The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1908-05-02

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diploma. Lavish use of American dol
lars must be made in order to pave
a smooth and easy highway over
which a representative of the United
States in European capital may com
fortably and gracefully travel.
The question has often been asked
| as to whether a poor man can repre-
sent the United States in a diplomatic
capacity in Europe, and as often it
has been answered positively in the
negative. The uniformed American
| may ask in wonder why this is so.
| The salary of an American ambassa-
| dor, whether stationed in London or
| Tokyo, St. Petersburg or Rio de ia
metro, is s17,500 per annum. In addi-
| ton he is allowed something for rent
! Of an office, for fuel and light. for fur
| niture, for postage, stationery, tele-
graph service, and for the great vari-
ETY. of small expenses which a large
business creates. His total income
| from the government is not more than
| 10000 even in the most favored CAPT
tai. This is a large sum. 1t represents
an income that any American except
the very rich would be glad to enjoy.
| With $4,000 man could have his
house, his automobile. his amuse-
ments, indeed crafty almost every
wish.
But this is true of an Individual An
| l,,,. a % H. l..
order to maintain the dignity of the
great republic he represents, is in
quite different situation. He must
aave not merely a house for his fam
| ly, but an establishment for the re-
| ception and entertainment of the Off
| cials and statesmen of the country TO
which he is accredited and of his am.
| Oassadorial colleagues He must give
| entertainments and dinners comparing
| favorably with those offered by the
representatives of other governments
| He cannot withhold these courtesies
They constitute his duty to the same,
| If not greater, extent than his trans
| action of the Off cial business connect
| ed with his embassy. The former ia
cilitates the latter. frequently makes
It possible.
Now consider the expense which
this policy entails. In the first place
every ambassador must provide and
furnish his own embassy. Unlike
other great nations, the United States
save In Tokyo, Picking, Bangkok, Con
stantinope and Morocco, makes no ar
engagements for the housing OF It's rep
resentatives. Every agent. before or
after his appointment, is compelled to
proceed to his post, hunt up real es
late agents, examine houses which are
available. and finally select the most
imposing within his means. II he
have millions at his disposal he may,
as Ambassador Whitelaw Reid has
done, take palace like Dorchester
House, in London, paying therefor
$4,000 annually, and country place
costing $4,000 annually. In Paris his
embassy will cost anywhere from
$4,000 to $4,000. In Berlin Ambassa-
dor Charlemagne Tower gives $4,000
annually for the beautiful building he
occupies In St. Petersburg he may
have to pay $4,000 In Rome his rent
bin may mount as high as he pleases
but it cannot fall much below s. 900
The conditions in Vienna are similar
to those in Rome.
SO before an ambassador can as
sumo his Office he must obligate him.
self to pay a foreigner not less than
half OF and frequently more than his
salary in order to be allowed to Occu.
Ply building for the use of the Ameri.
can people. Upon arrival officially at
his post and after he has presented
his credentials to the head Of the gov
eminent he must give reception to
the diplomatic corps. This is to cna.
bic him officially TO meet his col.
leagues, a very important ceremony.
for frequently he Is compelled to con.
duet negotiations with them. and they
are always useful in supplying him
with needed information A conserya.
tive estimate Of the cost Of such a re-
CeptiOn in place like London or Paris
or Berlin is 81 500 Then it is his duty
to give a dinner to each of his ambas-
sadoTial colleagues In some places he
must so honor the ministers plenipO-
Tertiary, who are one rang lower than
the ambassadors, and who represent
second-cla5s powers The guests upon
these occasions must be men and
women Of high social and official posi-.
ton who are accustomed to the choic.
est viands and wines and other costly
luXuries
There are also his own living ex.
peusas to be considered-the mainte.
nance Of his household, the care Of
horses and carriages. etc, and in none
IF these can he display the quality Of
nearuess. The baker, the tailor.
and the candlstick maker all look upon
a foreign diplomat, especially one rer.