New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-18
After % Years in One
place to Occupy GrOSye-
nor Gardens House.
RESIDENT COMMITTEE
TAKES OLD BUILDING
Hoover Expects No PORE Sad
den InfluxeS of Large Mum,
berS of Americans.
lBy Gable 10 Tho Tribune. ]

london. Sept. l7.-After debating Tor
tWenty-nine years the sdvisabillty OF
moving into more commodious quar-
teri, the American Embassy has hnaily
been forced out Of its small, dlngy
Offices in Victoria 1T. By the Landlord
demand for higher rent. Before the
end of next week the embassy will be
installed in a magnificent building at
4 Grosvenor Gardens, forming part OF
the Duke of Westminster's estate, and
the ambassador and secretaries at last
will have room to stretch out thel
legs. The rental is more than that
paid for the last thirty years. but the
accommodations are more than ample,
even for the small army Of extra sec
retaries, clerks and other employees
added to the regular stat for transact
ing the heavy business engendered by
the war.
1t has been known for some months
that the embassy must leave victoria
St, but the search for new ofnces was
arduous, owing TO the ditheulty OF max
ing the State Departments ldea OF the
rent appropriation meet that OF tne
London landlords. The Grosvenor Car
dens house costs $4,000 a year, which
realty experts say is quite reasonable:
II has fifty rooms, many of palatial
size. Until recently it was occupied
by the japanese Ambassador, both as
residence and chancellery. The
Spanish Embassy is directly opposite,
and the Japanese Embassy is now IN
Grosvenor Square, where Ambassador
Page continues TO reside.
Few Restrictions on Property.
There is so much space in the new
quarters that it is suggested that the
bachelor secretaries have living suites
there as we'll as their huge offices. The
only restriction specified by the Duke
of Westminster is that the embassy
shall not post notices outside the house,
but he is willing TO permit small
brass plate, inscribed american En-
bsssv." 10 be affixed to the door.
The Hodgson brothers, who have been
EMPLOYED by the embassy ever since II
was first duartered in Victoria ST.,
thirty years ago, appeared to be the
only officials regretting the change.
Everybody else, including the American
residents, are jubilant that I'VE have a
proper establishment in London at
last"
II is planned by the American Resi-.
dent Committee to move to the old
American Embassy quarters early next
week. according to the announcement
to-day made by Herbert c. Hoover,
chairman Of the committee. 1t was de-
tcrmined to abandon the rooms at the
Savoy because it was believed that
while some Americans would come to
London from the Continent periodically
there probably would be no more sud
den influxes Of great numbers. 1t was
said that the Savoy had generously
provided free the space which had been
used as we'll as the service of number
Of employees.
Breckinridge's Plans Uncertain.
Henry S. Breckenridge, the American
Assistant Secretary of War, is uncer-
tain as to how long the American army
officers will be held in London directing
the relief work. lie thinks the Ameri-
can tourists arc now we'll out Of Europe,
excepting those in he remote sections
Of the Continent