Evening star., 1942-03-08
Bv HELEN LOMBARD.

The best" that Berlin and Toxic
can afford Is far from good, &C
cording to reports coming into the
State Department from neutral
sources. American diplomats strand
ed abroad are reported to be far
from comfortable, and in some
cases there is actual suffering.
The American diplomatic, con-
sular and newspaper colony in Ger
many have all been gathered at Bad
Nauheim, one of Germany's most
fashionable resorts, on par with
White Sulphur Springs. w. Va.
There the similarity ends, however.
The elegant rooms Of the Ger
man resort are cold. and there Is
little left for the table of the Amer
leans after the Nazi officials and the
army have taken the lions share.
The American colony is entitled to
the best from the food stocks al
lotted to the civilians, but that best
is pretty meager, and the stranded
Americans are seeing lean days.
A number Of them are actually Ill
from lack OF proper food and from
the cold of the German winter.
Money would not relieve the situa-
ton, as Eureopan food stocks have
been so thoroughly combed by the
Nazis that there is little to buy.
Reserve in Japan Dwindles.
In Toxic the situation is not much
better. Members of the American
colony who have been permitted to
Join the diplomatic staff in the En-
bassy compound are living from a
stock Of food which Ambassador
Joseph C. Grew carefully laid away
for an emergency.
That reserve, which was intended
to cover a short period between the
declaration of war and the exchange
of diplomats. Is by way OF being
exhausted and can be supplemented
only by small amounts of fish and
rice bought in the open market,
When the first shot was fired in
the last war, diplomats Immediately
got ready to leave their posts. sure
of a prompt exchange, courteous
treatment and comfortable travel.
This time, however, our enemies do
not seem at all anxious to speed
the return of their diplomats and
show little concern about the fate
of ours.
After studying the reports about
the living conditions of American
diplomats in Germany and Japan,
the State Department has decided
to revise its estimate of what the
word best" signifies. Axis diplo-
mats have been living higher than
exiled royalty or than the repre-
sentatives of Allied governments in
the United States. Outside of a
scarcity in Russian caviar and
French brandy, the war menu of
Uncle Sam is still one of the richest
in the world and the Germans and
japanese have had their pick on
the theory that the Americans
abroad would benefit by equivalent
treatment.
Axis Diplomats in No Hurry.
The discrepancy In living condi-
tions between the United States,
WIllCll ID JuSG UCSllHllliS W ldCIOll a
few articles. and the Axis countries
which have put everything into
armaments for years is too great
to be ignored. The Axis diplomats
will be moved to less luxurious
though still comfortable quarters
for what appears to be an indefinite
stay-as far as it is known none Of
them are besieging their govern
ments to hasten the date Of de-
parture.
Conversations have been going on
for some time between the Portu-
gese government and the State De-
partment for the use Of a Portuguese
ship in the exchange Of diplomatic
prisoners. The Nazis insist, how
ever. that the Portuguese ship must
leave Lisbon empty, pick up their
representatives In New York and
deliver them safely to Lisbon be-
fore our men will be permitted to
board the boat.
This would mean, in effect, two
voyages instead of one and the
Portuguese who are short Of shipping
and who have not yet been able to