The Washington times., 1905-07-15
Will Have Fine Quarters.

The plenipotentiaries, with their re-
spective suites. will be quartered in
Hotel Wentworth, one of the handSom-
est hoSteleries on the New England
coast. and of modern construction 1t
is situated picturesquely near the river,
on the outskirts of the town Of Ports
mouth. BY trolley it is about six miles
from the navy yard. in one of the build
ings of which the peace commissioners
Will hold their sessions.
But the distinguished foreigners will
not have to travel that way. Tenders
will be provided to convey them direct
" from the navy yard across the river
to the hotel, thus furnishing q pleasant
and restful means of transportation. aft
er several hours work in the confer
ence chamber. Several floors. and pos
sibly the whole Of the hotel, will be
reserved for the commissioners. A high
salaried French chef. with a staff of
skilled assistants. will prepare the meals,
upon the quality of which may depend
the good or bad humor of the negotia-
tors. and. therefore, the success or fail
ure of the conferences. Fine wines and
good cigars will be provided. and in
every other way the comfort of the
distinguished guests will be looked after
by the hospitable State of New Hamp-
shire
Probably never before in the history
of peacemaking. have ENJOYS received
such handsome treatment from the coun-
promised. Heretofore the limit of in
terna tional hospitality was supposed to
have been reached when a suitable meet
ing place was provided for diplomats, in
which to settle their differences This
was the case when, a the conclusion OF
the war with Spain, the United States
peace commission went to Paris to die
tate terms to the vanquiShed Spaniards
The French government turned over TO
the use OF the commissioners handsome
rooms in the foreign office provided
them with stationery, and assigned por-
tiers, messengers, etc, to wait upon
them.
Government Paid These Bills.
But both the American and Spanish
governments paid the hotel and other
expense bills of their representatives and
these ran up into pretty high figures
President Mckinley set aside So. 900 out
of the $50 900 war fund appropria ted
by Congress, and had it placed TO the
credit of Judge Day for the use of the
peace commission. Just how the money
was spent was communicated confiden-
tally TO the proper Congressional COM
mittees. but the details are a closely
guarded secret in the State Department
1t Is known, however, that nearly all
of the amount was spent during the
conferences. The total CT the expenses
of the American commission with its
secretaries. interpreters. clerks, etc,
was about S6S, 600. 1t Is reasonable to
suppose that the expenses of the Span
iSh commissioners were at least as
much. so it viii be seen that the citi-
Zons of New Hampshire are taking upon
themselves no mean burden when they
propose TO entertain Doth the Russian
and japanese plenipotentiaries.
Little Cost to Uncle Sam.
Very little real expense will be put
upon the United States Federal Gov
eminent. A building III the Portsmouth
navy yard has been provided as the
meeting place Of the negotiatcrs. The
rooms. now bare, viii. Of course, have
TO be furnished. and the money for that
purpose will come out of the Navy De-
partment contingent fund. The May
flower and Dolphin which will convey
the commissioners from New York to
oyster Bay. on the day that the Presi-
dent viii introduce them 10 each other
and the two boats that Will be assigned
TO their use during the conferences
would necessarily be employed on other
duty, il not here.
In other words, no extra expense is in
VOWED to the United States by placing
these ships at the convenience of the
negotiators. 1t is probable that there
viii be one or more state dinners or re-
ceptlonS given by the President to the
commissioners at some time during their
stay IN this country. All expenses of
this sort. and such others as NAV he
come necessary. will be met by drafts
on the $4,000 emergency fund OF the
State Department.