DAY BY DAY

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14613, 14 March 1921, Page 4

DAY BY DAY

American pride in everything appertaining to the United States Pride does not, it seems, exand tend to America's repreEConomy. nentalives abroad. II has always been understood that the American Minister in London must be a wealthy or at least a very well-to-do man, since, owing to the moderate salary and allowance attached to the position, no other could afford t -> take it. For the current, year the vc.tc passed by Congress for the contingent expenses of American Consulate's was £200,000, which was some £40,000 less than was urgently wanted. As a result., numerous Consuls will be more or less seriously embarrassed. Th: office at Berlin, of which the American Government holds a long lease, leaks like a sieve, the Embassy at Constantinople is in a state of serious deterioration, and "mortifying conditions exist at Tokio and Pckin." At Budapest the official residence of the representative of the great Republic consists of a few cramped little rooms up two flights of a narrow staircase leading out of a snii'Jl, evil-smelling courtyard. A recent robbery at the Warsaw Consulate. is attributed to the fact that the office possesses no safe. In many other cities American Consuls are reduced to using common kitchen tables for desks, and packing-cases for typewriter stands, because Congress for three years past has refused all reqm s for funds with which to boy new furniture. This may, of course, he Uncle Sam's way of impressing upon foreign nations his devotion to ideals of democratic simplicity, but il does not. quite accord with his lavish expenditure in catering for the comfort ami convenience of members of Congn ss.