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Travel Piece  by Ida Nasatir

Letter from Paris  by Ida Nasatir,  July 6, 1951

July 6, , 1951—Ida Nasatir, "A Letter from Paris,"  Southwestern Jewish Press, page 4:  Dear Julia and Mac:. Did I ever remember to tell you that the American Embassy acts as a benign father to the large family of tourists in Paris?  The first impulse of the American abroad who receives a traffic citation or has a dispute with his "concierge," or who is a victim of confidence games, pickpockets and absentmindedness is to yell: "You can't do this to me! I'm going straight to the Embassy!" And off he goes to make good his promise and threat. Once in the Embassy he finds a compatriot behind a desk who will listen sympathetically.  When the sad tale is out, the indignant citizen will be reminded gently of a circumstance which the American traveler occasionally forgets: A visitor to a foreign country is subject to the laws of that country, just as a foreigner within the United States is subject to Uncle Sam's laws. Although this homely truth is pressed frequently upon American citizens abroad, the Embassy people hasten to say that there are a great many concrete services which they are prepared and happy to render. One particularly helpful person the complaining American is apt to meet in the white marble Embassy building is Miss Adele Dix, vice-consul in charge of the welfare section.  A kindly, gray-haired lady, she has been with the State Department for 30 years and she has one of the most fascinating jobs in the foreign service. Rather than with red tape, Miss Dix deals with people. Any American who has got into a financial trouble, has disappeared, been arrested, hospitalized, robbed or has had any other misfortune is referred to her. With a staff of four, she interviews over 4,000 people a year, receives 3,000 telephone calls, gets over 5,000 letters and countless queries ranging from the currency exchange in Sicily to marriage possibilities in Paris.  Part of this vice-consuls work is finding missing husbands, alcoholic friends and long-lost relatives. Wit the help of the French police, a good majority of these cases are settled. An American who has a mental breakdown in France is Miss Dix's responsibility, and if a United States citizen gets thrown into jail she must look into the case and see that he gets legal advise.  Murder, mayhem and matrimony, if they have to do with an American are channeled through Miss Dix's office. Each case is different and each must be handled personally.  A few months ago, Miss Dix managed to get a kleptomaniac out of jail and sent her back home. After the woman left Miss Dix discovered that someone had stolen her scarf. It took no serious sleuthing to know who did the job.  It is a comforting feeling to walk past the huge, modern and majestic American Embassy. It symbolizes "home" to the American abroad. It will do anything possible for its citizens, even to the extent of helping the unfortunate person who has spent money too quickly, by cabling home...Collect...for money.  What more could it do?  Fondly, Ida Nasatir.