The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-06-20
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Secretary OF State Bryan has not
forgotten a matter which was forced
upon his attention during his trip
around the world, and was IN of the
possibilities of service that strongly
suggested itself when he was asked
to take the chief place in the cabinet
of President Wilson. This is the need
for providing American diplomatic
representatives with a building in
each capital suitable for an embassy
or a legation as the requirement may
be.
Mr.. Bryan has been deeply impress
ed with the fact that the avenue to
service al an ambassador or minister
of the United States should be open to
all who by character and capacity
are fitted to fill these places, says The
Springfield Republican.
1t is manifest, of course, that if
American representatives accredited
to foreign countries are forced to
spend more than their salaries in order
" A1Ad1lAlo&A WILL ISdSp1ldDlS Zig lily
their official position, the result must
be what it has been, that these i'm
portant places will be practically con-
fined to millionaires. In this class
there have been found efficient and
acceptable ambassadors and ministers.
but with such a narrowing Of oppor-
tunity they must prove the exception
rather than the rule.
Upon this matter Mr.. Bryan strong
ly expressed himself upon his arrival
in Washington on the eve Of Mr.. Will
sons inauguration. The democratic
idea is that ostentation, e~xtravagant
display by the diplomats, sometimes
~rivaling those Of royalty, does not
best express the ideals Of a free
country.
Now that the democrats are in COM
mand Of the federal government, with
the secretary Of state very much alive
TO this situation action will probably
be taken to place Uncle Sans rep
resentatives in foreign courts on an
enduring basis Of q republican
character. The accepted theory in
Washington just now is to provide in
each capital an embassy Or legation,
sufficiently commodious, and when
these United States buildings have
been provided, furnished and equip
ped to require the ambassador or
minister to occupy the same as his
personal and official residence. That
which is proposed has been more
definitely set forth by Senator Bacon
of Georgia, chairman of the senate
committee on foreign relations, as fol-
lows:
1t would be more desirable to own
these houses, if they could be pro-
cured at once; but as this Is imprac-
ticable, a bill which has been intro
duced in the senate, and a similar one
also in the House, provides for leas-
ing Immediately for a short term of
years a building in each of the for
eign capitals, and also providing for
properly furnishing the same; with
a further provision looking to pur-
chasing or building embassies and le-
cations at those places so soon as it
can be done advantageously. The
limit of cost for such leases, and for
furnishing is specified in each case
with variations in accord with the
necessities in each different locality.
Nc amount has been specified as the
limit of the purchase cost, as that is
yet to be estimated. It Is believed,
however, that the average cost of the
ten embassies will not exceed $780,
900, while the average cost of the le-
cations will be much less"