New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-20

residence for him which was in readiness'
but this was altogether exceptional. Mr.
Bayard was homeless. when he came. and IL was
! long time before he had a house. and then 1t
was in the country owing to the impracticabil-
itv of finding a suitable residence in town. He
finally resided in Eaton Square. and when his
term expired he had lease on his hands 10 DE
disposed Of His house rent amounted to one
third Of his salary. The present Ambassador S
rental cannot be much less than two-thirds or
his salary, which is no greater than the spanish
Ambassadors. and only one-h half OF the German
Ambassadors
Before 1873 the United States Legation oc-
cupied several dark rooms in the Westminster
Chambers From that date until 1SSJ its head
quarters were in Members Mansions. Victoria
St. concerning which according TO tradition.
Mr. Phelps remarked in entering the rooms Tor
the first time that ne would Re ashamed to hire
them as law Offices at home. During the last
thirteen years the United States Embassy mas
occupied as offices two floors and basement
in a residential flat in Fictoria-st rhe annual
rental is 81 300 which is less than the ground
rents and taxes of the Embassy houses owned
by the other Governments. There is an Official
allowance Of about $3.50 for clerk hire. and
the salaries Of the two secretaries aggregate
S5OO The expenditures Of the United States
Embassy for salaries and clerical assistance are
far below those Of the other Embassies. and are
on a level with those of the minor Powers
China Japan. Belgium. Portugal. and. indeed
nearly all the other important Powers provide
residences for their Ministers. The United
States Denmark. Sweden. Switzerland. the
Netherlands and Greece neglect 10 do this and
leave their diplomatic representatives to shift
for themselves
While American diplomacy is conducted eco
ncmically at a capital where Ambassadors and
Ministers have their official homes and are en-
ahled to live we'll. there are excessive demands
upon the time and hospitality of the officials in
charge of the Embassy There more visitors
at the American Embassy than at all the other
Embassies and Legations put together This is
because from l25.000 to 100000 Americans cross
the and come to London in the course Of
the year. and large proportion Of them either
have or make business for themselves at the
Embassy. No other Embassy is besieged and
overrun with callers in this way
The American Ambassador. who is now away
on winter vacation journey. has a handsome
residence in Carlton House Terrace, and Mr.
White and Mr.. Carter have fine houses. II there
are no signs OF shabbiness or impoverishment in
the present representation Of the United States
in London it is because those who hold impor-
tant Offices are content to pay heavily for the
privileges Of diplomatic life here. Republican
simplicity is. however. a poor fiction IL only rich
men able to accept diplomatic posts and to
make up the deficiencies of income. 1t ought to
be practicable for an American without large
private fortune to become Ambassador al this
Court. and it would be- if an official residence
We're purchased by the Government as a perma.
nent Embassy. 1t is probable that a suita Bile
house could be bought for SlJ000O not in lease
hold. but In freehold Without a house equal 10
the best Embassy residences America must
either be represented largely at private expeI So
or else in "a shabby genteel' way. LINE.