Diplomatic Etiquette and Ambassadors

“M.Paul Claudel, the French ambassador, like all ambassadors, must never be kept waiting. That is an old White House rule. It was the duty of the White House force to speed him to the President, and also to avoid if possible, any hint to him, that he arrived when he shouldn't.” M. Paul Claudel was not only a diplomat, but a French playwright and a poet.– Public domain image of M. Paul Claudel

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.—A neat little problem in official etiquette has been avoided at the White House because President - elect Roosevelt’s visit to Washington today is an informal one. If a White House reception or dinner party had been by any chance planned, social “precedence’’ experts say that the distinguished visitor’s status would be strictly that of governor of New York state and nothing more. In other words cabinet members would socially outrank him at such a function. However, senators would not. President-elect Roosevelt's overnight stay here will be the first in some time. He turned down a 10 room proferred suite at the Mayflower hotel for a “kitchenette suites,” one with a bedroom, small breakfast room and kitchenette. Last spring the President-elect and Mrs. Roosevelt were in Washington for a dinner given by President Hoover to governors who had attended the Richmond. Va., conference of state executives. They occupied a small suite at the Mayflower hotel, but did not stay overnight, leaving here at 1 a. m. for New York. 

The list of President Hoover’s appointments for the day came out as usual yesterday— 11:45 a.m., Representative French; 12 noon, Representative Britten; 12:15 p.m., the French ambassador. The latter however upset the routine by coming just one hour early, although he may not yet know it. M.Paul Claudel, the French ambassador, like all ambassadors, must never be kept waiting. That is an old White House rule. It was the duty of the White House force to speed him to the President, and also to avoid if possible, any hint to him, that he arrived when he shouldn't. Pat McKenna, the usher, whisked the ambassador to Theodore Joslin, presidential secretary. “Just a moment, Mr. Ambassador.” said Joslin, bowing himself into the Presidential office, where Mr. Hoover was busy with problems of government. A moment later he returned. “Just step inside,” he said. And M. Claudel, still blithely ignorant of his prematureness stepped inside and paid his respects to the President, as new temporary dean of the diplomatic corps. “Any war debts talk,” Mr. Ambassador," chorused reporters when he came out. “War debts? Non, non, non, ’ he said, shaking his head. “I am just paying my respects. I have a hollow hat. Empty inside —I’m just dean of the corps.” – United Press International, 1932

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