Evening star., 1954-05-28
Society News
Washington Society
Greeted by Emperor
Halle SeIossie Meets Hundreds
At Reception; Dulleses Give Dinner
Society News
By Doisy CIelond

"By command Of His Imperial
Majesty The Emperor Of Ethio-
pia, the Ambassador Of Ethiopia
requests the honor Of the pres
ence Of"
This was the invitation sent
out to about 5000 people for a
= 5 to $50 reception yesterday at
the Mayflower Hotel. The EN-
peror was honored by his repre-
sentative to this country and it
was the largest social event on
the schedule.
The guests included every
facet in Washington society. The
groups invited were the diplo-
matte corps. members of Con-
gress, residential society, people
from official circles and the mill
tary. There were also a Smatter-
ing of educators, those who had
special interest in Ethiopia, and
industrialists.
Eleven Receive
The diplomatic corps was re-
ceived first. They were in
structed to be at the hotel by
4:30 and were the first group to
be greeted by the Emeperor and
his party.
The party took place in the
main ballroom and the Chinese
room with the receiving line
forming in the latter. The line
was made up Of II with the Am
bassador first, then the United
States aide to the Emperor, Maj.
Gen. Arthur Trudeau, the En-
peror, his granddaughter, Prin-
cess Selba Desta: the Emperor'S
son, Prince Sable SelasSie Halle
Selassie, Nine. DereSSa, wife of
the Ambassador, and on down
the official party of His Imperial
Majesty.
The two ladies meeting the
hundreds Of guests were oppo-
sitely dressed. Princess Desta
was in a white afternoon dress
and Nine. DereSSa wore simple
black frock with an off-the-
shoulder neckline.
Although the receiving line was
true to the tradition Of recep-
tions in this country, a bit Of the
life from across the seas came
into the Emperor'S next move.
The party came from the Chinese
room into the main ballroom and
the Emperor was seated on a
slightly raised platform at the
far side and center of the room.
He sat on a large chair almost
resembling throne in the CEN
ter and respectfully to his back
on the right was the Princess and
on the left was the Prince. AS
they were seated, the Emperor
took a moment to joke with his
granddaughter. This was the only
time he looked relaxed.
Welcome Refreshments
The Emperor had a glass Of
champagne, the Princess tall.
cool looking drink and the
Prince, after questioning the
waiter as to what he was being
offered, decided on Manhattan.
Even the royal air Of the situa-
ton did not penetrate the atti-
tude of the Prince. He sat back
in a leisurely fashion and seemed
to enjoy watching all the guests.
At this point there seemed to
be almost a mob scene. The
crush of the guests Surged within
a foot or two of the platform
and never seemed to disperse
even at the insistance of guards
and State Department officials.
The Emperor looked a bit un-
comfortable but his composure
never failed.
At a. few minutes after 6 the
Emperor and his party left by a
back door going out into an alley.
AS the outside door was opened
he said, "Ah, fresh air." The cars
and police escort drove off with
sirens blaring and all that was
left was a barrage Of reporters
and photographers and the hosts
the Ambassador and Nine.
Deressa. The hostess a bit breath
less, smiled and said, "It Is a
marvellous occasion, all the
same"
Among the guests was Mrs.