The Washington times., 1917-10-07

ambassadors made it easier for them
to work together.
Two cares assail a newly appointed
ambassador. He must first take
thought OF what he shall wear, then
where he shall live. All other ma
tions have beautiful embassies or le-
cations in Berlin, but I found that
my two immediate predecessors had
occupied a villa originally built as a
two-family house, pleasantly enough
situated, but two miles from the cen,
ter of Berlin and entirely unsuitable
for an embassy.
There are few private houses in
Berlin, most of the people living in
apartments. After some trouble !
found a handsome house on the VIII
helm Platz Immediately opposite the
chancellor's palace and the foreign
office, in the very center of Berlin.
The house had been built as a palace
for the Princess Hatfield and had
banking family named Won Schwa-
bach.
The United States Government, un-
like other nations, does not own or
pay the rent of a suitable embassy,
but gives allowance for offices, II the
house is large enough, to afford office
room for the office force Of the EN-.
bassy. The Won Schwabach palace
was nothing but a shell. Even the
gas and electric light fixtures had
been removed, and when the hot water
and heating system, bath rooms, elec-
tric lights and fixtures, etc, had been
put in. and the house furnished from
top to bottom, my first years salary
had far passed the minus point.
Many Diplomats.
The palace was not ready for occu-
pancy until the end OF January, 1914,
and in the meantime, we IIved at the
Hotel Esplanade and I transacted
business at the old two-family villa
There are more diplomats in Berlin
than in any other capital in the
world, because each of the twenty-five
states constituting the German en-
pire sends a legation to Berlin; even
the free cities of Hamburg, Lubeck,
and Brennan have a resident minister
at the empires capital
Invariable custom requires a new
ambassador in Berlin to give two re-
ceptions, one to the diplomatic corps
and the other to all those people who
have the right to go to court. These
are the officials, mobiles and officers
of the army and navy and such other
persons as have been presented at
court. Such people are called "Hof-
faehig." meaning that they are fit for
court.
It Is interesting here to note that
Jews are not admitted to court. Such
Jews as have been ennobIed and al
lowed to put the coveted won" be-
fore their names have first of all been
required to submit to baptism in some
Christian church. Examples are the
Won Schwabach family, whose ances-
trail house I occupied in Berlin, and
Friedlaender-FuId, officially rated as
the richest man in Berlin, who made
large fortune in coke and its by
products.
These two receptions are really in
Productions OF an ambassador to Off
cial and court society.
Presents Credentials.
Before these receptions. however.
and in the month OF November 1 pre-
sented my letters OF credence as am.
bassador to the Emperor. This pre-
sentation is quite a ceremony. Three
coaches were sent for me and my
staff, coaches like that in which Gin.
derella goes to her ball, mostly glass,
with white-wigged coachmen, out
riders in white wigs and standing foot
men holding on to the back part OF
the coach. Baron Won Roeder, intro