Uncle Sam Stickler for Etiquette

Enrique Alfredo Olaya Herrera was a Colombian journalist and politician. He served as President of Colombia from 1930 until 1934.—Public domain image of the 13th President of Colombia

Diplomacy and Protocol

‘The Capitol, Day By Day’ -1930

WASHINGTON— It would doubtless amaze the average citizen of this republic, if he could, but know just what a stickler for form and etiquette his Uncle Sam really is.

Not much is known outside of Washington concerning this. Of course, there was the Gann-Longworth controversy which is familiar to all, but this was more or less a private affair. Uncle Sam held himself aloof-content to let the principals settle the matter themselves. But when an occasion arises where he is called on to show his hand, nothing is spared to make sure that the correct thing is done in the most correct way and at the exact time.

To illustrate with a recent example:
Several weeks ago handsome, smiling Dr. Olaya Herrara left the Colombian legation on Seventeenth street in Washington for his native country to become a candidate for the presidency. At the time he was Colombia's minister to the United States. His departure was without ostentation a bare handful of people gathered at the union station to bid his goodbye.

News dispatches within a few weeks told of his election. It was also reported that he would return to the United States to close his affairs at the legation and get things in shape for his successor whom he will appoint.

Officials in the protocol division of the state department began to worry. How should he be received -as President-elect of Colombia, or as Colombia's minister plenipotentiary to the United States? It was a knotty problem. Conferences and precedent availed them nothing. Finally, as a last resort, they communicated direct with Dr. Olaya, asking him for an opinion. Between the two a reception program was arranged.

So, when the President-Elect of Colombia arrived in New York he was greeted with the roar of 21 guns— the Presidential salute. When he set foot on American soil he was met by a proper escort— Richard Southgate of the protocol division of the state department, H. Freeman Matthews of the Latin-American division of the state department, and Jose M. Coronado, Charge d’ Affaires of the Colombian legation. But, the moment he stepped on the train for Washington he was no longer officially recognized as Colombia's minister plenipotentiary to the United States.

However, if Dr. Olaya remains in Washington until June 4, or after, he will again be accorded all the honors due a President-elect of a sovereign state. On that date, according to the constitution of Colombia, he will be proclaimed President. If he departs before that date he will be regarded as just another minister leaving his post.

— By Herbert Plummer, April 1930

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Colombian Etiquette

“It is a custom of the country… on the occasion of meeting a person for the first time each day, it is etiquette to shake hands and to make inquiries about the health of the person so greeted and of his relatives. It would not be considered polite to do otherwise.” 

Daily Handshaking and Greeting Consume a Lot of Time

It was the third or fourth day out from Santa Marta, Colombia, and early in the morning when one of the South American passengers came on deck. Another South American arose from his deck chair, extended his hand and as the men shook hands inquired after the health of the newcomer, his wife and his children. As they had parted company only about eight hours before in the smoking room, this seemed like unnecessary courtesy. The observer noticed that this happened in the case of all the Colombians on board, so he asked one man about it. 

“It is a custom of the country,” said he. “On the occasion of meeting a person for the first time each day, it is etiquette to shake hands and to make inquiries about the health of the person so greeted and of his relatives. It would not be considered polite to do otherwise.” Continuing, this man told of taking a walk one day in Bogota with a merchant of the place. They were bent on business and were to cover a distance that might be made rather easily in ten minutes. Because of the necessary stops to make the customary inquiries and to shake hands with friends of the merchant, the trip took nearly an hour.—New York Sun, 1909

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia