Evening star., 1957-12-31
HEADLINE PERSONALITY
Dean of Diplomats
Ends 47-Yeor Career

corps, Ambassador Wilhelm
Munthe de Morgenstierne Of
Norway. will wind up a 47-year
career in diplomacy today.
It will be an ordinary work.
ing day--"only just a little sad
der"--for the 70-year-old gen.
tleman who for the past decade
has lent his special brand OF
distinction and benevolence 70
the receiving lines of Washing
ton.
As dean of the corps. Mr.
Morgenstierne has been at the
head of the line. He always
has been the first diplomat to
greet important foreign visit
ors. and in these years Of per-
n-to-person" diplomacy fav-
ored by the Eisenhower admin
istration. has become a familiar
figure at the MATS airport.
Noted for Kindliness
In fair weather and in foul,
the ruddy-faced, be-spectacIed
ambassador has stepped for
ward. the first to greet the
guest after that worthy has
been welcomed by the Chief of
Protocol. President or Vice
President. the Secretary of
State and the Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs Of staff.
Mr.. Morgenstierne on these
occasions exhibited a correct
ness warmed with a genuine
kindliness. He endeared him.
self to the State Department
for his reliability and cooper
ativeness.
With retirement, the ambas-
sador and his lady will move
from the imposing Norwegian
Embassy on Massachusetts ave-
nue. and settle into more mod
est quarters in an apartment
at 1911 r street NV. There
Mr.. Morgenstierne will give
much time to his favorite pas
time Of reading. and may even
try his hand at writing the
memoirs of his long and honor
able service as his country's
representative.
Keyed During War Years
Reminiscing a bit yesterday.
the Ambassador said that he
thought the war years when
his gallant countrymen stub
bornly resisted the Nazis. had
been the most satisfactory Pc
riod Of his diplomatic life.
1T gave me an opportunity
TO try TO do something for my
country" he said simply.
Mr.. Morgenstierne's career
began in Washington. when he
was %. and attached to what
was in 1910 the Norwegian
Ministry. In those days. he
recalls, small staff did every
thing from licking stamps to
keeping books. Soon after his
arrival. the Minister. the only
other member of the staff.
died. and the green young Dip
lomat had to take over.
He fell in love with WASH
ington at once. and his affec-
tionS were requited. Weather
permitting. he often skiied in
Rock Greek Park, and until i'll
health recently slowed him
down. he used TO wark three
hours every afternoon.
Bold Wartime Action
Through the years. his coun-
try's diplomatic representation
grew. as did his stature. In
1912. he became Ambassador in
exile. when the Nazis occupied
his homeland. His prompt ac-
tion in radioing Norwegian ship
captains to take their craft to
allied or neutral ports was
credited with keeping more
than a thousand ships out of
Axis hands.
He saw much OF American
history. too. In 1858. when the
Republicans took over. after
their 20-year drought. one of
them jokingly told the veteran
diplomat that it must seem
strange to have Republicans at
the wheel.
Not at ALL" said Mr.. Nor
genstierne. Il have served here
during five Republican admin
istrations. and briSkly counted
them of. beginning with Will
liam Howard Taft.