The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-23
BUILDINGS FOR
THE EMBASSIES
United States Said to Be Seri-
ouSIy Considering the
Matter.
WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES
POOR MEN, HOWEVER A5L5,
CANNOT ACCEPT POSITIONS. 7
WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES

Berlin. March 22-The correspond
ent of the Associated Press inquired
recently OF Charlemagne Tower,
American ambassador i'm Berlin
whether il is true that the govern
nent intends to buy buildings for its
embassies I'm the capitals OF Europe
Mr.. Tower replied that he knev noth-
ing officially as yet although he un-
derstauds that congress Is now con-
sidering the expediency of buying
such houses at least in London, Paris
and Berlin.
In answer to a question as 70 the
Importance of such d step. Mr.. Tower
said
Buildings Badly Needed.
Yes. we need such buildings for our
diplomatic missions in Europe ana
the fact that We need them very
badly is precisely the reason why we
should not be hasty I'm our decision.
but should select with care An en-
bassy building that might nave
seemed suitable and fully suniclent
twenty years ago would be absolutely
incommensurate today. because the
United States plays a very diheren
part in the world from what il ala
twenty years ago; and it is bound t"
increase i'm importance and power IN
twenty years to come
In my opinion. as much foresight
and pains should be used in the sit
nation and construction OF the build
ing for the American embassy in Lon
don or Paris or Berlin as a great rail-
way corporation At home would bring
to bear if it were going 80 locate now
central station i'm Washington Ut Chi
cagO.
Poor Man impossible.
'The question of expense *. Of
course. a very serious one: for. after
you have got your house you have not
finished: YOU have. in fact. Just be
gun. There stil remains 10 be net
the whole subject of the upkeep ana
repairs to your property. the lighting
and heating, the entertaining and the
expense Of living of your ambassador
and his family. This touches the
question of the salary, which. as
things go, is today totally inadequate
in the United States service.
Indeed. it is not generally known.
but it is a. fact. that with the salary of
the present time the United states
government is the most difficult gov
eminent in the world for an ambassa-
dor to serve properly, because, with
s17 600 a year. he is Obliged to rent a
house. meet his personal and domestic
his official position in the country -
which he is accredited. This is imYsos-
sibie and il has led TO the belief in
America that no one but a rich man
can accept the appointment TO an em~
bassy. The idea is a bad one for the
country; It is totally un-American and
entirely wrong in principle.
1t is a fact that some of the ablest
and most suitable men that we have
in America are not rich men. From
this point Of view the question ought
to be considered very seriously at
home.
"One way to acquire the proper kind
of house in Berlin would be TO send
over here two or three of the engineer
officers of the United States army, who
should be associated with the ambas-
sadOr accredited at that time to this
post, and also with the military am
naval attaches of the embassy; thiS
commission so constituted should
make a thorough and careful examina-
ton into the question. and upon a re-
port made by them the United States
government should buy the property
upon which it intends to establish its
embassy in Germany"