The Ypsilanti daily press., 1945-09-26
Observations
These Questions
Might Embarrass
Lord Keynes
By HELEN EssARY

Lord Keynes has come 10 Wash
ington 10 tell the United States how
much money Britain requires in
order to reconvert British indus
tries and TO expand British trade.
Lord Keynes is a profound eco
nomist. SO l should like 10 ask him
a few questions. shall probably
be scolded well for asking ques-
tions. But-here they go:
How much money does II cost TO
support the English royal family?
How much in taxes got from the
British people does II cost to keep
the royal palaces and castles in
purple and fine linen and satin
painted footmen?
How much does It cost TO sup
ply Jewels and ermine robes to
members OF the royal family? To
adorn their horses and decorate
their royal coaches? What is the
value OF the estates allotted the
royal family?
What is the value OF the crown
Jewels that used TO be on view in
the Tower OF London? Hunks OF
precious stones. Gobs OF diamonds.
Rubies and emeralds watched over
by guards in velvet liveries.
Since Britain is once again In H.
nancial straits, Is there not some
way OF cutting down on such me-
dieval extravaganza as these?
Would this lesserfng of the strain
on the treasury avoid, possibly. the
necessity OF asking the United
States for another loan? Call II
grant" this time.
Another question:: Is it necessary
for England to maintain such lux
urious embassies abroad? England
spends six times as much on its
embassy in Washington as the
United States spends on its en-
bassy IN London. England allows
her ambassador a salary OF $4,000
a year. The L. S. ambassador to
London receives S12,500 a year.
For keeping up its embassy In
Washington the English treasury
allots $4,000. OF this sum $4,000
goes for expenses of representa-
ton. The other $4,000 is for
''upkeep and entertaining"
For "officfal entertaining and up
keep" OF its embassy in London the
United States government allots its
ambassador $S,400!
The sum OF $1,0S0 is given its
London ambassador to cover the
difference in living expenses in
America and England" Think OF
I'll s1.0S0!
And here's the biggest joke
the ambassador Of the richest coun-
try on earth, the country that Is
too often prepared, at the call OF a
suave delegation, to lend" millions
or billions or whatever is required
Pm speaking Of your country and
mine-allots $4,000 year for the
rental OF a U. s. embassy in Lon
dom II the Rent Control Board
had cut your Aunt Minnie down to
that amount for the rental OF her
house in Chevy Chase, she would
have felt outraged!
Britain pays all OF her diplomats
well and sees that they live in
manner tending to prove the i'm
portance of the British empire.
The United States pays her diplo-
mats penuriously. The State De-
partment files, listing salaries paid
our representative TO the rank
ing powers, show annotations
something like this:
1T Is not recommended that this
post be accepted by man without
4 large private income. The last
ambassador paid out OF his own
funds the amount Of so-many-dol.
lars. This amount was necessary
to run the embassy and to enter.
tain properly"
It is barely possible that we In
the United States are too gener-
erous with foreign suppliants and
too stingy with our own people. 1t
obviously does not occur to the Brit
ish treasury that It might save
some money. quite a little in fact,
by being less lavish with its pomp
and circumstances at home and
abroad.
l suppose two Of the reasons
why the old world comes to US so
often with its hat in its hand, are
these: we have plenty to give and 1t
boosts our national ego to play
Lady Bountiful among the nations
Lord Keynes, the British eco
nomist, who is now in our midst,
is a charming and plausible fellow
enjoy the Cambridgian artistry
with which he "~swers such Ques-
tions as:
You say, sir, that a grant OF
from three billion upwards TO you
from us would be mutually bene-
fetal? VIII you explain in what
way we would be benefited?"
All" replies Lord Keynes. look
ing every tweedy inch the Chair.
man OF the Board. ut is conceiv-
able that the inevitable solution to
this and other problems that arise
between us will be a wise solu-
ton"
hope so, for the sake Of the
American taXpayer