COLLEGE-TRAINED MEN MAKE BEST DIPLOMATS

"Almost up to the beginning of the late war, the idea was generally prevalent that any American, however little his experience of foreign lands, and however great his ignorance of foreign languages, could represent our country abroad with efficiency," the Honorable Henry White told a CRIMSON reporter, when interviewed yesterday. "Since the war, however, there has been a more general national realization that such is not the case."

The Honorable Henry White has for many years been a member of the United States Diplomatic Service as Secretary of Legation and Embassy, Charge d'Affaires, and Ambassador, as well as United States Delegate at five International Conferences between 1886 and 1919. Honorary degrees have been conferred upon him by St. Andrew's University, Scotland, Johns Hopkins, and, in 1917, by Harvard. In 1905 Mr. White was appointed ambassador to Italy, and two years later ambassador to France. In 1910 he became chairman of the American delegation to the fourth Pan-American Conference at Buenos Aires, and the same year, special ambassador to Chile for the celebration of the centenary of Chilean independence. Finally, as a member of the American Commission to Negotiate Peace, Mr. White accompanied President Wilson to Paris in 1918.

College Training Valuable

"In view of the greatly increased importance of our interests in all parts of the world, to say nothing of the great moral influence of the United States, as shown by the attention now being paid to the advice given by three American private citizens as to the course which Europe should pursue, it is indispensable to have men of training, and especially who speak the language of those with whom they are transacting business, for the conduct of our international relations. College, or rather University training, while not absolutely necessary for one who intends to enter diplomacy, is extremely advantageous, and almost indispensable for the reason that one of the first requisites for a successful diplomatist is to understand human nature, and to be able to deal with men. There is no better way that I know of for acquiring that faculty for young men, than daily personal contact with their fellow creatures in college, and the gradual realization thereby of the different methods of approach which are necessary in respect to different individuals."

"Do you consider concentrated study in history or languages the more important?" asked the reporter. "I would say that both are absolutely indispensable. Without a very considerable knowledge of History, a secretary of an American Embassy or Legation in any country of the world is at a very considerable disadvantage; and as to the success of one who cannot speak at least the Erench language, it is preposterous to contemplate such a situation. I would further add that any young man contemplating a useful career in the Diplomatic Service without some knowledge of political economy would be at a disadvantage at any post to which he might be appointed."

Mr. White next took up the question of what advances young diplomats. "It is only quite recently that we have succeeded in obtaining a regular Diplomatic Service,--that is to say regular, in so far as Secretaries of Embassy and Legation are concerned. During the greater part of our history, any one recommended by a Senator or a politician of influence in the councils of the party which happened to be in charge of the government could inject a friend, or the son of a friend into the Consular or Diplomatic Service, without any knowledge on the part of such appointees of international questions or of any foreign country. Happily all that is changed, and no one can now get in save at the bottom."

The reporter next asked Mr. White if family prestige played an important part in the advancement of those who were actually in the Diplomatic Service. "Fortunately I am able to say that it does not," declared the noted diplomat, "although a young man who has been brought up in a family of good position and who has consequently met a very considerable number of people throughout his youth is more likely to know something more of the ways of the world, and of the best means of meeting people graciously than a man who has had no such opportunities."

Diplomacy is of particular interest at present because of the bill fathered by John Jacob Rogers '04, pending in Congress for a more thorough reorganization of our Diplomatic and Consular Services. It has just passed the House of Representatives and is likely, according to Mr. White, unless unforeseen obstacles arise to block it, to pass the Senate also during the present session of Congress--possibly within the next few days