The Washington herald., 1921-03-30
MISS slIEDLEY URGES

BETTER PAY FOR
U. 8. DIPLOMATS.
Miss Matilda smedlev. philanthro-
pist and "citiziness of the world" is
only another Of the Americans who
has lived abroad and who returns to
this country with feeling Of cha
grin at the shortcomings Of the pol
icy Of our government toward the
housing Of its diplomats abroad.
Miss smedley came down from
New York for few days and is reg
istered at the Franklin Square. She
was familiar figure in washing
ton society during the Roosevelt ad-
ministration and has solved in Eu-
rope at different periods during the
last twenty-five years.
The only American diplomats that
! have known who lived decently in
Paris were Horace Putney and Levi
j. Norton" said Miss Smedley. For
tunately for them they had adequate
private means to maintain an esrao-
lishment in keeping with the dig
nifty OF our great republic"
1T has always been a source of
shame and chagrin TO me to see our
consular and diplomatic representa-
tives tucked of in some pension or
hotel, or in q side street, because
they were not able to AFFORD any,
thing better" added Miss Smed:ey.
1t Is the grossest kind OF neglect
on the part of Congress. We never
shall accomplish anything in world
diplomacy until we establish our
selves in Europe in a style appro-
PIRATE to the richest nation under
the sun. i am not advising ex-
travagance, but simply an outlay
large enough to keep up appear
ances at least. Our consuIs are TOO
often beholden to landlords and suf-
fer a loss Of prestige because they
cannot afford the independence
granted representatives of other
governments"
Is CLOSE OBSERVER
OF WORLD POLITICS.
Miss Smedley is.a close observer
OF world politics and because of her
wide acquaintance with the public
hgures of the last generation, has
a grasp of international problems
possessed by few women or men,
Il foresaw the war with Germany
early in this century," she declared.
Il can recall how my suspicious
were confirmed when Prince Henry
OF Prussia was a visitor to this
country during the Roosevelt ad-
ministration. never shall forget
the cont m ptnous Ioolr - -.
President Roosevelt one day when
/ had the privilege of being pres
ent- Mr.. Roosevelt. in his hearty,
democratic way, came into the room
where the prince was, greeted him
cordially, and then seated himself.
crossing his legs and with every
appearance of being perfectly at
case. While Mr.. Roosevelt's head
was turned. I noticed the manner in
which the prince eyed him, con-
temptuously, as II to say. How ut
terly bourgeois you are-
Miss Smedley told of an incident
several days later when at a Cabi-
net dinner shortly after the prince
had left, during a moment of ST.
lence, Leslie NJ. Shaw, then Secre-
tary of the Treasury. who was
seated beside Miss Smedley. turned
to her and asked: What are you
thinking about. Miss smedley?"
Il never think" she returned,
jocularly. 'T know"
We'll, what do you know then? 20
persisted Mr.. Shaw.
"If told what know" said Miss
Smedley. ''all the money in the
United States Treasury would not
bail me OUT"
Everyone laughed and begged
that she tell the company what was
in her mind.
well. IL you must know" said
Miss Smedley quietly, you have
been spending s125.000 a day in the
entertainment of a Prussian spyv'
SAYS SHE OBSERVED
GERMANY PREPARING.
Miss Smedley declared that during
her stay in Berlin she had observed
the stealthy preparations which had
been going on ever since 1870.
And what is going on today?"
asked Miss Smedley, referring to
the protest of the Germans at the
amount of the reparations demand
ed by the allies. THE Prussians
have the money-they can afford to
pay-they are simply begging for
time in order to arm themselves for
another conflict. Germany is not re-
pentant-because she has not suf-
fered sufficiently. She was never
invaded-her towns were never laid
waste" she said with emphasis.
This country must be vigilant.
Miss Smedley says. We should spend
our money on the air service and on
submarines. Let England build
more battleships IL she likes" said
Miss Smedley. but let the United
States build the submarines.
II would also fortify the coast
with one Of these long range guns
the kind the Germans used to FIRE
on Paris-at fifty-mile intervals,
along the Atlantic. the Pacific, and
the Gulf" she said. .
Miss Smedley's hohbv is helping
young artists to ARRIVE" She now
has several proteges, boys and girls
under IS who show signs Of talent
and genius, whom she is guiding in
their chosen careers. One, Selma
Alexander, of New York, although
scarcely Is years old, has written
poems far beyond her years in