Evening journal., 1914-01-27
TUESDAY. JAN. 27. 1914.
AMBAssADORs AND EMBAssIEs.

THE American Embassy Association Of which many
J. Delawareans are members, has grown wonder
fully during the year. II represents the sent-
ment Of 100000 business men, residing in 5000 differ
rnt places who believe that the movement the assoca
lion represents is the interest of the extension Of
our foreign trade and friendly relations. In 1913 the
membership of the advisory committee increased fifty
per cent the places whore the association has men,
increased twenty-five per cent am there also was
an Increase Of twenty per cent in the number of
mercal organizations affiliated with it in the work.
The Embassy Association stands for the acquisition
by government Of suitable buildings that will
bine the cice and the residence, that ambassador
maintain his pay, and in which II ambassadors
must reside, whether worth millions dependent
their salaries II is conterded by the association that
such plan will help the Will tend to restrict
the extravaganza of the rich. ard vii, "stal-
dard appearances" that will be crcditabe to the
nation.
"We believe it is undemocratic, and that il also
nec-s the dignity Of the nation. for ambassador
live in a palace and for his successor to live in
nat the association says I'VE believe that embassies
creditabe TO nation. and strictly American in de-
sign, be acquired at average OF not $780,,
600 eacha total of only S3OOOOOO for a the countries
to which We send ambassador and they will
hance. in value. AS appropriate annually over
s2oOo0Oooo in making preparations 10 keep hos
tile footing with other nations, we can well afford TO
expend $3O0cO0O 10 promote friendship with them. We
conceive ambassadors duty to be the cultivation
Of friendship the people of the country which
he is accredited. that he may be prepared speedily
to smoothe over any rough places thereby averting
possible and through being ON friendly terms
With the government and the people get everything
possible in the way of commercial advantages for our
country. We do believe thai II is any part of his
duty to create snobbish ourt circle by entertaining
certain travelling Americans. This may aid him. but it
brings no benefit TO the people Of our country. His
duty toward Americans lies in throwing the arm Of
government around them and protecting them when
ever they in trouble We believe that the Presi-
dent should not be limited his choice OF ambassa-
dors for important posts men OF great wealth Our
association believes that cur countrymen would point
with pride 20 a place in which they feel they have
citizens rights. and where they may come and go with
the same freedom that Existing at the White House
In Washington We believe that no representative OF
our government abroad should be called upon to make
expenditures from his private fortune or that it should
be necessary for him TO have in order to enable
him to accept the appointment and to maintain our
dignity in foreign countries Refusal to provide resi-
dences for our representatives precludes the nation
from obtaining the services OF many eminent citizens
The American democratic spirit and national pride
demand that such conditions be terminated The
American Embassy Association appeals to this demo-
cratic spirit and national pride to secure action by
Congress to favor the acquisition by the United states
Of American embassies in foreign countries"
Standing, it does, upon such a patform it is not
surprising that the association is gaining so rapidly in
membership and influence II is notorious fact that
under existing conditions only wealthy man. or a
man of small fortune who IS willing to sacrifice il all
for the Office afford 20 take an ambassadorshp In
fact situation exists in which, as a rule an ambas-
sador must be selected on the basis Of the myth of
his rather than that the strength of his brain
That surely is undemocratic