SWEDEN: Minister to Athletes

• Share

A Jew devoted to Swedes is Samuel Untermyer's demure, long-jawed nephew, Laurence Adolf Steinhardt. When President Roosevelt appointed him Minister to Sweden year ago last April, Mr. Steinhardt rhapsodized: "The men of Sweden are tall and handsome. The women are beautiful.

. . . They are 200 years ahead of most of Europe in their civilization. . . ." Last week in Stockholm Minister Steinhardt gave a reception for a visiting U. S. track team and made another speech. In a corner sat a newshawk for the Swedish sports journal Idrottsbladet, taking down his words. What the reporter thought he heard the Minister say made headlines next day in Idrottsbladet. It was: "Be on your watch. The Swedes are a jealous nation and do not like to see foreign sportsmen triumph. Maribel Vinson [champion U. S. woman figure-skater from 1928 to 1934] was unfairly marked down by the judges, for a Swedish competitor to get a better placing." Actually, as Idrottsbladet scathingly pointed out, international judges rated sleek-legged Miss Vinson fifth for the world championship largely because she skidded and fell. They gave fourth place to a Swedish girl and first place as usual to Norway's superb Sonja Henie. Able Lawyer Steinhardt had already stepped aboard a steamer bound for Gotland, Sweden's "Island of Roses and Ruins," when Idrottsbladet' story was shown to him. He claimed to have been utterly misquoted: "In my speech I praised the punctuality, accuracy and knowledge of the rules possessed by Swedish officials, advising our athletes to comply strictly with the rules and program. I emphasized that they would be sure of fair treatment."