New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-08
Mr.. PHELPS IN BERLIN.
HIS LEGATION, HIS DIPLOMATIC SERVICES.
HIS Personal AND SOCIAL SUCCESSES.

Berlin. May Ia.
Our Minister to Berlin has several titles 70
respect in his official capacity, and among them
one which is, SO far as know, unique lie has
housed the Legation comfortably and even hand
someIy This ought not to b. remarkable or
exceptional, still less unique, but It Is Our
American policy in such matters is seldom wise
one. Perhaps It is not policy; perhaps it b
only a custom. but. whichever 1t be. 1t Is q mis-
take. There has never been in London since I
have known it q sufficient or wel-furnished
American Lesation-I am speaking of the Official
not of the personal residence Of what is in
Europe called the Chancellerie or sometimes, in
doubtful English word, the Chancery. There
has never been in Paris In 10th those capitals
the United States have been content to do their
diplomatic business in narrow or dingy shabby
and inconvenient Offices Generally speaking, all
these adectives have applied to all the legations
in London, Paris, and Berlin; il not all, some.
We are parsimonlous in matters that, whatever
may be thought in Chicago, do really affect our
credit and reputation abroad Congress will
not appropriate money enough to give our Lesa-
tons such homes as they ought TO have. It IL
part Of the general system Of stingness with
which all our diplomatic affairs are managed ON
the money side.
Mr.. william Walter Phelps. however, has es-
tablished the American Legation in Berlin in an
apartment which does discredit to him. or to
the Government lie represents IL il in good
street, good building the first floor. with
suite Of large, airy, well-decorated and elegantly
furnished rooms. The first impression ono got
was that all this sober and suitable luxuriousness
Il use the word relatively to other legations
had been supplied by Mr.. Phelps at his own ex-
rense. But he said not. The funds had been
granted by the State Department. while Mr. Blaine
was Secretary Of State. l suppose money goes
farther in Berlin than in other capitals. for house
rent and furniture. 1t need not be supposed that
we compete, even now, with great Embassies like
tho British or French. Very far from it. Our
new Ambassador will find himself established
deccntly nothing more. if comparisons must be
made. But it is something to be decent when one
remembers the squalid holes which have 80 often
and so long done duty for American legations
in Europe, and still do.
All about the walls Of the central room hang
portraits Of American Presidents and Of American
Ministers to Germany. On either side of the
Minister'S desk is q bust of Washington and a
bust OF Frederick the Great. II the patriotic
American wonders why they are thus brackete1 TO-
Gethcr. he has only to recollect that Frederick
was the first European sovereign who recognized
tie independence Of the United States. lie may
remember also that II was upon this precedent
that Prince Bismarck as he himself said in 1885.
based his policy of friendship to the Union dur
ing the Rebellion. He had been asked to do other.
wise. " But did they suppose I was going to for
get Frederick or reverse the policy OF good will
TO America which ever since his time had pre-.
vaied,-
The other and more important services Of Mr..
Phelps during his mission to Berlin are better
Al
nuous to say anything more about them Stifl,
tho end Of them all has come. AMI tho compile
ton Of career or OF one phase Of a career, il a
good time for taking stock. And fonr years Is
a long time Tho nnassistel human memory oc-
cupies itself in these hurried days with the things
Of yesterday. but how about the things Of day
before yesterday? II Is four years since tho
Samoa Conference took place, In May. 1880, when
Mr. Phelps came to Berlin, not as Minister, but,
together with Nfessrs. Kasson and Bates, as Com.
missioner lie did his share Of that work. moro
difficult and important than it seemed,-dificult
enough and important enough to engage god
deal of Prince Bismarck's attention. He did IL
90 efficiently and wisely as To earn the name OF
the peacemakrr. No name is more honorable to
the dplomatist: IL is the final testimony to his
diplomacy aims at. Anybody can jnorr"l: to
u
terests and appctites in a stable and honorable
way, Is tho highest triumph
What happened upon the conclusion Of the con.
ference il known, bit may be told once more.
Mr.. Phelps quilted the Foreign Office in Berlin
where the Samoan Conference haf been held dur
ing May and part Of June, carrying lttl' yellow
travsllin, bag which contained the treaty that
had Just been signed lie drove straight to the
station, caught the train TO Bremen and the North
German Lloyd steamer from Bremen to newborn.
,ourneyed on by the frst train from New-York
20 Washington. and presented himself AMI his
treaty TO Mr. Blaine, who took him to the Presi-
dent, and TO the President the treaty was handed
over For once. the somewhat frgld individuai'
ity OF Mr.. Harrison showed itself sympathetie.
Whether he asked Mr.. Phelps TO sit down Il ais
puted. He was himself standing. as his habit
was. at the corner Of his desk. But he received
the treaty opened a drawer. took on' commIs
sion as Minister TO Germany, handed It to MP.
Elaine saving, You won't mind signing this
and then delivered the signed commission 70 Mr.
Phelps. with the remark; Il offer you TINS po'
cause you have earned it.
Mr.. PHELPS returned TO Berlin, TINS time ~
Minister. in September, and presented n's ,'o
dentiols 10 the Emperor They made each otner
speeches. cordial on both sides; rather 'o"ee' ,",
usual on the Emperor's side; when were "uiy
publishcd in the German papers. would 'ei
the whole story Of the publication II dared'
but do not wish TO be indiscrect or 10 raise al
international question. II is enough 10 say ,na0
first impressions were in this case lasting. i"e
foothold which Mr.. Phelps gained ne Kept anu
both at Court and elsewhere establishea THOSE
relations Of confidence and personal gooo wiz
without which the most skilful diplomacy "a.
but half q chance. lie spent no small part Oh
his Ministerial life in endeavoring to secure 'o'
rc,,.trotuction into Germany of American pork
It is q topic OF which no heroic treatment Is
pcssible, but it concerned a greet industry anu
the prosperity of many Americans. At the END OF
n year of diplomacy the prohibition was removed:
Ills countrymen who deal in this commodity neeo
not he the less grateful to their representative
because the German consumer was also gra'e.a''
Il was one of the acts which helped MAKE MI
Phelps popular in both countries; ana us se0ur'
% Ann Iva 90