Evening star., 1934-04-08
SWISS EXCHANGE
HITS AMERICANS
Many Driven Home, but
Consular and Army Off,
GERS Have to Stay.

in the dollar exchange find their lot
unusually hard in Geneva, and in
Switzerland at large. Not only indi-
viduals are in difficulties, but the So
odd international organizations which
obtain large amount of their funds
through American remittances.
Switzerland, especially Geneva, Is
the most expensive place in the world.
Americans find the necessities of life
unusually costly, and luxuries are
really luXuries. The local population,
on to the ways of the canny Swiss
merchants, manage to get along de-
spite the high prices resulting from
the exorbitant value of gold. But for
eigners, particularly Americans, are up
against it.
Among the international organiza-
tions which find their revenues depre-
ciated by at least 40 per cent, in cases
where pledges" or subscriptions" are
continued, are the Red Cross and the
y. M. c. A Many philanthropically-
inclined donors have been obliged to
discontinue their contributions to mis-
sionary societies, peace organizations
and so on.
League in Dilemma.
The League of Nations itself is in
uuandry. Before the dollar went of
gold John D. Rockefeller, jr., gave ST.
100000 toward building and equipping
an international reference library, IN
connection with the new League peace
palace. The committee entrusted with
the administration of the fund allo-
Gated 81 100000 for building and $780,
tho JlNrrar-
The first payment on the gift came
in a check for $500,000 when the dol
lar was worth $40 francs The sec
ond check, for 100000, arrived While
the dollar was still at or near par.
But the third payment, 100000, was
received recently by the Leagues
treasurer in a check for a bit over
60O,O 900 francs. Normally it should
have been for 1,038,000 francs.
The Rockefellers still are pledged 10
the League to the extent of 81 1000, 900,
which. if payments are continued at
the present exchange rate, will mean
that the League. instead of receiving
6,24O0oO francs, will get approx
mately 100000. Since its plans and
contracts for the expenditure on the
League library are already consum-
mated, the League stands to shoulder
on its members about S460OOO. In
other words, it cost the League money
to accept the gift"
Health Service Handicapped.
The position of the Leagues health
section also is precarious. The health
section annually receives around $780,
600 from the Rockefeller Foundation.
It's budget is calculated upon gold
francs. As a result of the drop of 40
per cent in its Rockefeller revenue, the
health section is seriously handl-
capped. 1t may be that most of its
work-and the health section forms
the one really international humanl-
tartan agency of the League which
provides no political controversy-may
have to be discontinued.
A short time ago the American
colony in Geneva totalled nearly l,OO0
Today there are around 300 Americans
registered in the consulate as domi-
ciled in Geneva City. By scores they
have migrated to cheaper places, or
returned to the United States.
Most hotels in Swiss resorts are in
the hands of the banks. Likewise,
many of the mountain cities are
dead" and the tourist traffic is
negligible.
The personal situation of the Amer
lean consular employees has been in
tolerable. The decision of Washing
ton to pay them on gold basis helped
somewhat but many will have to de-
vote months to clearing up indebted
ness incurred during three black
months"
Example in Diplomacy.
Take the case of the most valuable
clerk in the diplomatic section OF the
American consul generals office here.
She is Miss Iris Saunders. Portland,
Greg. With her salary of $3.50 year
she was able barely to get along when
the dollar was at par because OF the
expensivenesS of Geneva. Then came
the Is per cent cut, operative all
around. Then, on top of that, the
40 per cent drop in the dollar ex-
change. Added to that was the with
holding of some S33 a year as retire.
ment fund. The salary of Miss Saun-
ders finally dwindled to $500, and
then shot down to S48o in purchasing
power. Miss Saunders recently wired
relatives in Oregon to send her the
fare home.
One American clerk in the con-
sulate traded in her Secretarial Serv-
ices as typist to a dentist to pay
her bill. Another clerk-an American
girl-ate only one meal day for
three months. The wife of vice
consul does her own cooking.
The case of George Brunei, COM
mercial secretary of the consulate. is
striking. Brunei, a Swiss citizen who
speaks several languages, "gets along"
on a wage actually less than street
cleaner receives in Geneva.
Hard for Arms ENJOYS.
The trials and tribulations of the
American disarmament delegation
make another sad story, even at nor
NAL exchange rates. Their allowance
of Sc a day does not enable them
to live decently in Geneva, much less
meet social and official obligations.
The military and naval delegates, de-
tailed under orders, have no alterna-
tive.
Sherman said was was hell" COM
mented one. He didn't know any,
thing about the rubber dollar
while I am experiencing no hard
ship" said Prentiss Gilbert, consul
general, Il have been and still am
greatly concerned over the plight of
the lower paid employees"
Mr.. Gilbert pointed out that the
highest-paid vice consuls. men with
years of experience in international
affairs, experience vital at post like
Geneva, get only s2,75O year. Trans
lated into francs. even at gold par
rates, that provides only the neces-
sites of life and leaves nothing to
discharge social and official obliga-
tions which are inescapable. The re-
suit is that popular officials have to
refuse invitations from the scores of
members of the diplomatic colony in
Geneva which they cannot return.
(Copyright 1884, by the North American