The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1919-07-15
BIBBLINC AMBASSADORS
SHY AWAY FROM U. S.
CAT is OUT OF THE BAG AS TO
BRITAIN'S DIFFICULTY IN
FILLING EMBASSY.

cat is out of the bag regarding the
long deferred appointment of Brit
| ish ambassador to Washington, if
the story which is said to come di-
rect from a parliamentary debate in
the house of commons is to be &C
cepted at its face value. One mem
Der, in replying to request that
someone be named for the American
post, said: "Is is not fact that it is
difficult to get anybody to go to
America because America has be-
come dry"
Is it possible that this reason is
responsible, for the slowness with
which some of the diplomatic posts
at the capital have been filled in
many of the embassies and legations
during the past year, or since it has
| become an assured fact that the
country would have prohibition? The
effect on the members of the diplo-
matte corps was one of the first
things to be discussed when it was
proposed that the District of Column
bia be made dry.
Dinners Without Wine.
Entertainments of all kinds, and
especially dinner giving, are part of
the business of the diplomats in our
midst. The serving of wines, punch
es with a real punch, and indeed
liquors of all kinds and descriptions,
was matter of course. In the days
of some decades ago there was more
attention paid to the drinkables than
to the eatables, and it was not I'M
common thing for guests and hosts
alike to imbibe too freely.
This sort of thing had decreased
materially up to the time of the abo-
lition of liquor in Washington, but
there has been decided grumbling
| in diplomatic circles at the inhibition
which the law has placed upon the
district. Of course, the diplomats,
their houses being foreign terri
tory" can drink all the liquor they
want at home, but they can't get any
anywhere else.
Diplomats do not criticise the ac-
ton of the government openly. That
would not be diplomacy, but you
know how they feel and what they
think without being able to quote
them as saying one word against the
order.
Drv Ambassadors Scarce.
The chances are that foreign gov
ernments will have a new task on
their hands in selecting ambassador
ial and ministerial timber of prohibit
ton tendencies. The under-secreta-
ries and attaches have comparatively
| little choice in the matter as to where
they shall serve. Most of them are
only too glad to be sent to the Unit
ed States, which they feel is one of
the most desirable posts in the world.
Governments, no matter how much
they may criticise prohibition in any
country, are only too glad to send
their young men where they will be
| free from the temptations of liquor.
More than a few diplomatic careers
have come to sudden ends through
the indiscretions of young attaches
while under the mellowing influence
of the cup. 1t looks as if Washington
would have a first class set of staff
members at any rate, no matter what
the heads who really have choice
in the selection of posts may be.
Diplomatic Drink Duty Free.
1t has been the custom of diplo-
mats coming to Washington to bring
with them the liquors and wines of
their own countries. For example
the Russians, knowing they cannot
get vodka in this country, bring that
particular beverage with them, and
many a Washingtonian has tested
the stuff to his undoing. 1t also has
been the practice for diplomats to
sell or give away leftover liquors
when they have been ordered back
to their countries permanently.
In this way much unusual drink
ing material has found its way into
the cellars of people here. Diplomats,
as everyone knows, are allowed to
bring into the country without pay
ing duty whatever they need for their
own use while living here.