Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-27
Purchase of Quarters for Dip.
Iomats Abroad Suggested.
SECRETARY KN0x'S VIEWS
Need Of the Provision Emphasized
in Letter Submitting Estimate.
HABITABLE OFFICES SCARCE
Pressing Necessity for Action in
Mexico City, Toxic, Berne
and Hankow.

The expenditure Of half q million dol.
lars for housing five Of the diplomatic
representatives of the United. States, In
the capitals of the countries to which
they are accredited. in buildings which
are to be owned by this government. i.
proposed in a communication Of the Sec.
rotary Of State, submitting an estimate
to the Secretary of the Treasury, and
by the latter transmitted to Congress.
The expenditure OF $4,000. the limi,
fixed by law for the cost Of any diplo.
matte or consular structure to be erected
in foreign country. is proposed for the
purchase of site, the construction Of 9
building and its furnishing in Mexico
City for the Use of the embassy in the
capital of Mexico. The purchase of o
building already erected and Its repair
alteration and refurnishing to meet the
especial needs Of an embassy is ar
alternative proposed at the same cost.
The suggestion for this expenditure was
omitted from the original memorandum OF
the Secretary Of State. Insistence Of the
tives that this special provision be made
earned for 1t first place in the revised es-
Inmates on the subject Of diplomatic build
ings abroad.
Provision in Other Countries.
A similar expenditure is proposed a,
Toxic for the construction Of a building
on grounds already vested In the United
States. This building Is to be used as
both residence and ohices of the embassy
At Berne, Switzerland, the purchase OF
a site and building at cost Of $14O,O
for tho use. Of the legation. is proposed
In Berne the legation has found 1t impos-
sible to rent premises suitable to diplo-
matte purposes.
For $4,000 the Secretary Of State would
buy site and build house for the use
of the consulate general at~Hanx ow,
China. the furnishing thereof Included in
the estimate.
The reports made by the diplomatic
officers In response" says Secretary Knox
In his letter transmitting the estimates,
have satisfied the SECRETARY Of State that
it is impossible to obtain within the limit
fixed by the act, either by purchase Of
sites and the construction OF new Duild.
ings, or by the purchase of buildings al
ready erected. suitable premises adapted
to embassy and legation needs at most OF
the larger capitals. OF the places where
1t Is thought 1t may be possible to OBJ
tain premises within the limit of the act
the Secretary of State, after mature de-
liberation. has concluded that the needs
Of the embassies Of Mexico City and To-
kio, Japan; the legation of Berne, Switxer-
land, and the consulate at Hankow
China, are the most pressing, and should
receive first consideration"
Owns Few Diplomatic Quarters.
The United States holds title to few
quarters occupied by its diplomatic
agents abroad. At Peking. China: at
Toxic. Japan; at Bangkok, Siam, and
at Tangier. Morocco, 1t has some meas
ure Of ownership in ground or build
ings. There are also a small measure
Of consulate buildings in various parts
Of the world owned by the United States.
The ground and building occupied by
the legation at Bangkok, Siam. was q
gift from that government. The ground
on which is the building now occupied
by the embassy at Toxic. Japan, was
designated by that government for the
use of the United States representatives.
nominal ground rental Of $500 is
paid annually.
In Peking, China, after the Boxer
troubles, a wide area within the capital
was set apart for the use Of all the for
eign legations, and donated without cost.
Here the United States has erected sew
eral buildings. used for the dwelling Of
the ambassador. embassy Od1ces and
quarters for members OF the embassy
STAFF.
The legations quarters at Tangders,
Morocco, have been owned for a great
many years by this government, the first
Of its holdings abroad.