Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-24
D. S.DPLOMATS /.
ASK MONEY FOR
FOREIGN HOMES
Bill to Come Up Before
Congress Provides
Funds for Permanent
Legations

crican diplomats. homeless and wan
dering. about trying to find adequate
quarters in congested foreign capitals
apartments which lower the prestige OF
the United States government. was the
picture of the future drawn today by a
Washington official in urging enact
ment by congress Of the Rogers bill.
designed to solve the problem of our
long-suffering ENJOYS abroad.
Despite recent agitation and appro-
priations enabling the state department.
70 acquire within the last year digni-
fled official residences for our di-
plonatie Representatives in Paris and
Christiania, 80 Ct our 52 ENJOYS are
still unprovided for.
The Rogers bill. which was not act
cd upon by the last congress, will be
brought up at the coming session. In
the nature Of a supplement TO another
: Rogers bill now law, which reorganizes
our professional foreign service with
larger salary allowances, the new bin
provides for official resids nces at the
most important diplomatic and con-
sufars posts.
Provides Five Millions
Appropriations not exceeding $1,000
600 are authorized for the acquisition
Of such properties and for alteration.
repair and furnishings. The bill fur
ther specifics a maximum expendi-
ture of $500, 900 in Bucnos Aires, Ber-
lin, Rome, TOXIC and Madrid. Also
5000, 900 each is provided for legations
and embassies in Vienna, Brussels and
Lima. Peru. with similar amounts for
consulates at Hankow, Tietsin and
Canton, China. A commission is Great
I'd by the bill to handle these funds.
consisting of the ranking majority and
minority members of the house and
senate foreign relations committees, the
secretary Ct the treasury and the sec.
rotary of state.
, Suitable buildings have been found
By the American ambassadors at Ber-
lin and Brussels and will be purchased.
it is understood. if the bill goes through
One. of the most beautiful palaces in
Lisbon could be secured for about $50
600. thanks. to the low rate Of exchange.
In Toxic, where the United States
had an embassy until it was destroyed
By the earthquake last year. the Am |
erican diplomatic staff is experiencing
he greatest difficulty in finding a
place of any kind to live. State de-
partment officials, if the necessary ap-
Preparations can be secured, are ready
TO let contracts for a series of build
lngs not only to house the ambassador.
but also the embassy and consular
staffs together with the requisite of
fices.
But ! have no home in Toxic to 90
to-" was the last thing the newly-ap-
pointed ambassador to Japan. Edgar A.
Bankroft. told Washington newspaper
men as he left for his post. Bancroft !
is understood to favor carrying out in
Toxic the projected and enlarged
building plans of the state department
as a symbol of the belief in Washing
ton that friendly relations between the
two countries are enduring.
10 facilitate these plans. fhc Jap
anese government has offered TO sell at
one-half the market price the neces-
sary property adjacent to the four
acres upon which stood the cd Amer
lean embassy. The new plot is Of about
three acres, formerly occupied by
Prince Ito, Present plans call for
,crcn reinforced concrete quakc-proof
buildings Of California Spanish design.
Bought by Crane
The next post to acquire a legation
is apt TO be at Prague. The famous
archcpiscopai castle. Schoenborn pal
ace on the Moldau. which is Considered
one Of the most beautiful ancient edi- !
flccs IN eastern Europe, was purchased
by Richard Crane, former American
minister to Czechc-SIovakia. VIXEN he
was unable 10 rent a house sui. abb to
the prestige Of the American govern
mcnt. Since Cranes regime. the state
department has been renting ;hc palace
from him.. Negotiations were complet-
ed last week for the state department