Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-06-19
Better Pay aud Higher Rank for
Diplomats

We had occasion, II few DAYS ago to re
mark upon the displeasure x PRESSED by
the American residents of London, in see
ing the United States Minister at the Lord
Mayor dinner walk into the dining hall at
the last end of the procession, and take
his seat among the representatives of the
petty States. We suggested that the
fault, if there was any, rested ON the
United States government, which, if it
desires to see its representatives taking
the rank on ceremonial occasions which
they should take among the representa-
tives Of the great powers, must give them
the rank and pay of ambassadors. which
they do not no Y receive.
The fact has for a long time been adj
mitted that the salaries which
our government pays for diplomatic
service are in many cases actual
ly inadequate to meet the pecunary
demands of the positions. In order to meet
the social and ceremonial requirements of
the offices they hold, our foreign minis
tiers, especially at the English, French
and German courts, find it necessary, not
only to eXpend every cent of the salaries
they receive, but to draw largely upon
to the point that man, no matter how
well equipped in other respects, hardly
dares to accept a diplomatic Office unless
he is possessed of considerable personal
wealth. We suppose that this was
one, and perhaps the principal rea-
son, which caused Minister Phelps
to hesitate, at first, about accepting the
English mission. That he did so finally,
was perhaps, due more to the solicita-
tions of his friends than to his own DELHI
crate Judgment. A man may well hest
tate when an honor can be accepted only
at the risk of impairing the fortune, on
which he Is dependent for the comfort of
his declining years.
In another instance, fortunately, no
doubt, for the country,-this argument
proved irresistible, Mr. Hanna of Indi-
ana declined the Persian mission, because
he found that he could not afford to ac-
cept it. A little figuring convinced him
that to get his family to Teheran would
consume nearly the whole of his first
years salary, and as the cost of living in
Persia is very high, he would probably be
dependent on charity after the first few
months residence in that country. Mr..
Hanna was undoubtedly very unfit man
/ for the place {; but if he had been the fit
test man possible, with no more property,
he would have had to decline, all the same.
| The list of those who have refused for
egn missions for the reason that they could
not afford to accept them, is long one.
In the case of the English mission, the re-
fusal in the case of a man of small means
is necessity, because of the style of liv
ing which has come to be expected of the
minister to that court The Amer
lean government sends its represen
tative to the Court of St James
with something like the following
Instructions Here are ten dollars
Go to England and procure us the goot
favor of the British people, Make your
self popular there, and if you want any
more money, draw on your own bank nc
count"
The London Press-which seems t,
. realize the point, apparently, more than
our own leading American jOurnals-ven
lures to give some advice on the subject
which seems to us, not only in good spirit
but excellent taste. The London Tele
, gruph suggests to the American govern
ment the propriety of raising the Ameri
can legation in England to an embassy
, While such change as this would
theoretically, involve "A principle foreigl
to our democratic notions-as an ambassa
= dor is understood to represent the perso
a of soveregn-it would, practically
amount to nothing more thai
the elevation of our Representative
to an equal rank with that of the repre-
"A sentatives of other great nations and ell
sure for him, and for the country, tina
# dignity and distinction in public ceremoI
G ials which they deserve. Our ministe
Y should, of course, also receive the pay
G an ambassador, and would then be abb
e to meet the social requirements of HI
; position without trespassing upon his ow
II private property. Should Congress +,
,, wise our diplomatic and consular service
n as has been suggested-the question
e the rank and pay of our foreign minister
/ will be the chief question of importanc
Is The Pittsburg Str Ike at an End.