The San Francisco call., 1897-01-31
Where Hohors Come High

Our Embassador to London receives the
largest salary paid to American Embassa-
dors-$17, ,500-the same amount only being
paid to the ambassadors to France, Ger
many, Russia and Mexico, says the Phia-
delphia. Ledger. Sir Julian Pauncefote,
the Representative of the British Govern
ment in Washington, which is considered
smaller diplomatic post, of course, than
that at Paris, Berlin or st. Petersburg.
and of course, carries smaller emolu-
ments and perquisites, receives $32, 900 and
the house and grounds, which are owned
by the British Government. Besides this
there are other perquisites allowed for
horses and servants, all of the latter being
Engilshmen, and most OF lem having
lived IN Washington through the admins
trat4ons Of several Ministers and EN- bassa-
dors. The American EN- bassador lives in a
house which he rents furnished. This has
disadvantage in the face that for social
purposes every four years m axes a change
IN the American Embassy and suggests. per-
haps, to the average Englishman the idea
that the American Embassy is not a per-
manent institution. However this may
be, the American Embassador does not
dare to purchase house for the use of an
embassy and residence comb ned, for fear
"A contingency most likelv-that his sue
cessor would not be willin g, or could not
afford, even if he wished, to take it off his
hands at the end of the ad ministration
Congress, however, is not sensitive to ap-
pearances. The Jeffersonlan sim plicity
which characterizes it's deliber ations is
felt in this way through out the wcrl1.
In France the situation Is the same
Several men, because of the lack of for
tunes of their own, have declined the
honor OF serving as En- mbassadors to Paris,
because they knew that if they did they
would return at the expiration of tn cir
terms bankrupt. In London the difficult
ties are perhaps greater than in Paris. If
the American Embassador has a large
family and the women go out into society,
each reception is most expensive to the
Embassador. If the Queen holds draw
ing-room, or the Prince of Wales a
'levee, all of the members of the
diplomatic corps are invited and are
supposed TO be present. So great is tn e
necessity for preserving the entente
cordlale that all OF our representatives to
foreign countries are instructed by the
Secretary OF State, as far as NAV be con-
sistent with their other duties and their
time, to use all tact and discretion in nre-
serving personal friendly relations with
officers of the Government. Th erefora il
is a rare occasion when certain represen.
tatives of the American United Sta tes
Embassy do not appear at these drawing.
rooms or levees. II the EmbassaGor has
a large family and several daug hters to be
presented at court, the gowns n ecessarv
for the occasion, which all must be of a
prescribed fashion, with long train and
veil. cost in themselves a small fortune.
In addition to this the wife of the En-
bassador is supposed not TO appear twice
at a drawing-room in the same court
gown. Then there are little dinners and
big dinners, small receptions and crushes
to be given, in the thought of the pay
ment for which there should be no m iserly
scruples. such as cannot but be fostered
by the policy of this Government. And
not only is the EN- bassador and his fam
lily affected by the necessities OF the situ-
alton, but all of the attaches and their
families. if they have them, suffer as we'll.
AS matter of fact only men OF means can
for moment consider the offer of diplo-
matte post at any of the great European
capitals. Some of them are taken By men
of means with social aspirations, and, as
men of means are not necessarily men
yersed in the lntricacies OF int ernatlonal
law or always diplomats in the European
sense OF the term, the policy cannot be
considered wise one.