The Washington times., 1915-05-20
American Diplomats
Doing World Business
United States Has Role of First Friend to All War
ring Nations-Break in Relations With Germany
Would Bring A. B. c. Diplomats of South
America to Front.
BY JUDsoN G. wELLIvEa.

with Italy In the war. the United
states comes near to being the diplo-
matte clearing house of the whole world.
III the United States should go into the
war, the diplomacy of the world would
De near the point of blowing UP.
Announcement has been made that
German and Austrian diplomatic and
consular affairs will be turned over, in
italy, to the American officials at the
moment OF the final break between Italy
and the dual alliance. This will be ono
more big burden to be shouldered of on
the oVerworked American agents in sew
eral countries. Already Americans arc
handling these affairs for the warning
powers. all around the world. The addi-
ton or the complicated concerns of Ger
many, Italy and Austria will necessitate
special provision of more personnel, and
further drafts on this country's re-
sources of people trained for this kind
OF service.
Italy's Situation.
Until now, Italy and tho United States
have been tho only first-class powers
not involved in the war. In ordinary
! circumstance. the Italians would have
been asked to divide with tho Amer-
cans the duties Of playing first friend
to the warning nations. But in the pres
ent instance 1t was Impossible because
Italy was nominally the ally of Austria
and Germany. II she followed her
arrangement with them, she would go
| into the war on their side. It was from
the very beginning apparent that she
would not do that. Both sides were
exerting every influence to enlist her
and II was therefore inexpedent for
either belllgerent to entrust its dipo-
| matio concerns to her, because she
| might suddenly become an enemy coun-
try:
Thus the United States was from the
OF diplomacy. 1t was huge burden to
impose on the rather amateurish corps
| OF this country. Most of the men In
charge OF our legations and embassies
were new to the service. because they
had come In with the new Administra-
tien. The consular service. which is
under civil service regulation, is not SC
easily reorganized under political pres
sure One incident to tho wars expert
ence has been the demonstration of the
efficacy Of this system The consuls OF
veteran service have been able to adapt
| themselves to the new conditions and
TO give the maximum Of usefulness read.
lly enough, because they were familiar
Diplomatic Duties.
It would be well-nfgh hnpoesdbie tr
catalogue tho duties that fan to the diplo-
ms tto agents OF tho mutually friendl,
power that takes over this set Of rela,
tions when war breaks out In Eng
land. for instance. there was a larry
population OF Germans and Austrians
Some were naturalized. some were not
many Of both classes were propert,
owners. Some were anxious to got ou
OF the country, others were just a,
anxious that they should not be forcet
out Of It American agents had to iool
after their interests
When the war got fairly under way
established in all the warning countries
ican diplomats bad to look after tn
interests Of British and Frenoh an,
Russian prisoners in Germany and Aus
have been sent TO supplement the ef
lishment in this regard
Not the least difficult services re
quired OF the American oonsuls an
diplomats have been in connection wit
the colonial internments of belligerentl
Thus there have bene established /
India, in Canada, in Australia. specia
camps for taking care of citizens q
: enemy countries. Many hundreds 9
ment establishments, while their fam
ilies have required attention else
whore. because they have not been FOL
mally interned. but left largely to shit
for themselves. These cases have cre