The Washington herald., 1907-03-17
The German Embassv.

tt is well To establish the facts regard
ing the German Embassy about which
there has been 50 much gossip. Twenty
years ago the leg8tion-it had not
then been promoted to an en-
bassy-occupied the spacious house
in Fifteenth street, which was ex-
changed, with "a substantial money con-
sideration, for the embassy it now occu-
pies. This was done under the direction
of Mr.. Won HoIleben. who was then Min
lister, and who, it will be remembered
was retired, speedily, if not with dis
grace. after Prince Henry's visit. when
he was SO inadequate TO the duties inn
posed upon him, and, while not abso-
lutely dismissed from the German service.
he was recalled and given an inferior
position in the colonial bureau.
The present embassy, 50 imposing i'm
certain way, appealed 10 the then Minis
ter because of. its elevated position and
pretentious exterior, but there is perhaps
no house in Washington So IN fitted for
an ambasSddOTial residence as the house
which Mr.. Ferguson built on Highland
Terrace. Highland Terrace. it Will be re-
membered. is the result Of the grading
Of Massachusetts avenue made by the
board of public works way back in the
59's Il was not practical to tear
down the old houses there and remove
jhe hill on which they were situated SO
the terrace was made. The road leading
from the main street IN front Of these
residences IS so narrow that il is impos-
slble TO properly manage carriages at q
big reception. since il is uncomfortable
II not dangerous. for vehicles 10 pass in
this driveway, and from Massachusetts
avenue and Fifteenth to Fourteenth
street, and round again by the terrace
road 10 Fifteenth street and Massachu-
setts avenue again. is a long distance. and
a great confusion iu the calling Of car
riages always eusues at large functions.
Then, too, the interior Of the house is not
at all adapted for a big embassy ike that
of Germany and it has long been the in
tention of the German government to
provide for "A larger and better embassy.
for IL is no secret that it is the ambition
of the German Emperor to make his na-
ton the most potent power at the Ameri-
can Capital He feels that it's commercial
relations with the United States and the
number of German citizens in this coun-
try make il necessary for the fatherland
to take the leading place. and ne has left
no stone unturnod 10 further this object.
A little more than year ago the Ger
man -iN 4ilAltliL Atil tiitotl III street,
between Twsnty-secoud and Twenty
third streets, "a large plot of ground. and
the German ReichStag has already voted
the money TO erect "A magnificent home
for their Ambassador that will be sec
oud to none in Washington. II would be
ignoring facts TO pretend that the Ger
man government is not jealous of the in
fluence of the British IN America. and
one OF their main objects is TO counteract
and defeat that influence. An evidence
OF the intention of the Emperor In this
regard comes from the fact that through
his influence Baron Won Sternburgs sal
AIRY, which is already half as much rs
.hat of the President, has been raised
from twenty-five TO thirty thousand dol
larr and that with that there are per
quisites that amount TO considerably
more. but this Is still many thousand
dollars less than the salary of the British
Ambassador, whose contingent expenses
arc rarely. if ever, disputed by the for
eisn Office. But the wife of the German
Ambassador, Baroness Won Sternburg. has
e large fortune OF her own. and here is
practically nothing that Emperor Will
iam's Ambassador would not be allowed
10 dc 70 increase the prestige Of his gov
ernmeut.