Protocol in Chungking

To Chungking from Washington came Major General Patrick Hurley's formal credentials as U.S. Ambassador to China.

Promptly the Embassy staff made ready for their presentation to Generalissimo Chiang Kaishek.

Protocol called for tails, black vests and white ties. But the Embassy staff--21 strong--were tailless, so there was a compromise on dark suits. Pat Hurley wore his beribboned, bemedaled, two-star uniform. At 9 a.m. the staff ran through a dress rehearsal. By n o'clock all hands had gathered at the curly-roofed headquarters building of Chiang's Government.

At the end of a long hall stood the Generalissimo in uniform. T. V. Soong, Acting President of the Executive Yuan, who usually wears a business suit, wore a Chinese gown. Other Chinese dignitaries flanked them. Two abreast, with Pat Hurley in the van, the Americans advanced toward the hall. At the entrance they bowed. Halfway down the hall they bowed again. Then they advanced 20 feet to the Generalissimo, bowed a third time.

Martial Pressure. Ambassador Hurley donned a pince-nez to read an address in English. Third Secretary Fulton Freeman reread it in faultless Mandarin. The Generalissimo read a response in Chinese. An interpreter rendered it into faultless English. Then Pat Hurley presented his credentials. One formal hand shake was called for; the Ambassador added another for friendship's sake. As the Generalissimo lowered his hand, observers saw that Hurley's martial pressure had left it white and bloodless. But Chiang's face beamed.

Next the Ambassador introduced the members of his staff, many of whom were well-known to Chiang. That done, the ambassadorial staff bowed, retreated backward to the middle of the hall, bowed again, gained the approximate rear without peeking over their shoulders, bowed a third time, then, still moving backward, oozed out the door. No one stumbled, no one grinned. It was a performance worthy of the Rockettes.*

That night the Generalissimo gave a dinner for the Ambassador; it was an impressively cordial affair. Only one mishap marred the occasion. A photographer's flash bulb exploded within a foot of T. V. Soong's ear. Fragments of glass showered his shoulder. He made a face, then swiftly regained his composure. The Generalissimo did not bat an eyelash. Next day the Chungking press unanimously agreed that "Hurley is a friend of China."

Later there was a mishap for Ambassador Hurley. Last week the U.S. Embassy in Chungking burned to the ground.

*The precision-trained ballet of Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.