Friend in Need

In the large, luxurious legation of Luxembourg in Washington one day last week Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess Charlotte and her dashing consort Prince Felix gave a reception. Guests were Cabinet members, Ambassadors, Government officials, other bigwigs. But the guest of honor was a stocky, middle-aged man with a long face and a white-toothed smile who has never held any diplomatic post above that of charge d'affaires: Alabama-born George Platt Waller, for ten years consul and charge d'affaires in Luxembourg.

In the capital of the gill-sized Grand Duchy, where he was dean of the diplomatic corps, George Waller lived a life of simplicity and devotion. He was equally devoted to his own country and to the one to which he was accredited, and by keeping the interest of the two countries always in harmony he avoided any conflict of loyalties. The Grand Duchess' No.1 adviser was Foreign Minister Joseph Bech; Adviser Bech's No.1 adviser was George Waller.

Because World War I cost Charlotte's elder sister, Marie Adelaide, her throne (for alleged disloyalty), because the Grand Duchy's independence was almost bartered away in the peace settlement, George Waller decided that everything that happened to the Grand Duchy during World War II should be witnessed by disinterested observers. His witnesses were correspondents. He invited them in, expedited their visas, got them interviews and a look at a salient of the onetime Western Front, entertained them with cocktails and phonograph recordings of such Americana as Floradora and Bert Williams' You Can't Do Nothin' Till Martin Gits Here. When the Germans rehearsed their invasion of Luxembourg a few days before the act, Bob Casey (Chicago Daily News) put the story on the wires.

When the invasion came George Waller stuck to his post. When the Germans ousted U.S. diplomats from occupied countries in July 1940 he dropped his diplomatic title, became simply consul. On his desk he kept a picture of the Grand Duchess, changed the flowers before it daily. Finally the Germans ousted the consuls too, and George Waller returned to the U.S. on the West Point last fortnight.

When the peace after World War II is written George Waller will have documentation attesting the correctness of every action of Luxembourg's rulers and Government. It was in gratitude for his devotion that they gave him the reception last week. He would like to return to Luxembourg one day as the first U.S. Minister. Meanwhile Luxembourg's best friend in need is waiting for the State Department to give him another job.

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