Topic 38 
WITH THE ALLIES' ENVOYS

JACK MITCHEL told me it was by directions from Washington that I was not asked to speak at the official welcome at the Waldorf.  Apparently it is the idea to keep the visitors free from any possible Roosevelt contagion.  It won't succeed."

Colonel Roosevelt was speaking of the dinner given by the City of New York to General Joffre and M.  Viviani representing France, and Arthur J.  Balfour, representing England, shortly after their arrival in this country following our entrance into the war.

"That is why I went to the dinner given General Joffre by Mr.  Frick," he went on.  "You know my antipathy to dinners.  I had no desire to meet such a group as I knew Mr.  Frick would have there, and, when first invited, I declined.  Then Mitchel came to see me.  He explained that it was by orders of the State Department, which is really in charge of these visitors, that none but Joe Choate and himself were to be allowed to speak at City Hall or at the banquet.  Nominally it is a city affair.  Actually it is being directed by Mr.  Lansing with Frank Polk in immediate charge.

"When he told me that and renewed his invitation to Mr.  Prick's dinner, I accepted.  I am glad I did.  I was seated next to the General, and when he found we could talk to one another — well, he did not talk much to any of the others.  He did not tell me anything I did not know, or suspect.  France does want our men.  She wants them badly, more than she wants supplies.

"Joffre has told Washington that.  They must have men.  Joffre, I find, understands the position we are in.  He has no delusions."

Next on the list of envoys to hold private conference with the Colonel was Mr.  Balfour.  This was arranged by General Bridges, of the British Army, who called on the Colonel to ask when it would be convenient for him to receive Mr.  Balfour.

" I told him," said the Colonel describing the call, "that I would be very glad to see Mr.  Balfour at any time, and as Sunday seemed to be his only open time, I suggested that he take tea with us Sunday afternoon.  I explained to him, however, that on the hill here we never dine on Sunday.  Instead we have what might be called a high tea, a most informal sort of a meal, and he’d have to take 'pot luck.'

"General Bridges replied that it would be to Mr.  Balfour's exact liking, and it was agreed that they should come out Sunday."

Mr.  Balfour was Colonel Roosevelt's guest until late into the night.  When he had gone, Colonel Roosevelt, evidently much pleased with the visit, said they had canvassed the entire situation.

"The British," said the Colonel, "doubt that Washington even now appreciates the needs of the hour.  They still seem, from what these men say, to be of the opinion that we can successfully fight this war with dollars and vegetables — that Uncle Sam's part in it is to be that of a settler."

Next the Italian mission, headed by the Prince d'Udine, went to Oyster Bay which was not in the official programme, the Italian Embassy having vetoed a proposal that it be included, on the nominal ground that royalty cannot visit a commoner, a decision overruled by the Prince.

"The Prince expressed regret that he would not be able to visit the trophy room of which he said he had heard much," said the Colonel.  "'I should be very glad to have you call,' I told him, 'but I was told you would find it impossible to do so.' The Prince's answer was something like 'Nonsense,' so he came out."

Telling this story at the Harvard Club, Colonel Roosevelt took occasion to read a lesson in manners to a well known reporter, who resented the idea that an ex-President of the United States was not the equal of any prince.

"You might have told him," said this man, "that you are as good as he is."

"That is exactly what I should not have done," snapped the Colonel.  "Whenever you find a man going around declaring he is as good as somebody else, rest assured he does not believe he is and his declaration of equality or superiority is, in effect, an admission of inferiority.  The man who is as good as the other fellow does not have to advertise the fact."

From Mayor Mitchel's explanation as to why he was not asked to speak at the public functions in honor of the Allies' envoys, and from his contact with some of them, Colonel Roosevelt gained the impression that more than ever he was "getting under their skins."

"My efforts to make them do something seem to be getting under their skins in Washington," said he.  "I am very glad of that if it only results in making them move in the right direction."

Following his long talk with General Joffre, the Colonel was much amused by a report that the great Frenchman had increased his vocabulary by the addition of a single English word.

"He pronounces it 'bull-lee,'" I told him.

"The General, as usual, shows admirable judgment," he laughed.  "It's a perfectly good word.  I ought to know.  I 've used it years enough."