Hallett Johnson
Hallett Johnson | |
---|---|
United States Ambassador to Costa Rica | |
In office February 14, 1945 – January 20, 1947 | |
Preceded by | Fay Allen Des Portes |
Succeeded by | Walter J. Donnelly |
Personal details | |
Born | Francis Hallett Johnson November 26, 1887 |
Profession | diplomat, lawyer |
Francis Hallett Johnson (November 26, 1887 – August 11, 1968) was an American career diplomat and ambassador to
Early life
Johnson was born in
He was a student at
He attended the
Career
After law school, Johnson became a lawyer in New York City with Davies, Auerbach, Cornell & Barry.
Great Britain
Source:[13]
In August 1912, President
In February 1913, newspapers in the United States, Canada, and England reported that 24-year-old Johnson was left in charge of the London embassy with just six months experience due to the death of first secretary Reid and the resignation of second secretary Cressen.[18][19] This was of concern because Johnson would then have been responsible for negotiating treaties with Great Britain, including the six power loan to China and the Panama Canal free tolls.[18] However, in his journal, Johnson wrote, "I was surprised to read in many English papers the other day the fact that I have been in charge of the Embassy for the last two months—in fact, ever since Mr. Reid's death. This state of things nearly did come to pass, for Mr. Laughlin received a telegram from Knox assuming that Cressen had taken leave, telling him that unless he was confirmed, which seemed very doubtful, he should turn the Embassy over to me on the 4th of March. Laughlin…received confirmation about a week before that date."[20]
Ottoman Empire
In May 1914, he was transferred to the Constantinople embassy for the Ottoman Empire where he was also Third Secretary.[21] He reported in Constantinople on July 4, 1914.[22] This was on the eve of World War I and Turks was contemplating siding with Germany—Johnson noted the number of German soldiers in Turkish uniforms was increasing.[11] Gradually, the other embassies closed and most Americans left Constantinople, including Johnson's mother and sister.[11] However, before America entered the war, Johnson was ordered to return to Washington, D.C., in 1915.[11] Taking advantage of the recall to take some on leave, he attended a party at Sagamore Hill; there, former President Theodore Roosevelt asked him about Constantinople.[11]
Chili and Bolivia
Next, Johnson was sent to
In the summer of 1917, Johnson was sent to
Washington, D.C.
In February 1918—after six years abroad—Johnson was transferred to Washington D.C.[26] He became the acting chief of the division of Latin American Affairs for the Department of State.[27][28] However, with responsibility for so many countries, he frequently worked into the night.[28] He left this position in May 1920.[29]
Belgium and Sweden
In 1920, he became the first secretary of the embassy in
Spain
However, he moved on to Madrid, Spain in 1923.[33] Unfortunately, his working relationship with Ambassador Alexander P. Moore was strained—Johnson said that Moore, who had been married to the late Lillian Russell, was a name-dropper who "worshipped royalty and entertained them continually."[33] In addition, Johnson wrote that Moore "was not interested in work," and on top of that was rude to his wife.[33] the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs also disliked Moore and bypassed the ambassador to negotiate the renewal of the United States commerce agreement and tariffs with Johnson.[33] Johnson also benefited from the ambassador's frequent trips to Paris or the United States as he received invitations to entertainments and dinners at the Royal Palace.[33] In the summer, the diplomatic corps left Madrid for San Sebastián on the sea.[34]
France
In 1924, he became the first secretary of the American embassy in Paris, France.[35][36] Johnson wrote, "The work was fascinating, covering the European situation resulting from the postwar treaties. I received a commendation from Washington for a long summary of all the treaties France had been a party to since the end of World War I.[36] While in Paris he also had some experiences with American celebrities. After Charles Lindbergh completed his solo flight across the Atlantic, he frequently dined with Johnson.[37] Johnson was also the bride's witness for the marriage of movie star Gloria Swanson and the Marquis De La Falaise De La Coudray on January 28, 1925.[35]
Norway
In August 1927, he was transferred from Paris, to
Netherlands
In August 1929, he was assigned to serve as the counselor to the legation at The Hague in the Netherlands.[40][41] A counselor ranks next to the ambassador and is the chargé d'affaires in the ambassador's absence.[31] With its location in the Netherlands, the embassy was a "listening post" for Europe.[42] Johnson noted that Queen Wilhelmina was serious, formal, and "the only woman I remember who completely scared me."[43] Her consort, Prince Henry, was friendly and casual.[43]
Republic of Spain
In December 1933, he was transferred from The Hague, becoming a counselor for the United States embassy in Madrid, Spain.
