Evening star., 1933-06-18
DIPLOMATIC PACE
l0SESLAv|SHNESS
U. S. London Embassy Needs
Paint-Entertaining Not
So Elaborate.

IT tTONDON.-With diplomatic enter
tanning today very much of the goio
standard scale of pre-war times IN TINS
and other world capitals, the arrival OF
Robert Worth Bingham to assume nus
duties as American Ambassador at the
Court of ST. James. inspires no visions
in Mavfair of social activities at the
American embassy in Princes Gate on
the grand scale. In fact there have
been surInises that Uncle Sam really
must be off the gold standard, Judging
bv the embaSsy's need OF a thorough
scrlbbing on the outside, or new
coat of paint.
Since the war. but more particularly
since various currencies suffered oe-
preciation, the diplomatic corps In Lon
don has been circumspect in Its eXpen-
ditures on social activities. or course
the cellars in those establishments nave
not been reduced to few bottles OF peer
or an odd bottle of wine, nor have the
emissaries of foreign powers been placed
on iron rationS. But few OF the olplo-
mats are rated as wealthy men. and
the necessary expansion Of their en-
tourages has reduced the grants for
entertaining. It is probable, however,
that during the World Economic Con-
ference there will be loosenng OF the
purse strings. for not all the tlme Oh
the delegates of the Sc nations repre-
sented will be spent at the conference
table.
Grand Scale Pace.
Before the war the Russians and
Germans we're held responsible for laV-
ish diplomatic entertaining In most
capitals. and only the personal means OF
a number of American emissaries mace
il possible for the United States en-
bassy to hold its own under the cir
cumstances. In one or two capltals,
however. the grand scale pace was at
tributed to the American representa-
tive
According to veterans in the dlplo-
matte corps the need for economy Is
not the only damper today on banquetS
or soirees. 1t is asserted that there mas
been such a widening of diplomatic &C
tivities since the war that tne sociaI
side no longer holds the importance
that it did. In the official encourage
of most Ambassadors and Ministers
room has had to be found for financial
and commercial experts, and trade re-
ports are among the most important
documents emanating from embassies
and legations.
In the last two or three years the
commercial and trade attaches OF the
British service have made Worldwide
survey of business and economic con-
ditions Their reports have been pub
lished in London by the department OF
overseas trade for the benefit Of British
manufacturers and exporters. A treas
urv expert has lately been attached to
the British embassy in Washington.
There was a time-and not so long
ago-When one of the greatest worries
of the American Ambassador In Lon
don was the ALLEGATION OF invitations
to the royal courts and to the royal in
closure at Ascot, because of the num-
ber Of applicants and the wirepulling
done on their behalf. Although COM
petition Is still keen for the few invi-
tations at the disposal OF the Ambas-
sador, there are such major matters
today to be dealt with as disarmament.
tariffs. stabilization Of currencies and
war debts.
Another e. s. Ambassador.
newcomer to the European diplo-
matte scene Is an American ambas-
sador at large, post now filled by
Norman Davis, man Of extensive Eu-
ropean experience. Though Col. E. M.
House occupied somewhat similar role
when he crossed the Atlantic early in
the war as the personal emissary of
Ilcolucllt WllSOu, swung AOuli0
circuit of capitals without a specific
diplomatic title.
Rapid means Of communication In
the Old World and the practice Of
ministers of state attending interna-
tional conference make 1t doubtful
whether other countries will add an
ambassador at large to their regular
diplomatic establishments It is In q
similar role, though, that Dr.. Rosen-
berg has been visiting London on be-
half Of Adolf Hitler. the German
chancellor. On occasion Britain has
sent a special plenipotentiary to
country where it was already repre-
sented by an Ambassador. but there has
been no equivalent of an ambassador at
large.
Copyright. 1880