Evening star., 1939-09-03
u. ). Faces Burden
OF Warning Nations
Embassy Duties
Will Be Called Upon
For Delicate Tusks
In European Capitals


In European CopitoIs
BY the Associated Press.
A great burden of diplomatic rep
resentation on behalf of fighting ma
tions is expected to face the United
States If the German-Polish con-
flict leads to q general European
war.
Knowing the American diplomatic
service probably will be called on to
perform the highly delicate tasks of
representing some warning nations
in the capitals of their enemies. the
State Department already is prepar-
ing for this emergency.
Instructions are ready to 60 out to
American Embassies and Legations
abroad the moment the United
States is asked to assume these new
duties. New sections will be created
In the American Embassies especially
to handle the added work of carry
ing on diplomatic relations for other
nations. New personnel probably
will have to be engaged.
The magnitude of the task facing
the American foreign service may
be measured with reasonable accu-
racy by what happened in the World
War. Then the United States as
sumed protection of the interests of
IL nations, including all the major
belligerents on both sides-Austria-
Hungary, Bulgaria, France, Ger
many, Great Britain, Italy, Japan,
Rumania, Russia, Serbia and Tur-
key.
Wholesale Requests.
The wholesale way the interests of
flghting nations were thrust on the
United States is indicated in a dis
patch from the American Minister
In Bucharest, Rumania, who tele-
graphed the State Department No.
vember Is, 1916, when the Germans
were occupying Rumania,. that IN
one swoop the British, Russian, Ital-
ian and Serbian Ministers had re-
quested him ito take charge of their
interests and I have accepted sub
]ect to the approval of the depart
ment."
The instructions that will be sent
to American Ambassadors and Min.
listers abroad. in the event the
United States is asked to assume
the protection of interests of bellig-
erent nations, will follow somewhat t
these lines:
The arrangement whereby this
Government takes over the protec-
tlon OF the interests of belligeren,
nations in their enemy capitals does
not involve any official function. bu,
solely unofficial good offices. Ou,
diplomats do not become officials OF
the belligerent government. since
THIS is contrary to the Constitution.
Partisanship Avoided.
Moreover, the relations betweer
the two foreign governments con-
cerned-who are at war with each
other-necessarily call for persona
and unofficial action. The fact tina,
war exists between them is not con.
slstent with the continuance o1
diplomatic relations.
The American diplomats. there.
lore. will conduct themselves a.
ENJOYS OF a neutral power which i,
amlcably disposed toward both
powers. They must act in such .
way that their action will not con.
note partisanship, but a friendl,
ONCE performed through agreemen,
OF both belligerents.
What the State Department will
especially insist on will be the avoid.
ance OF any action by American
diplomats in this capacity which
might impair the neutrality of tn,
United States or compromise gooe
relations with the country to which
they are accredited.
The diplomats, nevertheless, arr
to examine all complaints which
may be advanced on behalf of tht
citizens of the belligerent natior
uhder United States protection anc
give them whatever assistance anc
make whatever representation ma,
seem to be appropriate.
CustOdianship of Property.
American Ambassadors and Min.
listers may be the custodians O.
the Embassy, Legation or consular
properties of the belligerent nation.
whose interests we have taken under
our wing They may make unofficia
representations or protests if ther.
is any interference by private citi.
zens or officials with the property ir
question.
The belligerent governments W.
may represent are generally respon.
Sible for expenses incurred in thi.
service. Consequently, American
diplomats will be expected to keer
an accurate account of the money.
they expend in this work.
Some officials here doubt, however
that the United States would b,
called on to undertake the exten.
sive representation it shouldered il
the World War When that con.
f1ict broke out, the United States
relations were good in an capitals
For the last several months, how.
ever, German American relations
have deteriorated and neither coun
try at present has an Ambassado
in the others capital. Therefore
Great Britain, for instance, nigh
be reluctant to ask us to represen
her in Berlin, where we do not ever
have an Ambassador. Germany
without even an Ambassador here
hardly would ask us to represen
her in England