America's ambassador to the Soviet Union, Robert Strauss, has complained about conditions at the Moscow Embassy, but the State Department dismissed reports he sought more servants and a luxury hotel room.
Spokesman Richard Boucher said he talked to Strauss about an article in The Washington Times, which claimed the ambassador was unhappy and sought attractive Finnish women as servants and a hotel suite costing $800 a day."He's made it known he wants more servants, and is said to be dispatching two embassy wives to Helsinki to recruit the sort of help he desires - sleek, attractive Finnish women," the newspaper said.
It also said that Strauss said he would like to stay at a place such as the Savoy Hotel - which can cost as much as $800 a day - rather than at the traditional quarters of the U.S. ambassador.
"It's pure trash," Boucher said.
He said Strauss was merely complaining that some of the embassy personnel are working virtually "24 hours a day" to keep up with sweeping developments in the Soviet Union.