Evening star., 1927-12-04
BY WILLIAM RUFUS SCOTT.


mean, 10 West Indies, 4 South
American and other cruises will take
other Americans to special spots on
the globe.
All of which is Introductory to the
burden this wave of tourists places
,ipon American Amba ssadors. Minis
te,ys. consuls and other official repre-
sentatives abroad. These United
states foreign service men must pay
ont of their own pockets anything
they spend for the entertainment of
Americans whom they feel obligated
to or are called upon to entertain.
A round the world ship of tourists
arrives at Singapore, for instance
It will have from 400 upward on
board. Among them probably will
he some with letters to the United
States consul in that port, and 9TH
ers will call upon him for favors
simply because they think of him as
an official handy man. These calls
may mean expenditures by the con-
sui. If so, the American Government
makes no allowance for it.
Guarded by Aides.
The same is true if the tourist en-
tars a capital where an American
Ambassador or Minister is stationed:
Here a barrier of secretaries VIII
ward off some of the demands upon
the time and purse of the envoy, put
some visitors are too important TO
he headed off and the expense
mounts in entertainments. III the
envoy. or a consul, invites a touring
American to luncheon or dinner, 10
have a drink, or take q motor floe'
60 to the theater or What not, tne
cost of it comes out of the off1clal S
salary; or out of his savings. as sal
aries often do not cover living eX-
nenses of our official representatives
abroad.
This is why only rich men as q
rule want ambassadorships to Euro
mean capitals. The gradual acquisi-
ton by the United States. through
gifts and purchase, of ambassadoriai
.1nd ministerial residences in foreign
capitals is relieving our envoys or
some of the heavy financial burden.
but still no entertainment expense
fund is provided--and the burdensome
part of this expense always is for en-
tertaining' persons whom the ENJOYS
or consuls have no personal reason
for entertaining.
There are four broad currents of
L
foreign countries, namely. tourists,
commercial agents. naval and military
men and politicians. A brief survey
of each of these groups will show what
demands they make upon our repre-
sentatives.
Tourists Lead List.
The tourists are by far the most
numerous. The scope of demands
they will make give no end of trouble.
and expense. to the envoys or consuls.
In Europe the appeals may be less
than in some Far Eastern city. for
tourists have many facilities in Eu-
rope they do not have in other con-
tinents. and SO may not run to the
consul or envoy SO often. But in the
number will be some who convey the
implication of expected hospitality.
Commercial agents call upon the
consuls upon arriving in foreign
city. seeking orders for American-made
goods, and are expected to do so, for
the consul is the official link between
the trade dealings of the two nations.
The consul at the lunch hour cannot,
nor does he feel inclined to-, say:
Come back after lunch and we will
renew our conversation" He invites
the visiting salesman to lunch at the
club maintained by the foreign colony
and he pays for it out of his own
purse. This is an all-the-year-round
expense. whereas the tourist usually
has seasons when he appears.
When an American naval vessel
appears at foreign portland some
units of our Navy are visiting some
where. all the time-it means heavier
outlay for the consuls. The mayor
or governor. of the port entertains
for the visiting Americans and. the
consul and American colony must do
so, and repay the foreign hospitality.
In one Mediterranean port a year or
so ago, there were four naval visits
in one year. which all but bankrupted
the consul and American colony.
Not a penny of this expense is
borne by the United States.
Fourth, the American office holder
or politician comes along. If he is a
member of Congress, there is every
reason why the consul must pay spe-
cial attention to his entertainments.
Or il he is influential in politics with
out being an Office holder, he must be
given every attention. And since
members of Congress are much given
to travelling, the expense is being felt
more and more. Sometimes the Sen
ators or Representatives come in
parties on official tours paid for by
the Government. At other times,
they are travelling ION their own"
but in either instance the consul or
envoy has expensive hospitality
bills.
When it is remembered that, aside
from visiting Americans, the con-
suls and ENJOYS must maintain &
high social status throughout the
year in the city in which they are
stationed, involving entertainment of
local officials and citizens who have
been hospitable to the American rep
fesentativeS. it can be seen that
taking position in the foreign serv-
ice does not mean an opportunity to
save money against rainy day. A
consul often must own an automo-
bile If so. he buys it out of his sal
ary. He cannot avoid social con-
facts with the leading officials and
citizens of any given foreign city,
and this means evening clothes for
himself and wife and the obligation
Of giving official dinners, receptions
and entertainments.
Great Britain and other govern
ments do not neglect to provide en-
tertainment allowances for their rep
resentativeS. In mentioning the
visits of American naval vessels to
foreign ports. it should be stated paren.
thetically that our naval officers fbe.
low the rank of commander of a
f1eeD are as bad off as our consuls
and ENJOYS, for these officers have
TO pay the cost of any entertainment
they provide in return to mayors and
governors who entertain them. Ad-
miral William S. Sims testified elo-
Quently before a congressional COM
mittee several years ago of the finan-
cial hardship on naval officers. and
pointed out that Great Britain pro-
Nided its naval officers with an al
]Owance for such unavoidable ex-
penscs. incurred in line of duty.
Appropriation Made.
Congress has gone so far as to