THE CABINET: Panay Pandemonium

Easily the prettiest scene in Washington last week was the annual White House Reception to the diplomatic corps, unofficial opening event of Washington's social season. Not all its prettiness, however, was in polychrome uniforms and effusions of gold braid.

It took place just four days after the grimy little gunboat Panay settled in the mud of the Yangtze River bottom and its greatest ornaments were naturally Ambassadors Saito of Japan and Chengting T. Wang of China. Mr. Saito and his wife arrived first, narrowly missing an embarrassing meeting with Dr. Wang who with...