Pueblo chieftain., 1921-07-08
Bv Frederic Y. Haskir

Washington. n e.. July 5.-For
great many years it has been publicly
and privately deplorcd that tho Unit
cd states. one OF the great world
powers. is the only one which has not
real diplomatic service. Its miniet-
ers and ambassadors to the other ma
tions Of tho globe are almost invoria-
bly, men appointed from private life to
represent the United states abroad.
often as a reward for special service
TO their political party or large con-
tfibutions TO the campaign fund.
II has been the custom for some
members of the party uut OF power 20
talk OF establishing q diplomatic SER
vice on par with IN" military ana
naval services. with men trained 10
diplomacy taking tn" highest ranks
as their training and fitness for these
posts Of great responsibility are shown.
Under present conditions, which
have obtained for many years, II Is
impossible for a poor man, or man
OF moderate mehus-uo matter what
his gualifications-to accept the ap-
pointment as Ambassador St London
or Paris. for instance. The establish
ment which tho dignity Of these POSI-
tons requires Is far out OF reach or
the ordinary pockethook. and the sal
airy OF 1880 paid TO these ambassa-
dors is scarcely a drop in the bucket
Eet.
Recently thru congregational accept
Ancs of the Etft Of !. l.. Morgan, the
United States acquired an Embassy
in London. IL was one OF Mr. Nor
gan's houses The salary allowed to
the American ambassador TO tho
Court of ST. James would not be near
ly sufficient to pay the rent alone for
this house.
Diplomacy n, Profession
England and France do not look TO
men who have made themselves val
uablc TO political parties aud who
have the large means. u nothing else.
to pay for accepting the honor OF
diplomatic appointments There young
men arc trained as diplomats Just as
they arc trained as naval officers or
military experts. They have before
them the certainty that II they have
brains and ability enough, they Will so
on up tho ladder and gain tho honor
and emolumcuts Of the finest diplo-
matte posts.
In Washington nearly every En-
hassy and Legation of all the nations
OF tho world represented here are
owned by those governments, In the
cases Of the more Important nations.
these establishments are in keeping
with the dignity and position OF their
countries, and thcir representatives
here are not forced to pay rentals for
thcm. The salaries raid to foreign
representatives In Washington, par
ticulariy OF the big powers, arc so
large they can live on them easily,
and their governments, as n rule. also
provid. a large fund for them for tho
Entertainment Of American officials
and the other members Of the diplo-
matte corps here.
IN times past mon have heen ar
pointed to diplomatic posts whose be-
havior has gone for toward making
tho United States joke In tho eyes
they have been aeut. \ great deal of
publicity was given fcw years ago
to an official Investigation Into the
behavior of the American envoy 10 a
small hut very punctilious nation,
Among other things II was testified
that this gentleman brought shame
and humiliation upon his country and
made himself ridiculous by making
practice nj sitting, In the cool Of the
evening. with his bare feet protrudinE
from one of the windovs of the Amori-
can legation. II was necessary to
supplant this man with another who
made a practice of wearing orthodox
footEesr until bed time
Ue Couldn't speak English
represent the United States at one OF
tho Latin American countries who
proved little more than source OF
amusement to tho officials Of the
foreign office of tina, capital. and to
the diplomats Of other nations s'.
toned there. This man had acquired
considerable wealth but entirely lack
ed education When 4 was finally
horne IN upon the proper officials In
Washington that this man not only
could not speak Spanish or French
the language of Diplomacy that
he was continually manslirg his own
tongue. he was relieved and hts place
was tilted by a man who Mt least had
some slight familiarity with English
grammar
Tho position and Influence Of one
American envoy was continually i'm
paired by the actions OF his wife.
This man himself was real diplomat
nf roal ability but his prestige was
hurt when hiE wife engaged In = hair
quilting match with a nilllner on one
oi the principal streets OF the capital