Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-07-18
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
r ONDON, July 9.-Whila 50 much
has been said about the gor'
geousness of some OF the Ameri-
can ambassadors and their pri-
waite homes in the various capitals OF
Europe, discreet silence has been main
taip.d about the actual American ems
bassies. The fact Is it is usually sup
posed that the embassy offices are
where the ambassador lives, and that is
the case with most of the other powers,
which own big houses--sometimes pal
aces-where their ambassadors live rent
free and have their offices, too. The
German embassy in London. for in
stance, is a magnificent sl5.000-a year
mansion in Carlton House Terrace, just
beyond William Waldorf Astor's home
and across the street from the mansion
of Sir Gilbert Parker who luckily has
a rich American wife. The Italian and
French embassies here are also worthy
of princes; but the American embassy
is crowded into few particularly stuff
fy, delighted. grimy rooms in an Of
flee building in Victoria street. afford
ing a marked contrast to the splendors
of Dorchester House. where Mr. Reid
lives. 10 minutes walk distant.
The embassy Is located between
second-h hand furniture shop and SEE
ond class restaurant, and occupies the
basement, ground floor and one or two
rooms on the top floor of an unattrac-
tive brownstone, second class building.
The outward appearance of the en-
haESV piCpG n imDraaSiOn nf nlalan-
choly decreptitude, which is more than
confirmed by the interior. All the. Of
fees are badly furnished. Even the
ambassadors private sanctum appears
shabby
NO PRIVACY.
When in his office the American am
bassador in London sits in a ground
floor, front room, which is literally right
on the street. From the top of a Lon
don bus you can peer down into the
ambassadorial sanctum. Besides the
lack Of privacy there is the additional
discomfort OF street noises made by
numbering motor buses and other traf-
fic. The whole impression conveyed by
the embassy is one of cheapness. Con-
sidering the immense amount of busi-
ness done. one is surprised at the utt0i
lack OF up-to-date modern office equip
ment
Speaking Of these shortcomings well
known American resident I'm London
who knows the embassy thoroughly and
who, AZ a business man, has Travelled
extensively and visited various other
American embassies I'm different parts
of the world, made the following state
ment.
APPEARS DOWN Al HEEL.
"Our embassy in London Is one OF tho
poorest business propositions | have
II. =
doHn-at-heel appearance of the place,
Il lacks certain necessities which even
n second-rate business concern in a
backwoods town would possess. There
Is not even vault at the embassy TO
keep state papers in; and the most val
liable books and documents are placed
promiscuously about the Office where |
any one with a little ingenuity could
abstract them If he wished. II there |
was "A fire al the embassy, papers OF the |
utmost Importance would be lost sim |
ply for the want OF the most ordinary |
business foresight.
THE American embassy holds It's Of |
fees on yearly lease. at a cost OF |
81 500 year, and any time the land |
lords may give the occupants of the |
chief quarters of America In Europe |
notice to quit As "A matter OF fact, |
the offices Of the American embassy |
are held In London today on sort of |
charitable lease. Both buildings inn |
mediately adjoining II are rented as |
shops az $4,000 a year ana several offers !
AT higher rents have been made TO the 1
landlords--a banking institution--but
they have so far not turned the Am
erican embassy out from feeling Of
sentimental courtesy.
SHABBY AND woEBEGoNE.
Everyone who goes 10 the American
embassy notices the woebegOne APP
pearancc 81 the whole show - IN ROT
good business on the part of the Am
erican government 20 slight lts own
embassy. for In these days OF modern
ity appearances count for lot, NOT
long ago a prominent British business
man asked me where our embassy
was, said IN Victoria street. on yes,