While Johnson was in Spain's summer capital of San Sebastian, the Spanish Civil War began.[46] From July 20 to July 25, 1936, he was trapped at the Continental Palace hotel without any outside communication, along with 25 others consisting of the American embassy staff, the British ambassador, and the German ambassador.[47][46] When he could get the word out, Johnson reported that "conditions were horrible" and that the city had no government.[46] Author Edna Ferber reported on the situation in Spain from personal experience, writing that 100 leftist soldiers—formerly civilian farmers, peasants, and factory workers—entered the Continental Palace hotel with sub-machine guns and rifles.[48] Despite shooting randomly at walls, the soldiers were "polite to foreigners."[48]
A week later, he was still in Spain, helping American refugees leave the country.[49] Ferber noted, "But before Hallett Johnson left San Sebastian, every American was evacuated. He and his staff have done a superb job."[48]
In January 1937, there was heavy bombing in Madrid across the street from the former Johnson residence.[50] Other bombs fell within 150 yards of the U.S. embassy.[50]
Poland
In 1936, he became the consul general and chargé d'affaires for the embassy in
Sweden
In December 1937, Johnson was recalled from a leave of absence at his home on
As his stay in Stockholm continued, goods were not crossing into Sweden, and items such as coffee, sugar, soap, and washing materials were rationed.[56] In addition, the country was under a blackout and there had been no hot water for two months.[56] On December 10, 1940, Johnson left Stockholm to return to the United States.[57] However, the Germans did not invade Sweden.[58] Later, Johnson wrote the following which was published in The Saturday Evening Post on June 19, 1943:[58]
It seems that the eighty-five-year-old monarch, who still played tennis three times a week, got a telephone call from Hitler. "Your majesty, " said Hitler, "it is time that our two countries should begin to cooperate more closely and, eventually, become a nation." "Now Herr Hitler," said the King, "I am an old man. Too old to take on the rule of eighty million more people."[58]
On June 23, 1943, the United States War Office sent Johnson a letter asking for a release to reprint and distribute his piece to the foreign press in Europe and Asia.[58]
State Department
Johnson worked in Washington, D.C., from 1941 through 1945.[59] Most of his work involved the War Supply and Resources Division.[59] He also assisted with negotiations with the Swedish who were selling ball-bearing to the Germans after their factories had been destroyed.[59]
Costa Rica
After the end of WWII, Johnson was given the choice of two positions—returning to
When he realized that most Costa Ricans knew little about the United States and therefore, did not always trust his motives, Johnson met with DeWitt Wallace, the publisher of Reader's Digest. He got Wallace to donate 3,000 free subscriptions to the Spanish version of the magazine for Costa Ricans.[63] Johnson also studied Spanish so that he could give a speech to the Costa Rican Congress in their language.[63] The newspaper, La Prensa Libre reported that deputy Alvaro Cubillo said, "I was greatly pleased by the democratic gesture of Ambassador Johnson."[63]
While in Costa Rica, Johnson established a Cultural Center with a library of American books, established a Lincoln School, acquired land from the Costa Rican government to construct a chancery, and negotiated the purchase of 14 acres (5.7 ha)to build an embassy residence.[64] He also met monthly with an advisory committee of American businessmen, as well as with heads of United States government agencies, to improve communication and cooperation.[64]
Franklin D. Roosevelt died in April 1946, and tradition was that ambassadors automatically resign3e when the president changes.[64] However, President Harry Truman did not accept Johnson's resignation, so he continued as the ambassador to Costa Rica.[64] He stayed in this position through May 16, 1947, submitting his resignation for personal reasons on March 25, 1947.[61][65]
Other work
Johnson continued with the Foreign Service until he retired in 1948.[4] However, he worked on a project for the United States Foreign Operations Administration, preparing a paper on the possibility of an economic union for Central American countries.[66] He also undertook a project that involved finding and reporting on confidential agents in Europe.[66] During this trip, he was able to visit past friends such as Prince Bertil in Sweden and Olaf, now King of Norway.[66]
He also joined the Citizens Committee for Reciprocal World Trade.[66]
Publications
- "Now Herr Hitler." The Saturday Evening Post (June 19, 1943)[58]
- "Civil War in Costa Rica: A Former Diplomat Comments on the present not too Serious Conflict." New York Herald Tribune[67]
- "Service Rivalry." New York Times Herald.
