The Washington times., 1915-05-20

ated q set of problems, not new TO
diplomacy. but never 30 large as In the
present war.
Drafted For Experience.
In order to get people OF reasonable
equipment for the expanded work OF
the diplomatic and consular service, the
Administration has drafted many men
who ordinarily would not have been
available because they were not OF the
dominant political party. 1t happens
that most of the men with this kind
OF foreign experience have been patri-
otically disposed, and great many OF
them are now serving wherever they
has given much thought to politics
when 1T came to finding people capa-
BILE of doing such work.
A roster Of the special attaches OF
the American embassies in Europe
would include long list Of names of
people who have served under former
Administrations. many Of them In much
more dignifled and nominaliy import
ant capacities than they now occupy.
With American agents. thus hurried
interrelationships of the European
countries: with records kept in anna.
teurish and hasty fashion. what would
happen II America should appear as a
party to the war and these records and
activities should require to be passed
| on to some other mutual friend? The
complications OF the situation may be
about as we'll imagined as described
1t Is commonly believed In Washing.
ton that the "A. B; c." countri' OF
orally called in to render the service
Holland, Denmark, the scandinavia
| countries would still be nominally avail
| able; but all Of them are so near &c
volved in the commercial and even th'
| political incidents of tho war. that they
arc not quite available. Any OF them
moreover. might at any time be drawn
into the war.
Agents Of World Diplomacy.
| It would be q most interesting condi
ton that would arise, II the three soutl
American republics would suddenly mt
themselves acting as general agencies
| of world diplomacy. But they are reall!
extremely we'll equipped for It, asid
] from the fact that they do not msintail
as extensive establishments In the capi
tails as some Of the other powers. The.
have, however highly trained diplomats
The knowledge OF continental language
| IL much more common among then
than among Americans AS a rule the,
have been in diploniatio service LON
enough to understand their way about
and their governments are worry wtllin
to achieve the prestige that woul
accrue as an incident TO undertskin
| tnl6 WOrk. moreover, In6y o
very friendly terms with tho Spanis
diplomats all over the world and Spat
Is at present doing more friendly diplo
macy than any other second-rate o
third-rate power. Portugal has bee
barred, in the main, because 1t has ir
terests which have confitcted with thoe
Of Germany in Africa
| Payment Of Expenses.
Tho extraordinary expense Of dodn
an this work for belliserents wi
amount to a great sum- At present ou
State Department has funds availabl,
from which II can meet necessary costs
but when Congress meets special al
rangements will have to be made
insure financial resources. The belligeI
ent nations which are served in thes
ways are presumed to pay all the bill
and to effect this special arrangement
:. are allowed for tho transmission {
funds between warning countries.
There has been a suggestion latel
that when the war Is all over tn
United States may, as an act of grac
/ and general good will, cancel all obi
cations Of whatever character CROWN
, out OF this diplomatic work, pay the e,
penses out Of its own treasury and az
{ the warning countries to accept Il
courtesy with the assurance that 1t hs
: been very real pleasure to Uncle Sar
= and that there are no incidental eI
= penses. At least, diplomats say u Won
: be a gracious thing to DO, and the Or,
t posal Is understood to be under consi'
= Grafton by our own authorities.