Evening star., 1932-08-21

bassador at one of the impor-
tant foreign capitals was host
~ at formal reception which
official etiquette and custom
required that he give in honor of In
dependence day. One of the departing
American guests. woman quite we'll
known to him, remarked by way of a
compliment. 1T was SO nice of our
Government to give us such delight
full evening, Mr.. Ambassador" To
which the host, possibly recalling the
amount of the bill, made the rather
startling reply, Eyes; out Of my own
pocket"
This true incident was related by a
State Department official to illustrate
just one phase of existing governmental
economy and how 1t affects the Ameri-
can Foreign Service officer who Is un-
fortunate enough to have no source of
private income other than his official
salary.
Much stress has been given this year
to the salary reductions in the Govern
ment service, but this reduction, sizable
as it may be in the case of an AM
bassador, Is nothing in comparison to
the heavy financial burdens thrust upon
the heads of our foreign missions by
the elimination Of all allowances for
official entertainment. In some cases it
is equal to the entire salary of an Am
bassador or a Minister and only the
fortunately wealthy ones can stand the
constant drain on financial reserves
without getting into debt.
For years our diplomatic posts were
stigmatized as a rich mans job,'" said
this official. until finally Congress by
remedial legislation, provided promotion
for the career man and became more
liberal in the matter of salaries and al
lowanceS."
Allowances Are Cut.
With one stroke Of its legislative pen,
however, Congress has practically un-
done all its efforts to equalize salaries
with foreign living costs by eliminating
from the current State Department ap-
preparation bill the all too little 100000
post allowance and the $125,000 item
to defray the costs Of necessary enter
tainment In addition to this saving
for the Government-the foreign travel
allowance was reduced from So to Sc
day.
These reductions, slight as they may
seem, have only served to increase the
difficulties of the State Department in
filling the personnel of the various in
ternational commissions which are sent
to foreign capitals from time to time.
While always looking for the best ex-
pert advice it can get, the State Depart
ment sometimes Is compelled to look
instead for the man who can afford to
leave his work and stand the necessary
additional expense which such patriotic
service to the Government entails.
The American Commission to the In
ternational Radio Telegraph Conference
at Madrid is taking with it large staff
Of technical advicers, clerks and women
stenographers from the various depart
merts. Aside from their steamer and
railway fares, they will be held strictly
to Sc day for all other expenses. The
Government allows 10 per cent Of the
price cf a steamer ticket for necessary
tips" With at least half dozen stew
ards demanding" a SIS minimum, the
allowance for tips will not go very far.
Upon reaching Madrid, State Depart
ment officials said that the minimum
rates at hotel such as the American
Commission would be expected to occupy
during the lengthy conference Is $6
day in American money. 1t will be nee
essary for all the clerks and stenogra-
pliers to be quartered in the same hotel
with the official delegates for conven-
ience, If nothing else. With hotel fare
consuming the entire daily allowance
given by the Government, such matters
as meals and other essentials will have
to be met from private pocketbooks.
Travel Funds Inadequate.
"It is practically impossible for
foreign service officer on tour of duty,
either abroad or in the United States,
to make his travelling expenses meet the
daily allowance for travel" said this
State Department official. I'm some Eu-
ropean and Eastern countries the mat
ter Of drinking water alone Is no small
item. 1t would be near death to drink
water in some of those places without
first boiling it. Consequently, in travel
ing, it Is necessary to purchase bottled
distilled water. Now, 1t happens that
the Government refuses to pay for
drinking water. That is just one OF the
many items Of extra expense"
Ambassador Hugh Gibson, a career
man." who climbed the ladder to be-
come the head of the important post
at Brussels, Is cited frequently at the
State Department as one man who has
made personal financial sacrifices in the
faithful performance of his duties.
For his invaluable services at the
Geneva Disarmament Conference, Am
bassador Gibson has won the deserved