Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-06
Enjoys Expense Accounts
Upheld, but Dry Ban Debated

Much interest has been aroused in
the Executive order which forbids the
use of Government funds for liquor In
connection with entertaining by Amer
lean diplomatic officials. Newspapers
agree with the principle that the use
of such funds for such entertaining
would violate national prohibition.
Some would authorize diplomats to con-
form to the customs of foreign coun-
tries. The appropriation for other
forms of expense is approved in cur
rent comment, but still greater pro-
vision is suggested for the future.
Justification for this policy" in the
opinion of the Rochester Times-Union,
rests upon the principle that the spirit
of the American prohibition laws should
be preserved wherever the American
flag may be officially displayed. The
letter of the eighteenth amendment
implies as much. Moral consistency
can justify no less. In most foreign
lands where wines and liquors are con-
ventionally served at official functions
of social kind, the bill for these neces-
sites of etiquette is large proportion
of the total entertainment outlay. And
if liquors are served at the American
diplomats function, he is obliged to pay
for them. It is courtesy to do in Rome
as the Romans do. But 1t is incon-
sistent for official America abroad to
drink and serve drinks while at home
it maintains abstinence, deferring to
the Constitution and the laws. Con-
gress and the President have been
dutiful in this matter"
I'm the future" thinks the Milwau-
kee Journal, sit may be supposed that
the liquor served guests In American
embassies--and it will no doubt con-
tinue to be Served-will appear on ex-
pense accounts in some other form.
And the Government will be satisfied.
That is one of the difficulties in having
law which no other big country has.
Our representatives in places where
alcohol is looked upon as a dinner
necessity can hardly affront their
guests by serving ice water. Ice water
is looked upon askance by these guests,
lust as wine is looked upon here-at
least by law. And those emiSsaries
violate no American law in yielding to
the customs of the country in which
they reside. Our law says that liquors
legally acquired may be held and used
legally. And, of course, Mr.. Diplo-
mats liquors are acquired with perfect
legality"
Lack of adequate funds has been
one of the chief factors preventing any
but men of wealth from accepting i'm
portant offices of the Foreign Service"
says the Topeka Daily Capital, with the
conviction that "the American people
generally will approve the new policy OF
the Government in meeting a portion
of the entertainment expenses incurred
by our representatives abroad, especially
since none Of the money can be used in
the purchase Of liquor to be served at
social functions"
clares the Cleveland News. public
opinion approves this drying up Of the
diplomatic service somewhat as the
home population is supposedly dried up.
Our reformed Nation could not be pic
tured properly before the eyes of other
peoples II Its official representatives
served cocktails or highballs at national
expense. The thought that any such
thing has been going on is somewhat
shocking, but perhaps 1t has not been.
The entertainment allowance TO be
spent on a dry basis is the first Con-
eress has sanctioned since 1924. In
recent years the diplomats must have
been serving alcoholic refreshments on
their own, IL at all. In addition to
coming none too soon, the dry edict
might be considered as going none too
far. 1t could have forbidden the Dip
lomatic service to serve drinks at public
expense or private expense, either, with
out remonstrance from a Nation for
hidden such indulgence at home and
naturally preferring to be represented
abroad consistently"
4 X X
The allowance provided is viewed by
the New York Times as good as be-
ginning" with recognition of the racl
that sin Government business 1t is
necessary to proceed step by step" and
that papets concludes: The new al
lowancss are helpful. They establish
presidents for larger appropriations In