The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-19

ances were In progress At Consfantinopie
Asehaei Herbert. then charge da6Atres
* Great Britain. accredited 70 the porte.
landed sailors ard marines from the Brit
protests OF thu sultan and Of the Otto
Iuan authorities that England had a per-
seet right 10 occupy her own territory.
that 10 To say. her embassy grounds. with
her own armed forces. II - difficult to
cohesive how the United States envoy
could have adopted tactics Of the same
Kind. tactics which created . profound
mpresston upon the Turks For the
American minister 10 the porte II the
time made his home and had established
hts mission in three rooms At one 81 the
hotels At Pera- Especially In these Orr
entail countries does the residence OF the
Engfiah mtssion constitute a permanent
reminder to the natives, official and 9TH
erwfs~. Of the Importance and power Of
Great Britain. How Is X possible to Inn
press upon the Oriental that = nation
Whose representative Is housed In the few
rooms Of . shabby hotel or In furnished
apartments IL the equal In grandeur to
Great Britain.
Foreign nations seem 20 take pride in
the appointments Of their embassies. TAX
ting the ground that the splendor OF the
establishment rebounds to the credit Of
the nation which IL represents. nor can I
remember any Of the Radicals IT West
minister. nor yet the socialist members Of
the French chamber Of deputies. or OF the
German retchstag. ever questioning gov
ernment expenditure In this connection
A patriotic desire TO have the country
handsomely and fttingly represented
abroad has always predominated In these
legislatures, and the French republic In
particular has been without stint in con
nection with the expense OF furnishing OF
It's foreign embassies. those at ST. Peters
burg and at Rome being. with their Sevres
vases and their priceless Gobelin tapes
tries. Of absolute imperial maxnincence
In their internal arrangements
But leaving aside the question OF fur
niture and appointments. the cost Of pur-
chasing a site and Of constructing . suit
able abode for the ambassadors and en-
yeys OF the United States abroad could
not strictly De regarded as an expense.
II is rather an Investment since the own
ership ef the Land and OF the building
would remain vested in the name OF the
United States government and could be
sold by the latter whenever necessary.
Thus, at Vienna. IL my memory serves me
right, The English government made
profitable q sale % the former building
and site Of it's embassy that II was able
10 double the size and to vastly increase
the spiendor Of the appointments OF the
present home OF the mission without cost
Ing the treasury anything.
In conclusion. l would draw attention
to rather remarkable circular which
has Just been issued by Lord Salisbury
To the British diplomatic representatives
abroad and which Is not without GER
tain degree OF bearing upon the ENJOYS
and ambassadors OF the United States on
yonder side of the Atlantic. In view OF
the fact that the British government pro-
vides its agents with residences. with fur
niture. and even with silver plate an i'm
preston has always prevailed that coun-
trymen of the ambassador possessed of
any political administrative. or social
Importance at home had claim upon the
hospitality Of his excellency on the ground
that the mission and its appointments
were maintained at the expense OF the
puhlic--that Is. OF the taxpayer. Lord
Salisbury. in his capacity Of secretary OF
state for foreign affairs. has now in
formed the heads Of the British missions
In foreign countries that official, pol;t-
!cai or social standing does not give to
British subjects who travel for pleasure.
fer private business. or for health any
claim to be entertained At the expense OF
her majesty's representatives.
Lord Salisbury adds that any letters OF
introduction emanating from himself or
from the foreign office must be consid-
cred from henceforth as subject to this
reservation. Heavy al has been until
now the burden of hospitality upon Brit
ish representatives abroad, II has been
stiii more onerous upon the ministers and
ambassadors OF the United States owing
To the fact that almost every man OF any
social or political Importance thinks 1t
necessary when crossing the Atlantic to
secure special letters OF recommendation
from the state department., In addition TO
the ordinary passports. without which lat
ter document no one should set foot on
the continent OF Europe. These letters
Of recommendation from the state depart
ment have until now been regarded as
emitting their hearers TO claim upon the
hosDtaiity of those to whom they were
addressed and the burden thus placed
upon IN. shoulders OF Americas repre-.
sensatfves abroad has been heavy.
II would be well. therefore. II they could
te relieved OF this obligation by the issue
from The state department Of some such
circular as that which Sir Julian Paunce-
fote has Just received from Lord Sails
hffr