Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-24
BY SELWA ROOSEVELT

due to arrive here in Septem-
Der, is DR.. Victor Khouri, now
his country's ambassador to
London.
With his arrival, the first
chapter in the history OF Leb-
anon United States diplomatic
relations will be closed, for
the present ambassador, DR..
Charles Malik has represented
Lebanon here since his country
won its independence from
France in 1915.
The new ambassador is a
bachelor, but acting as his
hostess will be his sister, who
served in that capacity for
10 years in London.
DR.. Khouri is a doctor OF
law and his diplomatic Ca
reer began in 1914 when he
was appointed counselor to
the Lebanese Embassy in Lon
don. He later was made Min
lister and since 1858 has been
Ambassador.
Maliks Leave August 81
DR.. Malik and his wife and
baby son who was born here,
will leave Washington August
81, after a decade of impress
sive accomplishments.
When the Maliks came here
in 1915 Che was then Minis
teri, they had no building for
a legation, no typewriterS, no
desks.
1T was very difficult in those
days after the war, reflects
Mrs. Malik. "Of course, the
State Department was most
generous in assisting us and we
finally found a place on Wood
land drive to rent for six
months"
Until he came here, DR.. Ma
Xix had spent most Of his life
In the academic world. as q
student and teacher of philos-
ophy both at the American
University of Beirut and Har-
yard University.
Professor Turned Diplomat
Many Of his countrymen
wondered at the time at the
wisdom of sending a profess
sor into the world Of diplo-
macy and politics.
But from the moment he
made his debut in this arena
as his country's representative
to the first United Nations
Conference at San Francisco,
the world began to take notice
of him.
During the past 10 years he
has put his tiny Mediterra-
mean country on the map.
especially with his perform
ance in the United Nations.
There he he a de d Lebanon's
delegation to the General As
sembly, was a member Of the
Security Council. president Of
the Econom mic and Social
Council, chairman of the HUI
man Rights Commission, Gov
ernor for Lebanon for the In
ternational Bank and the In
ternational M AIRY Fund
and chairman of his country'S
delegation to UNESCO.
Was at Banding
More recently he represented
Lebanon at the Banding Con-
ference and the San Fran
cisco meeting concentrating
the 10th birthday of the U. N.
He was also a signatory to the
japanese Peace Treaty.
Ambassador Malik holds 20
honorary degrees from Ameri-
can universities and is a mem
Der of more than Is scientific
and literary organizations. He
has penned numerous books,
pamphlets and articles.
Looking back over the 10
years here, Mrs. Malik says
that for a while their life was
q series OF moves. From Wood
land drive they moved to s
street, then to Kalorama Cir
Gle for several years, again to
the Sheraton-Park until they
found their present embassy,
on McGill terrace, which their
government bought in 1850.
ct is a very Mediterranean
house." she says, land I think
perfect for Lebanon. We also
bought the adjoining land in
back which some day will be
our chancery."
Mrs. Malik leaves for their
successor an embassy which
she decorated in perfect taste,
despite an extremely limited
budget.
Wants Quiet Departure
The Maliks have kept their
impending departure quiet and
want to leave without a round
of farewell parties.
eve have for 101a years
enjoyed the hospitality OF our
many friends here" she ex-
plains, And as we are leaving
in August, we do not want to
put our friends to the ordeal
of saying goodbye, but rather
we hope to retain the happy
memories of the numerous &C.
casions when we have enjoyed
their hospitality"
DR.. Malik now will return to
the academic world. Comment
ing on their impending de-
parture, he said, 1--WE both feel
these years here have been a
tremendous experience. OF
course, they have not been
without their trials, but it has
been a privilege and honor
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