The Foreign Service Journal, March 2016

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MARCH 2016 43 come over early to help with any last minute details as he doesn’t have a wife. I stood at the door and received while he ran around the guests and kept an eye on the canapés platters and glasses to see that everyone was well taken care of. The house itself is a huge place and very lovely. … Some of the windows are stained glass, the walls are tapestried, and I lost count of the rooms. About 200 were present from all the foreign missions, and I understand it is the party of the year. Even the Russian consul and vice consul showed up, even though they hadn’t sense enough to acknowledge the invitation. Assignment Caracas: 1952-1954 Secretary to the chiefs of the political section and petroleum section, then secretary to the counselor for economic affairs March 4, 1954 The city here is in the throes of the big conference [the Tenth Inter-American Conference of the Organization of American States]. … I will be able to go over this afternoon to hear [Sec- retary of State John Foster] Dulles give his speech. We also can listen to other international delegates speak with earphones, which is fascinating. Interpreters sit in booths above the speaker and each booth is marked “English-2,” “French-3” so if you want English you turn a little knob in the arm of the chair to No. 2 and presto, you get it in English! The interpreters listen with earphones and speak at the same time into microphones in the language of their country, and I still don’t see how they do it. EFFICIENCY REPORT: Jan 9, 1950 Miss Desilet has an average build, with pleasant facial characteristics. She dresses neatly and appropriately at all times, and pres- ents a general cheerful attitude about the office. —Frances Lane, American Consul EFFICIENCY REPORT: July 22, 1949 Miss Desilet dresses well and always pres- ents a neat appearance. She has a pleasing and cheerful personality. —Marshall M. Vance, Supervising Consul General, Berlin March 22, 1954 Friday night the ambassador had a reception for the delegates to the conference. They expect to be finished the end of the week. They have all decided, except Guatemala, that communism does not pay and to gang up together to be rid of it. People in these parts think little or nothing of McCarthy— what is the general idea in Idaho? We think he is carrying the thing just quite a bit too far, and the propaganda in other countries makes us look as though we hadn’t a thought for many serious things, but the worry of communism.