File No. 701.6311/224
The Ambassador in Austria-Hungary ( Penfield ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 23, 8.15 a. m.]
1489. Your 1387. For a week been extracting information regarding Count Tarnowski and consensus of opinion assures me he is best available man. In previously discussing matter of sending ambassador to Washington with Baron Burian I pointed out class of man who would be acceptable to our Government. In submitting name of Tarnowski he assured me his qualifications would make him fully acceptable. Americans knowing him for years say he is friendly to United States and shows this in all ways proper to professional diplomatist. Being a Pole, he has racial separation from Teutonic thought. Wife a Russian princess, is suspended for the present, not Germanophile and is discreet. Were I (looking for a?) man for Washington, based upon testimony persons knowing him, it would be Tarnowski. In my judgment prompt acceptance of an ambassador from Austria-Hungary would be timely, good politics, [Page 801] indicating that Francis Joseph is not partner in submarine menace, and such action would end Dumba as political martyr. Persons whose opinion I value say Tarnowski would be unlikely to take orders from anybody but own Government. Has been 20 years in diplomatic service and 6 years Minister in Bulgaria with clean record.