The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-07

| cordial geniaIity, the wit the tact. and
| the kindness for which Ambassador
| Choate is so renowned to convey the I'M
preston to his visitors, 10th American and
| foreign, that they are en- what Is hgura-
! lively a bit of United States territory.
Far different is the treatment which the
great powers of Europe extend TO their
| Ambassadors. With the object Of aiding
to the dignity of the latter, and to the
prestige of the nation which they repre-
sent, they provide them not only with
mansion or palace but also with the tur-
niture of the latter, with paintings TO
adorn the walls, and even with superb
| services of silyerplate, engraved with the
national heraldic devices In Rome, ior
! instance, France, Great Britain, Germany,
Austria, and Spain have palaces or their
own for the use of their Ambassadors,
which are magniiicenty appointed and
kept in repair by their respective govern
ments, without any expense 10 the Am
hassador, whereas the American Envoy,
although of the same rank is obliged TO
content himself with a furnished fiat, Il
he does not happen TO have the private
means over and above his salary 10 en-
able him to go to the expense Of leasing
furnished palace. At Vienna, again, the
English, German, and the Russian gov
| their Ambassadors. In Berlin the Eng
lish, the Austrian, and the Russian en-
bassies are not merely fguratively. but
actually bits of foreign territory. since
both the sites and the buildings belong 10
the governments Of the Ambassadors by
which they are occupied. England,
France, Germany. and Austria have pail
aces Of their own Al ST. Petersburg. while
Austria, Great Britain. and Russia as well
as Germany own the stately mansions in
Paris that are tenanted by their respec-
| tive embassies. That OF Great Britain Is
particularly fine, and In grandeur, as ,gell
| as in magnifcence OF its appointments, Is
but little inferior 10 tie Elysee Palace.
occupied by the President OF the republic,
and which Is almost next door.
The English Embassy at Washington.
which was constructed long before the
| mission as raised 10 its present rank, is
femiliar landmark In the National Cap
| ital IL stands on land purchased Dy the
| English government, is furnished and, one
might add, silvsrplated BY the crown, and
| is IN every serss Of the word in keeping
| with the dignity Of Great Britain and
with the Importance Of The cOuntry 20
/ which the English Ambassador is az
| credited.
Great Britain's Palaces.
] Nor IS Il only for the Ambassadors that
Great Britain provides and furnishes
abodes BETTING the greatness OF the ma
I ton. AT Toxic. al Picking, at Bangkok.
al Teheran. al Cairo, and at Tangiers
1 the British Ministers, and In some case
/ even the Consuis General, are housed Ia
I imposing mansions, handsomely fur.
I nishec. and calculated to impress the ma
I tIves. who from the highest % the lowest
are taught 10 understand that within the
Z precincts OF the walls or iron ratings By
which the grounds Of the legation or con-
I sulate are surrounded, the soil Is British
I territory IN every sense Of tho word, an
/ empire therefore within an empire and
= sanctuary 10 every fugitive 10 whom
the British representative Is willing 20
/ extend his protection. To such an extent
{ is this theory carried that when. a few
. years ago. disturbances were H. progress
al GonstantinOpie, Michael Herbert, then
I charge d'sffalres OF Great Britain. re.
/ credited 10 the Porte. landed sailors and
/ marines from the British gunboat lyi.x
/ In port, replying 70 the protests OF IN,
! Sultan and Of the Ottoman authorities
! that England had a perfect right 70 oe-
cEpy her Own territory, that Is 70 ssy.
her embassy grounds. with her own
armed forceE. IL Il difficult 10 conceive
how the United states envoy could have
adopted tactics Of ;ae same kind. tactics
/ which created profound impression
upon the Turks: for the American Minis
/ ter 10 the Porte at the time made his
home and had established his mission
/ In three rooms az one OF ths hotels AZ
Pera. Especially in these Oriental coun-
tries does the residence OF the English
mission constitute permanent reminder
to the natives. Official and otherwise. Of
the Importance and power OF Great Brit
ain. How = !; possible 20 impress upon the
ofisntsi issi . nation whose representa-.