First Lesson

No arm of the Government sets greater store by its secrets, large and small, than the State Department. Prime secrets of State are treaty negotiations. Last week Mrs. J. Borden ("Daisy") Harriman, who has been a woman for 66 years, had been a diplomat only five minutes when, immediately after being sworn in as Minister to Norway (TIME, April 12 et seq.), she received the press. At her elbow stood the State Department's grey, genial pressagent, Chief Michael J. McDermott of the Division of Current Information.

Did Madam Minister Harriman, asked a newshawk, expect to negotiate a reciprocal trade treaty with Norway?

"Oh, that's already being done," blurted Daisy Harriman.

"Harumph!" coughed shocked Chief McDermott. "There's been no official announcement about that yet, Madam Minister."

"Oh, but I thought everybody knew that," returned Mrs. Harriman, continuing blithely. "I am vastly interested in Norway, and I hope to carry on the great work done by my predecessor [Anthony J. Drexel ("Tony") Biddle Jr.]. . . ."

"Harumph!" broke in Chief McDermott. "We have only been exploring the matter thus far. It is not quite correct to say that the negotiations are in progress."

"Oh," said Madam Minister Harriman. "I see."

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