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Show Legal Snarls Retard London Embassy ALTHOUGH congress appropriated appropri-ated $100,000 three years ago to remodel the two London houses which J. P. Morgan gave to the United States as an American embassy. It now develops that nothing has been done to carry out the work. Wilbur J. Carr, assistant secretary of state, explained that the delay in throwing 'the two houses together 1 due to the working out of a conveyance convey-ance of title to this government that would be valid under both British and American law. "The lawyers had great difficulty In working that out and months of time were consumed," Mr. Carr stated to th house appropriations committee a short time ago, as now revealed by ; th printed hearings. "But before we Ing over there?" asked Representative Madden, the chairman of th committee. commit-tee. "We have our own regulations and laws which we must comply with before be-fore we can spend the money," Mr. Carr replied. "They have their own regulations and laws which they must comply with before the workmen will work and the contractors will bid, o It Is a question of getting a happy adjustment ad-justment of the two." "I've been told that nobody wants to live In the house," Mr. Madden commented. "That's not true," Mr. Caqr answered. an-swered. " They are perfectly willing to live in th house If we can get It In order." "Everybody says It 1 a whit ele- could approve, the . appropriation lapsed. ' ' "We still have not been able to gfet construction plans and specifications upon which we could get satisfactory blda under both laws, and It Is not expected ex-pected that that CHn be done by July 1, and therefore construction cannot take place thla year. That's why we are asking you to extend the unexpended unex-pended balance again." "What's the matter with the bulld- phant; that la, everybody I have seen who has talked about it," countered Mr. Madden. Later he stated: "W had better give the house away again and let somebody else undertake to do the Job." On the assurance of Mr. Carr that the contracts would be signed about July 1 the committee agreed to allow the $1!50,000 appropriation to be continued con-tinued In the deficiency bill reported to the house. |
