to his country
and Western Europe.
! Cites Misconceptions
In his few addresses so far, notably
at the Press Club and before the
Pilgrim Society in New York City
last month, he emphasized these
points:
That the Marshall Plan gave
greatly needed confidence to the
free European governments and that
this may be as important as the
material aid.
That certain established concep-
tions-or Observation-Disclosures ms
and Britishers have about each oei-
er may have to be changed. AS an
example, he pointed out that many
Americans consider Great Britain
an "old" country dominated by out
moded customs and that many Brit
ishers look upon America as new"
country with Revolutionary"
background. Under the present La
Dor government, he said, the Brit
ish are, social and economic experi-
menters, while the Americans are
slower to break with tradition.
That in trying to understand each
other and the specific problems
arising in the United States and
Britain, we should examine ouc
tools Of thought" to be sure they
meet the circumstances. This is
his classical education approach to
modern practicalities.
Contributed to Marshall Plan
II there are question periods after
Sir divers addresses and informal
talks Throughout the country, his
American listeners will find him q
fluent, precise speaker with views
on most controversial topics. II
the topic is too delicate for public
discussion, he may say. as he did at
the Press Club: That is q very
good question and I regret that I
shall not answer. I believe that 1t
refers to matters under political
discussion In your country and do
not think can profitably make re-
marks while that Is the position. I
will therefore beg to be excused"
The Attlee-Bevin Labor govern
ment selected Sir Oliver for the
Washington Embassy, q position re-
garded by some as ranking directly
under the Prime Minister and For
eign Minister, because of his great
contributions to the working out
of the Marshall Plan. During his
tour of duty his major problem will
be the furthering Of this multibil-
ion-dollar relief and rehabilita-
ton project, with, Of course, spe-
cial emphasis on the needs Of the
United Kingdom. That is why he is
planning to visit ell sections of this