Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-02-11
JEALOUS DIPLOMATS,
xere'Tners at Washington Try to
 Keep in the Front Rank

Washington, D. C., February IL Jealousy figures lii international din
 loInatlc matters, as it figures Ill al
 most every phase of social and bus
 mess life.
 Ohe or It's curious manifestations js the attitude assumed toward one an
 other by the South American co,ln. {, tries on account of their diplomatic representation at this capital. Each
 one of them is determined that ii | shall not be Ont-ranked or outshone
 ny the representative of any other
 Soun American nation. Tn a little l While, therefore, unless something is
 done to check the tendency. ali of
 the Important South American coun- ] tres VIII be represented in Washing
 ton by ambassadors. Mere ministers, you please. are not of sufficient
 power and influence and dignity to sult the South American peoples. They feel that they must be represent
 ed at the American capital by nmbas-
 sadors who at all times, under dip- lomafic usage and custom. may deal directly with the president of the United States.
 congress IS endeayOring to tliscOur- age the appointment of ambassadors
 70 America from countries that are comparatively small, because. under a law and custom that now prevail
 Wneh country raises it's legation to Ihe rank of an embassy at this capi- lal, the United States finds it incutn- bent to respond by raising it's legation m that country to rank of an embassy. Inls arrangement entails upon the government an expense which. at times, is inordinate in comparison With the importance of the reprcsent- atlon American ambassadors re- celve q fiat salary of $17,5OO n year whether they serve at London. Eng land. or Rio, Brazil.
 When the Brazilian mission to Washington was elevated to the rank of an embassy. the United States Ic- sienated an ambassador to that coun- try This action aroused the jealousy or other South American countries Which were ambitious to be repre- sented in Washington by ambassa- dors. Tn due time. the State De partment received information that at least two other South American na- lions were contemplating the eleya- ton Of their legations here to en- bassies. BraZils ambition in this di- recti0n had been discouraged. but the dlscouragement had not been ef- Iective. Chill is particularly anxious .o nave an ambassador in Washing ton: indeed, she has announced the | elevation of her legation here to the rank of an embassy. Whether Amer lea IS to be represented in Chilli by m ambassador will depend upon the | tlme Of the presentation of the Gillian | credentials.
 An amendment has been made to | the diplomatic and consular appro- priation bill now pending before con gress repeating the existing law re- quiring the American government. whenever foreign power elevates US Washington representative to the rank of an ambassador to promote the American representative to the same grade. If that provision should become law before the Ambassador ,f Chilli presents his credentials here will be no United States am oassador to Chilli. The enactment of hat provision will put an end, 1t is expected. to the indiscriminate crea- ion of American embassies.
 Peru and Argentina have indicated heir desire to be represented in this apital by ambassadors, but the pas age of the proposed law by the congress probably will urb their desire.