Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-10-07
lie Looks Out for the People of
Nine Nations.
Attending to the Affairs of Bclligcrent
Countries Includes Sending Intern
ed Citizens Back IIomc--Dig
Z Bills to Settle Later.

Wan, Italian. German, Austrian and
Turkish people who are away from home
They are nursing. clothing, feeding and
housing them without partially, regard
less of what their feelings of animosity
and prejudice may be toward one an
other. In some instances they are pay
Ing theft way back home
Never before In the history of the
world has one nation been called upon
to look after the interests Of so many
othe- nations as has the United States
since the outbreak of tho European war.
Some Of the American ambassadors in
the belligerent countries of Europe are
looking out for tho diplomatic affairs of
nine countries. In addition to those of the
United States. In nearly every instance
where diplomatic relations were broken
off as a result of the war, the United
States has been asked to take over the
affairs of that country in the other coun-
tries of Europe
Because hostiltics were opened with
so little warning, thousands of German
citizens were informed in Great Britain
when the war began and thousands of
British subjects were informed In Ger
many. In this case, as in many similar
ones with other countries Uncle sam
acted as the go-bctween. Mary persons
of the excepted classes were allowed to
return home as the result of the nego-
tiations conducted by the United States.
APPROPRIATED $4,000.
To make it possible for this govern
ment to handle tho additional work plac-
ed upon it by the outbreak of the Eu-
ropean war, the last Congress appropri-
hundred thousand dollars in gold was
carried to England on the armorcd cruis-
err Tennessee to give relief to Americans
in Europe and to furnish Americans
transportation to the United States \
considerable part of this money was
used in giving relief to the nationals of
belligerent countries. Some of the coun-
tries have reimbursed the United States
for expenditures of that character, but
the general settlement between the Unit
ed States and the countries for which 1t
has done so much work will not be
made until tho close of the war.
According to James L, Wilmeth, chief
clerk of the treasury department. who
looked after the disbursement of funds
when the $l,FODOOO was taken to Europe
to relieve stranded Americans, some Of
the governments have placed in the hands
OF the United States ambassadors and
ministers much as $4,000 at time for
the relief Of their nationals. While Mr.
Wilmeth was in Europe Austria placed
that much in the hands of United States
officials for the relief of her nationals
in one country.
Officials of the treasury department
are inclined to believe it will be easier
for the United States to get a complete
settlement with foreign countries for
penditures than it will be to collect all
the money loaned to citizens of this
country. Approximately 100000 of the
gold carried to Europe was loaned to
Americans In providing Transportation
for them back to the nitcd States.
About one-half of that amount has been
paid back into the United States treas
ury by the persons assisted. Some of
them are repaying Uncle Sans loan on
the instalment plan.
MAKING PRIzE FIGHTER PAY.
One school teacher has obtained the
consent Of the treasury department to
liquidate her obligation by paying S. per
month. One Arkansas man who obtain
ed a loan of $50 from the government
is paying his back at the rate of s25 a
month. Where there is disposition to
make good" Uncle Sam has consented
to an easy payment" plan but where
a disposition is shown to avoid payment
some STRONG arm tactics are used An
example Of this was given recently. An
American prize fighter, who was abroad
at the time of the outbreak of the war
was loaned $40 to get him back to the
United States. He showed no disposi-
ton to pay his debt SO when a bout was
arranged in Boston, several weeks ago
representative of the treasury depart-
ment was sent there. After all the tickets
had beer sold. the federal representative
approached the box offices and obtain.
Ell SlW. Unless the other $40 is paid, the
treasury officials announce. there will
DO another collection when the next bout
Is arranged.
Washington officials have little infor-
nation concerning the details of the man.
ner in which the interests of the foreign
governments arc being looked out for
abroad. They are not even advised as
to how many hundred additional clerks
1t has beer necessary to employ to look
out for the greatly increased duties Of
the embassies and legations Internal
ers are employed at all embassies. lega-
donals who appear for hid. Investiga.
tion to make certain that the various
governments are no, being defrauded re-
Quires vast amount of time. Ono Of the
biggest expenditures of this country
growing out of the war in Europe. is TO-
cable and telegraph tolls.
Treasury department officials have no
way of ascertaining how many millions
Of dollars the American representatives
in Europe have handled for the belrger-
ent nations During the early days OF
the war England frequently would notify
the American representatives of q desire
to deposit $1,000. $4,000 or $4,000 for aid
of her nationals In Germany and at
about the same time would express n de-
sire to deposit a large amount for the
MD of her nationals in Great Britain
Consequently, 1t was possible for the
american representatives to arrange an
exchange of credit, making 1t unneces-
sary to transfer the gold-Brooklyn
Eagle.