FOREIGN DIPLOMATISTS IN LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 55

FOREIGN DIPLOMATISTS IN LONDON.

A GLANCE AT THEIR EVERY-DAY

The foreign diplomatists in London constitute quite a society of their own, in which there are grades. The Austrian and Russian Ambassadors are distinctly the social heads. Formerly Rustem Pasha, the Turkish Ambassador, was a very leading light, but his successor has not taken such a prominent position. The last French Ambassador. Baron de Courcel, stood very high in social estimation ; but it is impossible to say yet what his successor will do. The Amerioap Ambassadoi is usually thought more of by London society than by his diplomatic colleagues, but tine growing importance of the United States may alter this.

Most of the leading embassies are owned .by the State they represent. The Russian is known as Chesham House, and consists of three houses knocked into one, at a corner of Chesham place. The reception rooms are very spacious. Austria owns a very large house in Belgrave Square, Germany one in Carlton House Terrace, France a large detached mansion to the east of Albert Gate, Hyde Park. On fehe other hand, the United States does not own a house, and the ambassador takes one which is suited to his means. Mr Bayard resided in Cromwell road ; but Colonel John Hay hired one of the palaces in Carlton House Terrace. The smaller Legations change- their habitations a good deal. China, iiowever, has a large house in Portland place, which once belonged to the Dukes of Richmond. It is a very big house, is owned by the State, and up to lately was furnished in Chinese fachion. Siam also owns a house in South Kensington, which is furnished in the best English style. Japan has recently bought a very fine mansion., which is one of the largest in Grosvenor Garden*. . • - The entire personnel of the Chinese, Siimese, and Japanese Legations reside as their -Legations. - The unmarried attaches —by' which is meant those who -are. not married to European ladies — of .the Turkish staff reside at the Embassy in Bryanston •square. The rule with regard to fche. European Embassies and Legations is that married secretaries hire residences of their own in all cases ; while the unmarried ones, if there is a State-owned house, can okoose whether they will have apartments in it, or find chambers of their own. Of course, when the house is owned by the Representative, the secretaries naturally find their own accommodation. The State-owned house is usually decorated and furnished by the State at inter*

' Vals • but if tke Representative wishes, he 'nan redecorate and refurnish as often as he ' likes at his own expense. When he leaves, however, he gets no compensation for this, and he cannot remove what may be described as "necessaries." On the other feand, when there is no State-owned house, {he Representative furnishes at lus own fexpense, and when he leaves he can dispose of bouse and furniture. The Russian, Austrian, and German Ambassadors are paid liberally, and are men of wealth and importance themse.ves. (France gives her representative £8000 a year, which is really not enough for his very expensive position, so that the social position and entertaining of that Embassy depend on whether the Ambassador has a private fortune, and is willing to spend it on ihis office. The same is the case with the United States, for "Uncle Sam" pays all his Representatives as little as possible. Italy is in the same position. Malcolm Khan, the old Persian Minister, used to (have the greatest difficulty in getting his salary paid, and was at last dismissed with the intimation that he would be paid when ihe returned to Persia. Thinking that his fcead might be in danger, he decided not to do so, and to lose the money. There have now and again been rumours that the Turkash Embassy was destitute of pay, but this as not true. The Porte contrives to pay its representatives abroad at all hazards. In the season the Austrian _and Russian ' Embassies give .grand receptions and stately dinner, parties. ' Rustem' Pasha used to "entertain a great deal. The ' American Embassy usually has a weekly afternoon re- • ception, to which all the American colony are invited. It is said that the present Chinese Representative is going to give receptions on the English plan this summer. The Siamese Legation gives charming receptions, when the garden at the back, is illuminated with coloured lights. As a rule, however, diplomatic society keeps a good deal to iteelf.

The Portuguese and Brazilian Ministers, Don Luiz de Soveral and Senor Corea, have made their way so thoroughly into English society that tihey not only go to all the principal houses in London, but arc included in a long list of house parties at noblemen's seats in the autumn and winter. Among the larger States this kind of intimacy would be regarded as undesirable, for the same reason that they do not allow diplomatists who have married women of other nations to represent them in the wife's country — namely, the fear that they may get to prefer the country of their residence Jbo that of their birth. Portugal, however, is so far from feeling this that Don Luiz has been specially continued at his post because he is so cordially liked in this country. With regard to costume, the entire staff of the Chinese Legation wear their national dress at all times — at Court, at home, in the streets, and at parties. The Turks retain their red fezzes, but in other respects are clothed like Europeans. The Persians do the same with their high, black Tartar caps. The Greeks put on their national jackets, petticoats, yataghans, and tassel led caps to go to Court, but not on other occasions. The American Ambassador wears, even at Court, the simple swal-low-tails and white tie which are the " Court dress "of the " Court " of his President. The other diplomatists, including the Japanese and Siamese, wear ordinary European dress in private, and on State occasions don either diplomatic uniform, of which the principal features are a dark blue dress coat, braided with gold, and a gold-laced cocked hat, or else their military or naval uniform, if they belong to either service. On such occasions they wear all their ribbons, stars, orders, and medals prominently displayed. "Commands" are sent for State entertainments to all the diplomatists, from Ambassadors to the third secretaries, and their wives and families as a matter of course. The Ambassadors and Ministers visit the 1 Queen on their arrival and departure "to present tfieir credentials," and the leaders of them are usually " commanded " with their wives to dine and sleep at Windsor once a year. They aw expected to attend Drawing Rooms and levees, especially the lonner, at which her Majesty "herself is present. This is by the way of paying their respects to the Sovereign to whom they are accredited. On these occasions they are headed by the Ambassador who has been longest here and his wife, or, if he is unmarried, by the «ife of the Ambassador who comes next in length of sen-ice in London.