The Administration: Swiss Miss

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The Swiss government cherishes its neutrality as a Saint Bernard guards its brandy cask. Last week, after scratching noisily and growling discreetly, the Swiss finally got across the point that they really did not want President Kennedy to appoint his old Palm Beach neighbor and friend, Millionaire Broker Earl E. T. Smith, as U.S. Ambassador to Bern. Smith's qualifications for the post were hardly self-evident. But Switzerland also had a technical objection: Smith's one venture into diplomacy was as Dwight Eisenhower's ambassador to Batista's Cuba; his appointment would embarrass the Swiss in carrying out their neutral chore of representing the ambassador-less U.S. in Castro's Cuba. Republican Smith at last got the hint, gracefully withdrew his name.

President Kennedy expressed his "real regret" over Smith's withdrawal, but the White House sigh of relief was almost audible.