THE CABINET: Sweet Idea

When Secretary of State Henry Lewis Stimson was in London for last July’s economic conference, Herr Dr. Julius Curtius, Germany’s Foreign Minister, whispered news into his ear: Frau Barbara von Haeften, Minister Curtius’ daughter, had just borne a son in Berlin, Foreign Minister Curtius’ first grandson. As a diplomat should. Statesman Stimson remembered this fact when, later, he reached Berlin. At a toy store he selected and sent to small Grandson Jan von Haeften a large sailboat. Last week a letter from Berlin reached Statesman Stimson in Washington.

“Dear Uncle Stimson:

“… It was a sweet idea of you to think just of a sailing ship, being there is a particular significance connected with her: first because it was a sailing boat that played such a conspicuous part in what resulted in my parents’ engagement which —as you will agree—was essential for my coming into existence, and secondly because it was a sailing vessel that brought about the greatest deed in modern history, the discovery of America, without which —as you will also agree—there would nowadays be no people of the United States turning out such good and helpful friends to Germany!

“I am awfully glad the boat is big enough for me, little man, to sit and sail in it. I like to fancy myself crossing the ocean in it under the stars & stripes. . . . Meanwhile, I remain, dear Uncle Stimson, most gratefully yours,

“JAN VON HAEFTEN “First grandson of Dr. J. Curtius, Reichs Minister des Ausseren.”