The Ordway new era., 1908-05-01

IL is terrible thing to be poor
diploma. Lavish use OF American dol
lars must be made in order to pave
q smooth and easy highway over
which n representative of the United
States il 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 diplomatic
capacity in Europe. and as often 1t
has been answered positively in the
negative. The uninformed 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.
neiro. is sl7.50O 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 large
business creates. His total income
from the government is not more than
$4,000 even In the most favored capi.
tai This is large sum. II 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
ambassador OF the United States. in
order to maintain the dignity OF the
great republic he represents. is in
quite different situation. He must
have not merely house for his fam.
lily. 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.
bassadorial 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
II not greater. extent than his trans.
action of the official business connect.
ed with his embassy. The former IA.
cilitates the latter. frequently makes
II possible.
Now consider the expense which
thAc ItHts tu ASA Ii.t'ts
every ambassador must provide and
furnish his own embassy. Unlike
other great nations. the United States.
save in Tokyo. Picking. Bangkok, Con.
stantinople and Morocco. makes no ar.
rangements for the housing of its rep
reseltatives. Every agent. before or
after his appointment. is compelled TO
proceed to his post. hunt up real es.
tate 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
$1,000 to $4,000. In Berlin Ambassa.
dor Charlemagne Tower gives $4,000
snnually for the beautiful building he
occupies. In ST. Petersburg he may
have to pay $4,000. In Rome his rent
bill may mount as high as he pleases.
but 1t cannot fall much below $1,000.
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.
py 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
ernment he must give a reception to
the diplomatic corps This is to ena.
bic him oficially to meet his col.
leagues. a very important ceremony.
for frequently he is compelled to con
duct negotiations with them. and they
are always useful in supplying him
with needed Information. A conserva.
tive estimate of the cost of such a re-
ception In a place like London or Paris
or Berlin is $500 Then 1t is his duty
to give dinner to each of his ambas-
sadorfal colleagues. In some places he
must SO honor the ministers plenipo-
fentiary. who are one ranx lower than
the ambassadors. and who represent
secondclass powers. The guests upon
these occasions must be men and
women Of high social and ofiicial posi-.
tion. who are accustomed to the choic.
est viands and wines and other costly
luxuries.
There are also his own living ex.
penses to be considered-the mainte.
Aance Of his household, the care Of
h0rses and carriages. ETC., and in none
q these can he display the quality Of
~nsefnsss." The baker. the tailor,
en1 The caadlstick maker al look upon
sprelen dielom4k specially one rep
eo0Uu11nR ~ Gnaoorna2v rseh Unafsd