Evening star., 1925-08-09

TIME American Government VIII
be buying furniture and car
pets this Summer in Paris.
Il A sum of $9S,350 exists, in
cash on which TO draw. This
is what remains of the congressional
appropriation of $500, 900 for the pur-
chase and furnishing of an American
embassy property in Paris, after pay
ment of 100000 TO Nine. Wilson for
the beautiful mansion and grounds
in the Avenue d'Iena-which are now
ours" like the White House in Wash
ington.
Empty and unfurnished, 1000
American tourists rushed to 1t, the
other afternoon, when Ambassador
Herrick threw the house open in an
informal public reception. because he
had not the heart to keep them
guessing,
The furnishing will now go on. No
body will see the interior again until
October, when the Ambassador moves
in for good.
1t is the first embassy property that
the United States owns In Europe.
Heretofore. Congress left the flag in
rented quarters.
Is it nothing to Americans that
they are now on an equal footing with
other world powers in Paris?
Ask those 5000 tourists from all
sections of our country. They rushed
to an empty and unfurnished house!
Bare walls, 900 gilded chairs uphol-
stored in red silk obviously rented for
the occa Sion), and Amba sSador Her
rick standing before the bare mantel-
piece in the big salon, And ii was
enough.
Crowds of Americans, without end,
roamed through the empty parlors.
inrn hn x,I
down the steps to get elbowroom in
the beautiful garden. freely express
ing their pride and pleasure.
After 5000. the counting machine
broke down. The lavish buffet. due to
the Ambassador private pocket. re-
freshed all who could get near to it.
But time came when his excellency
h. to welcome crowds of new ar
rivals on his doorstep.
The first really American doorstep
in Europe,
NO matter what we thought at
home, we feel it when we get
here-this is the right thing. We
know the greatness of our country.
but here. on the spot, we want to see
it. We don't want second-class coun-
tries to have visible advantage over
us. We are glad that the Ambassa-
dor is. henceforth, in our" house
and furniture. in grounds fit to cope.
somewhat, with the famous garden
parties of the British embassy!
Nations own their embassies in
Paris Everybody knows where they
are. They do not change. Newly ar
irving Ambassadors simply move in
But the American Ambassador had
to rent house, then buy or rent fur
&c Of
the past!
Holland. about two years ago, pick
ed up as a bargain new embassy
property, which it has since remod.
eled. Its value is now about $500, 900
$50, 900 profit.
japan recently bought a small en-
bassy. 1t is now worth 500, 900. Put
down $4,000 profit.
Poland bought a chancellery build
ing in 1928. 1t is worth, today $780,
000-Poland has nearly doubled her
money in two years.
In 1920 Switzerland bought a fine
place, not considered cheap. for $140,-
900. Today, after five years, it is
estimated. like Poland's bargain, at
something about double.
Little Siam in 1915 bought a prop
erty for 100000. Having recently
added a small building to it, Siam
could now sell out for probably S270.-
600. (Of course, Paris real estate was
very much down" In 1850
And little" Spain---in 1923, she
spent 100000 to buy and furnish
proud Spanish Ambassadors house in
Paris-not counting that much Of the
beautiful old furniture came up from
Madrid. Now. 1t is said that Spain
has got her embassy for nothing so
much has the value of her purchase
mounted
So. it is extremely probable that the
United States has made an excellent
investment in paying Nine. Wilson
100000 for the mansion and grounds
in the Avenue d'Iena.
Two hundred thousand dollars is a
large sum in French francs today.
By exchange rate, at the moment of
purchase, it amounted to almost 4,500,-
600 francs!
Nine. Wilson is a daughter of former
President of the rFench Republic
Grevy. Her husband, the famous
Daniel Wilson-famous for his ex-
pensive living-built the house, regard.
less, in his day.
THE place was in such fine condi.
tion that less than $4,000 of the
actual appropriation money was, as
/, fact, USED in its renf patton; but in