New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-19
pOpJrLAR OBSERVATIONS.
,rrORMs IN THE DIPLOMATIC SEhNlCh'

,,vcrssITY OF PRovIpING PERMANENT EN-
.Ss1rs FOR UNITED STATES AMBASSADORS
ro the Editor of The Tribune.
&C., The many changes which have recently
,,ace in the foreigI policy Of the United
..,os and those incident to the war which are
81 IN take place in the near futura. call 70
ia more vividly than ever before those ques-
'.e that arise in regard 10 our diplomatic rep
notation in other countries. The change
~ ,s shortly to be made in the appointment
:, our Ambassador TO the Court or 81 James
~, snggest. among other things. the present
~ NJ sufficient funds in the equipment of our
.n,ssadors to the hrst-class Powers of Eu-
rope u,, ...o and
seres Of embassies, maintained at the eN-
nsa ~ those governments which their Am
,ossadors are sent there to represent In like
.sonner there are legations, permanently estab-
,,"hod nv and belonging to those countries repre-
tod hv Minister'S Besides these, the ENJOYS
= .oreien nations are supplied with salaries SUI
sa,a,t for the necessary social and official obll-
,,ors incumbent upon the dignity OF their
.ernmcnts Bat when we come to the A1neTl-
~ Nation. which among all others Is emil ed
:. ,ha highest respect and consideration, we
AVID IFS diplomatic representatives less iuHE
.cuipped by the Government than those o. ANY
other Is IT, therefore, unnatural thah we Shouu
,nouire into the reasons for such cohuI'ioh
~ affairs. or why it is that we should place or
ambassadors often in the position or pelhg
,reated with a lack of those courteses and con-
alterations which are the diplomatic expressions
~ the respect with which one country Is heId
nv another? I would beg leave TO point out
Tow facts with regard to our representation IN
London which may serve as an exact example
=, those points to which ] refer. They are the
same in Paris and in the other great capitals OF
The world and I think should appeal. especially
at the present hour to the more sober minds OF
this whole country
In the British capital the Russian Government
supplies its Ambassador with large and dig
,1ed establishment in Chesham Place. The
anetro-Hungarian Embassy is one of the largest
If those Immense mansions which surround
pelerava Saua~e The German Embassy is one
IF the larees; and most beautiful residences
IN Carlton House Terrace. And the Italian En-
hassv is an equally important residence IN eros
venor Square. Each or thesc 4AiiiosSsa 'u o
amply supplied by his Government WIN the
means of maintaining these eStapliShhehts, ana
of maintaining the dignifed position when such
an official appointment demands. but MHtH Ne
come TO the case of the Ambassador OF the
United States what do we find. Al the present
moment in London. beautifully appointed ana
highly betting eStaDlSNNtIt II H. liuV' 'NN
supplied from the private means OF our AmDas-
sador. Is this. we ask, as II should De-
The present salaries of our Ambassadors 10
Great Britain Germany and France are $1,000
a year and those are the largest In the diplo-
matte service. 1t Is interesting, therefore. 10
note that this amount. and more, is frequently
paid for the rent of their houses alone, and that
all the other manifold expenses incumbent upon
an official position must necessarily come out
of their own pockets. This fact has led 20 the
necessity. in most cases. Of selecting for APP
pOintment those men whose private fortunes rel -
dered the maintenance Of the obligations posi-
BILE And IL may readily he seen how fatal such
a policy must be. if continued in the future, 10
the possibility Of a diplomatic career for those
men who are perhaps the be, suited { it, and
10 the existence Of a service which it is Of the
utmost Importance. at present to have equal TO
the corresponding services Of other nations.
would most earnestly offer for the consid-
Grafton Of those who desire that our country
should be most wisely and judicously repre-
scented at the foreign capitals Of the world, the
following suggestions toward possible reform
in regard to the future Of the diplomatic service
Of the United States:
First-A large increase in the salaries OF Am
bassadors, Minister'S secretaries Of embassies
and Of legations.
Sec0nd-Permanent embassies, established at
the following European capitals: London. Paris.
Berlin st. Petersburg, Vienna and Rome
Third-Diplomatic uniforms suitable 10 the
dignity Of a representative OF the American Ma
ton. as well as his secretaries and assistants.
Fourth-A definite system OF advancement,
and permanence Of Office. especially In minor
appointments CHARLES GIBSON.
Lenox. Mass. Sept Il. 1895.