The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-26
WASHING ON
REPORT
BY CHARLES p. STEWART
Central Press COlumnistl

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-Quite a batch OF
American embassadorial posts in foreign coun-
tries were filled recently. The appointees all
were rich men. Most of our ambassadors are
For instance, the Kennedys in London, the
Bullitts in Paris, and the Cromwell in Canada
where James H. r. Cromwell isn't an am
bassador, but only a minister; however, our
Canadian legation is as expensive to maintain
as any of our embassies anywhere.
We have a few legations abroad in which
our ministers can support their establishment
on the salaries they get from Uncle Samuel
But we haven't any such embassies. An Amerl-
can ambassador has to have dough OF his own,
or his job will bankrupt him. A minister III
some little pewee of a Central American re-
public can get along on his salary from Wash
ington. Some of our Balkan and Scandinavian
and a few other diplomatic assignments also
are self-supporting. All our major incumbencies,
though, call for plutocrats or they go bankrupt
in short order.
An American ambassador abroad gets $3.50
annually, It may sound liberal-but his ex.
penses!
How About Economy?
Can't these chaps economical?
Well, I never discussed the question with
an American ambassador, but I did discuss it
once with DR.. julius Klein, when he was our
embassadorial commercial attache in Buenos
Aires and when I lived there as a Yankee news
paperman.
Just after the last World war the doc" was
sent to the Argentine capital, as a member Of
our diplomatic staff. He was q great success.
He spoke good Spanish. He was "simpatico,"
as the Latins say. From all appearances he
couldn't be improved on. Yet, presently, 1t was
announced that he was resigning. I was
puzzled. Meeting the doc on the Avenida, I
asked him for particulars.
1.-THE truth is" said the doc. II can't afford
to stay here"
I knew what his pay was-$S,000 a year. 1t
seemed to me that the average American
ought to be able to worry along on that sti-
pend. The "doc" saw from my expression that
was what I had in mind.
Hitting q Balance
"I know" he said, what you're thinking
"If I were at home, where I can regulate
my own expenses, 1 could pay my bills hand.
somely on $4,000 a year.
OFFICIALLY, 1 have to confer with the minis
ter of finance on this or that matter. I COM
municate with him. He invites me to a ban.
quet. Then I must see the minister of agri-
culture. Another banquet. Then the minister
Of foreign affairs. Banquet No. 8. And more
after that.
"Now I've about been the rounds. It's up to
me to furnish a banquet Of my own to all the
rest. If I don't I can't continue to associate
with them. If I do it'll take my entire $4,000
to foot the bill.
with no means Of my own, I can't stand
the gaff."
Europe More Expensive
This was in Buenos Aires, where banquets
cost comparatively little; they cost a darned
sight more in London and Paris.
The complaint is that diplomatic appointments
go only to huge contributors to political cam.
paign funds.
That is to say. an ambitious American So
cialite sweetens his party's fund literally and.
if it wins, gets a juicy foreign post as his re.
ward, making things subsequently lovely so.
cially for his wife and daughters, in London,
Paris and thereabouts.
But he has to have a substantial bankroll
to be a SIG, OOO-diplomat anyway.
Sixteen thousands is a ~picayune sum-really.
Ask any ambassador.