The Washington times., 1915-05-31
S1,5OO,OOO OWED
us. FOR DIPLOMACY
America Will Render Bill for
Taking Over Embassies of
BeIIigerents.

Millions will be owing tho United
States at the close OF the present war
from those belligerent nations which
American ambassadors and ministers.
consuls and consular agents have been
representing in the various war capitals
OF Europe and the Far East. Already
the expenses incurred by tho state De-
partment in this work have exceeded
the 81. 10000 appropriated by the last
Congress, and will continue to mount
UP.
And while the practice OF nations has
made It a coveted honor for neutral
power to be selected to represent the
interests of belligerent nation In time
OF war in capital hostile to that ma
tion. II is customary always that, after
peace has been declared. the neutral
power shall, nevertheless present a bill
for services rendered. or to put 1t more
accurately, for expenses incurred in the
service.
The service itself It is impossible to
measure in terms such as dollars and
cents, and In a time like the present.
when the United States IL representing
no less than nine warning nations In
the various capitals and commercial
centers. the task Is a tremendous one.
In handling Of the diplomatic interests
alone the State Department has had to
meet severe strain. the extent Of
which Is felt not only at the embassies
and legations in Europe, but at the de-
partment here in Washington.
American Diplomats Labors.
In Bucharest. the capital Of Servia.
United States Minister Charles J. vo-
picka Is handling the affairs of the Ger
many and Austria In Vienna Ambas-
sador Frederic C. Penfield has charge
of the French. British and Japanese in
terests. In Petrograd bassador
George T. Marye has been called upon
to represent Austria Hungary and Ger
many.
Al Paris Ambassador William G.
Sharp has actively represented Austria
Hungary, Germany, Turkey. and Rou-
| mania. and. since the threatened inVa-
sion of the French capital last fall. has
| had the custody of the Servian. Brit
Brand Whitlock. in Belgium, has been
looking out for the interests Of Austria
| Hungary. Germany, Great Britain, Ser.
| via. Japan and Denmark. although
since the German occupation OF the
country the Austrian and German in.
| terests have been taken over by Vienna
and Berlin officials.
At London Ambassador Walter II
| Page has been .acting as Ambassador
for Austria. Germany and Turkey. Al
has been acting for Germany and Aus
| tria. At Cairo Consul General Olnes
Arnold has been handling the diplo
matte interests of Germany. At Con
stantinople Amba ssador Henry Morgen
thau has represented France. Servia
Great Britain. and Belgium.
Some of the Difficulties.
Handling the diplomatic interests O.
a nation at wRr in the capital of the
enemy eS-ntry means looking out fol
| the welfare OF informed subjects anC
| prisoners of war. caring for the ar
| chivcs OF the sealed emba ssies or lega
tions and a hundred and one othe,
| tasks not required in times OF peace
besides, of course looking out for tn,
manifold and complicated problem
that the neutral nation itself has t
| solve In a war area.
Illustrating some of the difficulties, 4
NAV be mentioned that when the Aus
trian and German embassies at Iondol
and Paris withdrew every member O
drew also. leaving, 1t to the American
| ambassadors to organize new stafrs q
clerks, stenographers, interpreters an,
l. Not only Is It true that the Unite,
States ts handling the affairs of NOR
of the heligerents than is any othe
neutral. but. evidencing the ability O
| Americans to grasp new duties in ,
big way, it is fact that not one O
the American ambassadors or ministes
had ever held a diplomatic post befor
The European war broke out.
The same test has been met by III
Consular Service of the State Depart
ment which Is looking out for the in
terests of helltgeTent nations in hun
dreds of cities and towns in the wa
rektoA