Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-02

minister and his family need be furnished
simply. The equipment covers the engag-
ing and payment of domestics as serv-
ants in the establishment.
So that the government may eventually
own all of it's embassy houses, the Dill
contracts for the purchase OF at least
four officials residences year until every
capital Is provided. Roughly speaking
this means in about eight years al VIII
have been acquired.
At present the government owns tour
buildings. They are situated at turkey,
Japan, Siam and China. 1t was. neces-
because all legal cases involving Amer
leans, trials of them or suits against
them are tried at the embassy, the laws
covering such cases In these countries
not being always consistent with Ameri-
can ideals of justice. The building at
Constantinople is the only one worthy
of the name of the United States. Ii
was purchased at a bargain. The cost
WAS $1J0.OO0 very low figure consider
ing the prices that are now asked for
similar buildings in the capitals OF Eu-
rope. This embassy is of pleasing archi-
lecture and fitted suitably. but the 9TH
ers are unassuming and insignificant.
The bill makes no provision for the
furnishing and equipping Of the resi-
dences that are to be bought. 1t is per-
haps planned to move the furnishings
from the leased buildings to the pur-
chased ones.
The question OF the business Office en-
ters in the consideration Of providing en-
bassies. These chanreries are In most
cases permanently established and con-
tinue In the same place unmolested by
the frequent eruptions in the residential
part. The hill states that the chancery
shall be combined with the official resi-
dence whenever possible. The arrange
ment will be like that of the British
building on Connecticut avenue.
The residences that are purchased and
leased are to be under the supervision OF
the Secretary of State and subject to
prescribe. either through the amba.sa
doris or through special agents appoint
ed by them in the several countries for
that purpose.
Another duty Of the Secretary of State
in regard to the leasing of residences Is
that he must stipulate that the lease be
for a year. with the right to renew 1t at
the option Of the government from year
to year. The government is desirable
tenant, and there will be little difficulty
in obtaining suitable residences in the
smaller capitals, but 1t is doubtful II
people care to rent large homes for only
year or a short period in the large
continental capitals.
The old plans for providing embassies
have been long since exploded. Increas-
ing salaries so that the rental and up
keep would not be a drain on the pri-
vate fortune or deprive the ambassador
or minister of the full benefit of his sal
larry was not considered advisable. since
the important consideration of putting
the government stamp on residences
abroad was overlooked The other idea
to go in and buy all of the residences at
one time-is not expedient. for such pro-
cedure requires much time and consid-
Grafton; and while that is going on, per-
haps for years, the individual ENJOYS
are still providing their own homes. This
new bill seems a likely panacea for a ma
tional predicament.
The question is coming to head, and
il is being realized that the wrong must
he rfghted il the declining art of di-
plomacy is to be revived and encour-
aged.
Andrew Carnegie at the recent peace
banquet put the proposition in the light
of a medium for the advancement Of the
movement for world peace. He said that
IL the price Of one battleship were to be
expended for foreign embassies 1t would
mean that sixty could be bought at
$3.50. coo each, and the United States
would not have to send its millionaires
abroad.
It is true that in the case OF every war