Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-21
CAN'T GET DECISION
Trying to Put Telephones and
TroIIeys in ConstantinopIe.
OFFICIALS SLOW TO ACT
Unwilling to Shoulder Responsible
ity, for They Are Not Used to It.
AMERICANS SEEK CONCESSION
Want to Build Railways in Asia
Minor and Develop
Resources.
OFFICIALS SLOW TO ACT
SEEK CONCESSION
BY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.

Chicago Record Herald.
CONSTANTINOPLE, May 10, 1910
a Washingtonan who comes to Con-
stantinople just now will receive a well
come from a most congenial circle in the
diplomatic corps and the foreign colony.
Mr.. and Mrs. Straus have made the
American embassy center of ssocial
activity, and every afternoon those Who
haye known each other in Washington
and Americans in town are in the habit
of going for a cup of tea to the housetop.
where Mrs. Straus presides under beau
tiful Persian markee
ConstantinopIe is the only place where
the United States government owns a
suitable embassy, and that is a matter
of congratulaton, although it is due to
necessity and not to the generosity of
Congress. 1t is absolutely impossible to
rent a house here, simply because there
are no houses to rent. and Mr.. Leish-
mann. the previous AMBASSADOR like his
predecessors, was compelled to live in a
hotel. or take a suite of rooms in an
apartment house, and rent an office
somewhere for the business of the en-
bassy. Finally this undignifed situation
was impressed upon Congress to suf-
ticient degree to secure an appropriation
of $1jO,OD to purchase a stone mansion
next door to the principal hotel, which
was erected MANY years ago Dy dH
Italian merchant. and was offered for
sale by his widow at a great sacrifice.
The American Embassy.
Although the grounds are limited and
it fronts Immediately upon a noisy
street, it is quite imposing building.
and in several respects is superior to
any Of the European embassies. al
though most of them are considerably
larger. The architecture is admirable,
although Mrs Straus says it is the most
nconvenent house that can be imagined.
There is a noble entrance hall, a spacious
dining room, suites of drawingrooms and
plenty of chambers, and since the build
ing was purchased an extension has been
added to the rear. which gives ample
commodation for the chancery. which
is quite large since Congress provided
for the education of staff of clerks and
interpreters in the Turkish language for
future appointments in the consular
service of the Ottoman empire.
Henry l.. James of Wisconsin is first
secretary. Charles w. Curtis of Massa-
chusetts. second secretary is just leaving
for Christiania, Norway, where he has
been transferred, and Mr.. Gregory is the
third secretary.
Mrs. Straus entertans with the same
generous hospitality that the people of
Washington and New York familiar
with, and Mr.. Straus, who has twice be-
TOTe occupied tnlS pest curing Ine dQmln-
istrations of President Cleveland and
President Mckinley. is a great favorite
among the Turkish officials as well as the
diplomatic corps.
The latter constitute society i'm Con-
stantinople almost entirely, for there is
no such thing as Turkish society because
of the seclusicn of women. There is a
group of missionaries in Stamboul and
the Bible house there is the center of
gravity so far as Americans in the east
a Robert C011opo which
is located eight or ten miles up the Bos-
phorous. may be found an interesting
group CT American scholars and at the
American School for Young Women at
Scutari DIR. Mary Patrick has gathered
around her an attractive group of Ameri-
can women who are opening the eyes of
their Turkish sisters to the POSSIBLE
tiles as well as the rights of their sex.
The Diplomatic Corps.
The British embassy is presided over
by an American woman, the wife of Sir
Gerald Lowder, who was first secretary
under Sir Julian Pauncefote in Washing
ton. The Belgian embassy is presided
over by an American woman. the Baron
ess Mancheur. daughter of Gen. Powell
Clayton of Arkansas. The Moncheurs
have only recently come here from Wash
ington. The Swedish embassy is also
presided over by an American woman,
Nine. AnkerSVerdt, whose husband was
formally stationed in the United States.
The latest additions to the diplomatic
corps in Constantinople are at the Ital-
ian embassy, the Baron and Baroness
Mayor Ges Planches. who have only
recently been transferred from Washing
ton and are scarcely settled at this post.
Thus you will see the Washington
circle is quite large as well as attractive,
and it has recently been increased by. the
presence of Admiral Chester of the United
States Navy. and his two sons and their
families, who are seeking a railway con-
cession from the Turkish government;
Mr.. Colt. who represents Macarthur
brothers. the contractors of Chicago and
New York. who is here on the same bust
ness: Charles r. Crane and family of
Chicago. who spent the winter in Egypt
and will spend the spring months in the
Balkan states renewing acquaintance
made during previous visits. and James
F. Archibald is here en- route to the
Balkans as newspaper correspondent.
An American Pasha.
Admiral r. d. Buchanan. pasha of the
Turkish navy, is an American who has
occupied CONSPICUOUS position in Turkey