- Diplomatic Memoirs: Serious And Frivolous. New York: Vantage Press, 1963.
Personal life
Johnson married Katherine Elizabeth Steward on May 20, 1920, at Grasslands, her family's home in Goshen, New York.[23][30] She was the youngest daughter of Margaret Beckman and Campbell Steward of New York City and Goshen.[68][30] Her uncle was Governor of Rhode Island Robert Livingston Beeckman.[23][68] They had three children: Hallett Johnson Jr., Katherine Johnson, and Priscilla Johnson.[4] Their oldest daughter, Katherine, was born in Brussels, and daughter Priscilla was born in Stockholm.[30][33] Their youngest child, son Hallett Johnson Jr., was born in Paris.[36] When not abroad, they lived in Princeton, New Jersey.[3] They also had a summer home at Bar Harbor, Maine, called Rosebriar Cottage.[4][69]
On August 19, 1941, Johnson was one of sixteen prominent Americans who signed a statement urging the support of the 8-point plan proposed by President
He was an
In 1968, Johnson died at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston at the ages of 79.[3] He was buried at Rosedale Cemetery in Orange, New Jersey.[3]
References
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- ^ a b c d e "Hallett Johnson, Served As Diplomat 36 Years" (PDF). The New York Times. August 12, 1968. p. 35. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ Johnson, Hallett. "About the Author." Diplomatic Memoirs: Serious And Frivolous. New York: Vantage Press, 1963. via Hathi Trust.
- ^ "A Fearful Tragedy; Barclay Johnson Kills, His Mother, Sister, and Himself". The New York Times. April 22, 1885. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
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- ^ a b c d e f Johnson, Hallett. Diplomatic Memoirs: Serious And Frivolous. New York: Vantage Press, 1963. p. 12-13. via Hathi Trust.
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- ^ "Changes Announced in Foreign Service". The New York Times. August 12, 1927. p. 18. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ Johnson, Hallett. Diplomatic Memoirs: Serious And Frivolous. New York: Vantage Press, 1963. p. 95. via Hathi Trust.
- ^ "Swenson Arrives at The Hague" (PDF). The New York Times. April 22, 1921. p. 7. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
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- ^ a b Johnson, Hallett. Diplomatic Memoirs: Serious And Frivolous. New York: Vantage Press, 1963. p. 101. via Hathi Trust.
- ^ "Hallett Johnson Goes to Madrid Embassy; South Orange Career Officer Is Transferred From The Hague" (PDF). The New York Times. December 10, 1933. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
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- ^ a b Johnson, Hallett. Diplomatic Memoirs: Serious And Frivolous. New York: Vantage Press, 1963. p. 117-118. via Hathi Trust.
- ^ "The Foreign Service" (PDF). The New York Times. October 3, 1937. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Johnson, Hallett. Diplomatic Memoirs: Serious And Frivolous. New York: Vantage Press, 1963. p. 119-122. via Hathi Trust.
- ^ "U.S. Citizen Told of Peril in Sweden". The New York Times. April 18, 1940. p. 3. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
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- ^ "Armour Named Envoy to Spain; Steinhardt Shifted to the Czechs" (PDF). The New York Times. December 14, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ a b "Costa Rica - Chiefs of Mission - People - Department History - Office of the Historian".
- ^ a b c d e Johnson, Hallett. Diplomatic Memoirs: Serious And Frivolous. New York: Vantage Press, 1963. p. 129-132. via Hathi Trust.
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- ^ a b c d Johnson, Hallett. Diplomatic Memoirs: Serious And Frivolous. New York: Vantage Press, 1963. p. 159-161. via Hathi Trust.
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