Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-21
AMERICAN LEGATIONS
: ARE OPEN TO every ONE
Latr~string Always Hanging Out in
rtockholm, Copenhagen and
Kristiania.
HELP is CHEERFULLY GIVEN
common Meeting Ground Of Minis
tcrs From Warning Powers, aud
SELDOM Day Passes There Is Not
Some Communication With All.

tcfs FROM warning Powers, aud
Seldern Day Passes There Is Not
Some Communication With All.
HToCKioLM. SWEDEN. May 60
fiStiana. The latchstring which
res IS nowhere to be found in such
'&".iplifcatiun as at the American le-
A'ions In Stockholm. Copenhagen and
h"lstiana. The latch string which
'nglcs below the coat of arms of the
nitcd states is out alike to Russian.
- German. to Frenchman. EngliShman
TO all ~ho come for aid or advice.
" is not possible always to do, just
"hat is wanted. but each visitor Is
gwen sympathetic hearing. and il
mere is amy way In which the good
ONCE or the United states or it's Dip
ipmatic representatives can be employ
o'i this help is checrfully given.
The American legations are the COM
mon meeting ground Of the ministers
sartly at the same time-but it is sell
dom day passes that some communi-
cation has not been had with all OF
q them. The work OF tho legations in
creases daily. and problems that are
strange TO the ordinary channels Of
diplomacy constantly are demanding
consideration Often the situation Is
somewhat delicate and the American
ministers have had 70 move at times
with all tho WEAKNESS that diplomacy
commands.
Commercial questions which involve
the relations sometimes OF three OF
four nations have to DO met. while at
all times there is the duty OF safe
guarding far possible the trade
Of the United States. There are con-
slant appeals to be made for the re-
lease OF American merchandise or for
license for American goods to pass over
snd through territory where the pro
ducts OF other nations may be forbid
d!ficult and vexatious. but so far as
can be. judged the American enjoys
have carried out their duties and In
structions in such manner s to cause
minimum of friction.
Here In Stockholm the American
minister. Ira Nelson Norris. has al
most what might be termed personal
charge OF the enormous trade between
tho United states and Russia. This
hsa TO do with practically all commo-
dities except munitions OF war. Sweden
is the winter Highway to Russia But
England which controls the sea, and
sweden. which controls the highway.
are not on the best commercial terms
50 nothing can pass through S"eoen
- Russia without the agreement OF
these two powers. Licenses must Do
obtained IN every instance. and 'hese
can only DC had through the inter
ccsaion OF tho American legation
DEMANDS GUARANTEE
OF MEXICAN MINISTER
England of course. has no desire to
interfere with shipments from America
% her Russian ally. but she demands
Tho guarantee of tho American minister
Mat these goods shall reach Russia IN
,-c, Sweden on the other hand wants
assura,ce that the goods are AL from
america and that England has no i'm
mediate interest in them. Imports OF
english goods into sweden and ship
t,I'. ,,l.
iou TO Russia arc undcr strict con
,r.l of the two governments and must
~ ictly balance
The American legation here also has
10 account strictly for all persons hold
IN; American passports good for RUS
rus, now Mir. Morris is cndcavoring
q" obtain from Great Britain the re-
,se OF some 500 American typewrtt-
- IS. consigned TO swedish firm. but
hold b. tile steamship lines at Copen-
h'Ccn under orders from the British
r'.nliralty. England does not wish
pcwri,ers to. get into Germany. The
tvcdish firm has given every assur-
see that the typewrters are for use In
eden alone and they assert there IL
specifically Typewriter famine In this
>untrv. The shipment is valued at
t,mething like $4,000.
At Copenhagen. the American minis
'er 10 Denmark. DR. Maurice Francis
F.gan. having enjoyed the distinction OF
CRYING under Presidents Roosevelt
Taft and Wilson, and thus been In close
-elation with the Danish government
for great many years, was In
particularly felcitous position TO ham
lie the affairs OF war when trouble
anne. In addition to the ordinary de-
als OF diplomatic relations and the
.ommercial problems constantly reQuir-
iag attention. the legation at Copenha-
zen has been point Of communica-
ion between America and the central
lowers and the archives Undoubtedly
contain copies Of messages relayed
back and forth which will make inter-
sting diplomatic history in the years
% come
At Kristiania the American minister
- Norway, Albert O. SCHNEIDER Of
Wisconsin. has had problems akin to
hose in the larger capitals OF Stock
holm and Copenhagen. while his DIFF.
ficulties have been more or less local
the tremendous shipping done at Kris.
t!ania, increased many fold since the
war began. has made the legation a
workshop by day and night.
Extended vacations. onco a pleasing
rreroSative OF American diplomacy.
have become war luxury not 70 hc
enjoyed. whether the envoy be sta
oned at the capital Of A belligerent
= accredited to the government OF
,uropean neutral