William A. Phillips

One of our most distinguished living diplomats, WILLIAM PHILLIPS began his career in foreign service as a private secretary to Ambassador Joseph H. Choate in London in 1903. He returned to the Court of St. James’s again in October, 1909, as first secretary of the American Embassy, and it was then that he had the opportunity of serving under Ambassador and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid. Later Mr. Phillips was to be put to the test as assistant secretary of state, 1917 to 1920; as ambassador to Mussolini’s Italy, 1936 to 1941; and as the President’s representative in India, 1942. But here he is writing about a happy time.

“He looked upon passing political movements as mere preliminaries or adjuncts to more important events in the future. With him men were nothing, principles everything.”