Evening star., 1919-05-04

grand dining rooms can seat from
60 to $50 guests Presidents of senate
and chamber of deputies have tre-
mendous palaces. Accepting enter
tairiment in them, is it not betting to
his country that the American ambas- :.
sador shallsliv in. a befttting mansion
to return them? t.. :.
1T is so true that every one cites
Italy, our ally. Up to 1912 Italy had:
her embassy in the Rue de Penthevre,
fine, comfortable and almost spacious
enough outfit, but not imposing
enough for first class power.
DO you take it? Not imposing !.
enough for a first-class power" $50,
just before the war. Italy bought the
historic Berwick Palace, built by the ;.
hlustrious French warrior, James
Fitzjames. son of James ii of England,
spending his life in exile: 49,.
The time has come (according to
general opinion, it would seem, Of
Americans in France) for us to go
thou and do likewise.
What will it cost Congress? Nothing
We have already advanced such sums
to France that it will be an affair :,
only of getting tiny part of it back.
in shape of real estate, considerably
earlier than we had expected.
l have taken careful, well advised
opinions.
The United States should not think
OF buying Paris embassy property
costing less than 100000 before the
war, and to really be on a par with
our peers. Congress should invest ST.
100000 for an imposing mansion, in
grounds. When you come to grounds
in Paris you run into imposing fig
ures, but every American doughboy
who has been to Paris would like to
see his embassy equal and, if pos
sHole, surpass, those of Great Britain,
Italy and the others. He knows what
an embassy is now. The American
President, could put up there when,
he comes to Paris. as King George
does at the British embassy-our own,
place, not the American ambassadors
privately rented dwelling.
One thing is certain. There should
be an ample covered driveway, with
separate entrance and exit, and there
should be no stairs to climb to the
grand suites of parlors, etc.
+ X
How difficult it is to rent this sort
of thing at short notice may be illus
trated by Amba ssador Wallace. He
is said to be taking over Ambassador
Sharps lease of the Bartholoni house,
furniture and pictures, at. presum-
ably, the same rental of $4,000 per
year.
Our ambassador ought not to be
obliged to rent or buy furniture for "a
great mansion imposed upon him, any
more than for the mansion itself. 1t
is not ordinary furniture for a nice
family, but competition with that
Sevres and Gobelin stuff.
There are fixed charges, particular
ly the servants. The new-coming am
bassador may not always be very
rich man. On arriving he ought to
find the embassy residence all INSTALL
ed. with experienced servants and
funkeys ready, in their places. like
the ambassadors of other nations.
Entertainments, dinners, etc, cost
say, $4,000 per year. If you doubt
it, consider the Fourth of July public
reception Of the American ambassa-
dora specially which has nothing
to do with the diplomatic world. AM
bassador Herrick, on the Fourth im-
mediately preceding the war; spent
$1,000 on refreshments for all Ameri-
cans (and good many others) who
chose to come. The thing was ex-
pected--a happy, patriotic crush. Am
bassador Coolidge used to rent the
Hotel Continental for it. On New
Year both minister and consul gen
eral received, but, later. the ambassa-
dor alone continued. Often generous
ambassadors added Thanksgiving and
Washington's birthday as public re-
ceptons to their fellow countrymen.
And il you are an American in Paris.
your heart thrills at it. 1t is easier
for us to understand now. The am
bassador stands for our country
large, fine, generous.
Add two automobiles. say $1,000.
The ami ba ssador's wife receives" once
a week, and ut is astonishing" said
my informant. how she is criticised
il she does not do it well enough
Saw to the tune OF 81, 500 per year--an