The Washington herald., 1914-09-20
GET HARNEWS
In WASHINGTON
Reporters Cove" Embassies
Of European Nations in the
National Capital.
NO ONE HOME IN CHINESE
The Home of the German Ambassador
Is Where the Newspaper Men
Are Most Welcome.
NO ONE HOME IN CHINESE

Gathering the war news of Europe
from the ordinarily quiet and solemn
embassies and legations scattered
through washington's residential dis
trict, Is one of the diversions which the
European trouble has forced upon the
newsvriting colony at the capital Dip
Iomats have suddenly found themselves
important to the press The press, in
turn has discovered its usefulness to
the ambassadors extraordinary and en-
voys plenipotentiary.
Of course, there are some of these en-
voyS of foreign states who still seclude
themselves within the deep dark mys-
tery OF official front" The Chinese
Embassy, for example, which once was
the home of the genial, spargling DR.. WI
Ting Fang, now is forbidden ground. An
Irish servant comes to the door, and
says, There's nobody here" in hushed
voice. Occasionally Minister Kai Flu
Shah or Counselor Yuug Kwai appears
in the corridor or at a window while
this message is being delivered.
Germans Not Retieent.
Quite the contrary at the Embassy of
Germany, when Ambassador Won Bern
storff is in town. Reporters are shown
up to his big study. They are made to
feel at home. All questions are in or
der: all possible subjects relating to the
war and the negotiations which may be
in progress as a result of its develop
ments are taken up. The Ambassador is
the frankest, readiest talker in Washing
ton official life, and at the same time
he presents the German side of the
controversy with mastery care. No press
agent ever did a better job than has this
modern-minded spokesman for the War
Lord
Downstairs, the stan of the Embassy
furnishes telephones for the reporters
to send out the wireless bulletins from
the Berlin foreign Ofice. These bu.le-
tins are typed in English and posted as
soon as received, so that the men rep
resenting the press ASSOCIATE ms may
have an equal chance to flash the news
to their ofices without a moments loss
Of time.
Things move more slowly at the Brit
ish Embassy, four blocks down the street
where Sir Arthur Cecil Spring-Rice is
as cordial and sympathetic as is Won
Bernstcrff. but less eager for publicity.
The Ambassador seldom permits himself
to say anything, and statements from
the foreign Office in London are even
rarer When they do come, all COM
petitors for news are given an equal
show.
At the top of the Sixteenth street hill
at the north end of the town, stands the
French Embassy, where resides J. J.
Jussersnd, literary man and Ambassa-
dor. The events of August on the battle
fields Of France and Belgium did not
afford many cheerful items of news from
his office, and generally the reporters had
TO be content with secretaries and con-
sular attaches, whose memory as tc
what had been received at the Embassy
during the days was vague.
Turkey has entered the publicity con-
test Alfred Rustem Bey, Turkeys Am
bassador has contributed not only to
the daily press, but has written a num-
ber Of magazine articles, setting forth
the refusal of his nation to accept the
decision of the last war with Greece and
Servia, and predicting a future struggle
which shall remake the map of the
near East He believes that Turkey is
coming back into her own, by virtue
Of an understanding with Bulgaria and
Germany.
Japan receives the press at her en-
bassy office, where a number Of secre-
taries and attaches are always at call,
ready to discuss the policies of the Far
East.
The summer embassies of Russia, Aus
tria and Italy have been kept at the
seaside resorts-Newport and Manches.
ter-throughout August. The lone Sec
retary at the Austrian Embassy. has
been cut OF from all news from Vienna
since the fourth day of hostilities.