Mission Accomplished

Somber-eyed Luis Munoz Marin arrived in Manhattan last week on his first visit to the U.S. mainland since his inauguration as Puerto Rico's first elected governor. With his handsome wife and two dark-eyed daughters, he went to the Hotel Plaza, where he had no sooner checked in than he headed for the kitchen. "New York kitchens," he explained, "are always full of Puerto Ricans. They make the salads, cut the meat, wash the dishes." The Plaza's kitchen help were appropriately enthusiastic; several elderly women fell on Munoz' neck and wept for joy.

Moving on to Washington, Munoz took up residence in a suite at the Mayflower, which promptly became the scene of an all-night outpouring of liquid Puerto Rican fellowship. Next morning, nevertheless, Munoz was up bright & early to begin a series of conferences. At noon, natty in a white linen suit, he called at the White House, emerged after half an hour to report that he had offered President Truman the use of Puerto Rico as a laboratory for experiments in Point 4 aid to undeveloped areas. In succeeding days, Munoz had long talks with Secretary of the Interior "Cap" Krug and Under Secretary Oscar Chapman. He conferred about air safety with the CAB, about dope smuggling with the Treasury's Narcotics Bureau, about his island's housing and education needs with interested Congressmen.

When reporters asked about the purpose of his visit, Munoz fingered his greying mustache and replied: "Oh, it's just to make friends and influence people." Washingtonians who met him agreed that he had accomplished his aim.

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