The Washington herald., 1908-05-04
Rssidenees for Amhassadors

An attempt was made, by d Senate
amendment TO the diplomatic appropria-
ti0n bih TO initiate in a modest way a
new policy with respect TO the housing
OF American Ambassadors. The bin as
reported TO the Senate contained an item
OF 100000 for the purchase or the con
struction. including the furnishing. of an
embassy building at Paris. As it could
fairly be construed as general legisla-
tion, it was ruled out on a point of order
made by Senator Culberson. who thought
so important an innovation should not be
embodied in an appropriation BILL nor
adopted without adequate discussion.
In the course of an hours debate on
the proposition, practically no opposition
was expressed to the plan of providing
suitable buildings FOR our representatives
abroad. 1t was admitted frankly by its
proponents that the amendment was in
tended 10 begin a new policy. Senator
Lo0ge said the Committee on Foreign Re-
lations thought it was wiser TO enter on
the policy by buying one house at 2
time as favorable opportunity offered
than by appropriating several million dol
lars and making general purchases
over the world. In defense of the -
policy Senator Lodge said:
Having given our ambassadors no increase n sal
ary and thrown upon them a great increase q ex
pense We find ourselves confronted with the fact
that in order that the United States should have
proper TeFTeseutation in those great capitals. We
must either Increase the salary or add to the salary
BY giving them house rent or conine these appoint
down 70 Is coniining these appointments 10 men Of
great wealth in almost al instances
1T Is impossible practically for an ambassador tn
live in a small apartment in Paris or Berlin ana
transact the business Of the government Of the
United States as it ought 10 Be transacted The
demands do not come simply from the court or the
society Ia which he finds himself. but the demands
made b. his own people are very great, indeed
They expect certain public receptions 70 be held
On Wsshington's Birthday and on the Fourth Of
july they expect hospitality from the ambassador.
TIE number Of Americans who 70 to these great
capitals in Europe is very large: it is said that
there are 5000 Americans normally in London
alone, and an ambassador not escape the exYen-
dituTs Of a large amount Of money. lie has con
stant pressure upon him, ard a man who desires 70
represent his country properly is inevitably en-
barked in course Of expenditure which if he is
poor nan. wiz take probably what little property
he may have.
If We give % our ambassadors their rent, in addl
ton 10 the salary they already have it would eer-
tainiy make living much easier for them: also it
would give 10 the United States definite place in
the city; it would give the embassy a definite home
and If would establish what / consider a proper
scale, because It Is not merely that an ambassador
IS forced. If he is poor man. 70 i've below the
scale that he would ike 90 adopt but there are
cases ] have in mind where men Of great wealth
have taken houses and established 8 scale Of living
which puts the successor 10 position Of graat en-
bsuassment. At least We should secure that the
successive American ambassadors to any one country
should I've IN the same house and should maintain
substantially the same scale"
This puts the case fairly and strongly
on the ground not only or cur obligation
to foreign countries. but also of our duty
to our own citizens. II we are to main
tain embassies at all, it becomes US to
maintain them on a decent and uniform
scale, not alternating from magnlfcence
to penury, the occupant Of a palace being
succeeded by the denizen OF a fat. More
over, the duties of the ambassador re-
quire that he shall have suitable Offices
as well as living quarters; and, as SEN
ator Bacon well said. it is beneath the
dignity Of a great nation TO house its
officers in insignificant quarters. An en-
bassy is something more than the resi-
denee Of the ambassador; it is also a
public building. answering a public need.