Evening star., 1937-05-30

move is expected to delay still
futher the already slow-moving
Il program for providing the
American foreign service with its own
buildings. That will add at least a
year to the wait in store for the foreign
service officers destined for assignment
to various uncomfortable or unhealth-
full posts before they can hope for the
advantages of American housing.
Although good deal has been
accomplished in number of capitals
\ and major international centers
within the last decade, it is admitted
that much more needs to be done
before the far-flung diplomatic and
consular service owns its own
home The foreign service housing
program was initiated in 1926, and
since then Congress has appropri-
ated $ll,625,oO0 to carry it forward,
OF which $9,375.OO0 has been spent,
with the remainder allocated. An
addition of $4,000, 1000 to the total has
been approved by the Budget Bureau
but Representative Sam D. Mercy
nolds, OF Tennessee, chairman of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee
and head of the Foreign Service
Buildings Commission set up under
the 1926 act, does not intend to press
the congressional action on the rro-
posal at this session because of the
effort to hold down appropriations,
One effect will be to increase the
eVer-growing store of strange tales
OF real experiences which enliven the
lore Of the foreign service personnel
Many of these experiences have
grown out of the nature of the ac-
commodations available and the
conditions confronted in many for
eign posts. In some posts in the
Orient, the Near East, Africa and
parts Of Latin America. even the best
accommodations available on q
rental basis are far from good.
Glad to Leave La Paz.
The story is told of one high
ranking consular officer who was
glad to draw a tour Of duty in Wash
ngton to get away from La Paz
Bolivia, which is so high in the
Andes that few who are unaccus-
toned can stand the rarified atmos-
phere long. On completing his tour
IN Washington, the story goes, this
ofncer welcomed an assignment to q
sumatran or Javanese post, because
he had heard that the consulate
there was provided with adequate
quarters rented from missionary
society.
Before departing for his post the
consul took the precaution to learn
about white ants. He learned that
these insects were so destructive in
their greed for wooden structures
that they had made it necessary te
build and furnish a new legation
at Bangkok, Siam, at cost of abou,
100000 and had led the buildings
commission also to specify steel ano
aluminium furniture for the consular
building at Penang, Straits Settle.
ments. The ants gnaw at the inside
OF the wood. leaving the surface un-
touched, ard on more than one oc-
caslon perfectly ound-lookine
desk or chair has suddenly collapsed
But he learned also that the ants
are very choosey about the kinds OF
wood they will inhabit. So he dis
posed OF a fine mahogany bookcase
and replaced 1t with one of walnut,
assured that the white ants would
not touch that one and consoled in
his loss by the knowledge that he
had given a fellow foreign service
officer who purchased his mahoganv
prize a rare bargin.
Bothered by Huge Rats.
A month or so after ne and his
wife had arrived at the new post,
however, the story of their first
night there trickled back to Wash
1ngton. 1t seemed that their walnut
bookcase had been all right. but
they were not, having been depend
ent on a pet, half wild dog and
half terrier, for personal protection.
The post had been vacant for a
time and big rats had taken possess
sion. The jungle half of the dog not
only disliked the rats but was not
afraid OF them. So they spent their
nrst night perched in the middle
OF high beds with weapons at hand
while the dog drove of the rats.
Eventually, the story goes, the land
lord, not wishing to lose such a
tenant, renovated the property by
burning the servants quarters and
virtually rebuilding the main struc-
ture.
1t is possible that the saga of
1orelgn-service housing difficulties is
gaining accretions in Moscow. though
stories from the Embassy and con-
sulate general in that crowded capital
are not yet in circulation. When
the Soviet government was recognized
IN the first year of the Roosevelt ad-
mlnlstratlon, it was found that there
was no room for anybody else in Mos
COW. Arrangements were made. how
ever Tor the new ssador-William
9. Bullltt, now Ambassador to France
TO occupy Spaso house. which had
been the residence of former COM
missar, and lease was taken on the
nearly completed new Moahkayaya
Building. The three lower floors of
that building are now occupied by
the Embassy and consular Offices
and the remainder is apportioned
among members of the staff for living
quarters.
The Moscow quarters are rented
at rates which. rumor has it in the
absence of official igures-would be
considered very profitable in a capi-
tahstlc state where the law of supply