Something Said

Alanson B. Houghton was Ambassador to Germany three years and, by his own confession, made one public speech. Last week, in London, he attended the Pilgrims' dinner, which he described as "the routine whereby an American Ambassador takes office."

Present were the Duke of York, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Premier, a host of England's great ones. Mr.

Houghton surprised them all by refusing to "dig up" again the hardy plant of Anglo-American friendship which would flourish if it "be spared the scorching winds of after-dinner oratory. . . . You will not expect me to refer to 'hands across the sea,' " or even to "the language of Shakespeare, which neither of us uses."

He then surprised them and Europe and the U. S. by bluntly stating: "The full measure of American helpfulness can be obtained only when the American people are assured . . . that the time for peaceful upbuilding has come." If confusion continues, "then, I fear that these helpful processes which are now in motion must inevitably cease."

It was the first important statement of U. S. foreign policy since Mr. Kellogg took office as Secretary of State.