The National Register.
London, England, 1808-02-21 00:00:00

'AL REGnTBR,.

9]

Mr. Canning defended his opinion, by stating, that this mode
of diplomatic intercourse had become extremely common in
Centinental Europe. The diplomatic agents of France, hs
said, not contented with communications, in the ordinary and
official chiontel, pushed their way, even into the closets of
Princes, and obtained with them personal conferences. The
Ministers of Great Britain, that they might not be treated as in.;
;*erior, hoisted upon similar privileges. It thus happened, that
:ill the most important parts of diplomatic intercourse were in-
t lulled in those conferences. Kings and Emperors, however,
Mould 110 t submit to have their private communications divulged
in our Parliaments and Newspapers; and would, for that
reason, deny our Ambassadors that access to their persons,
which they granted to those of other nations.
This doctrine, without doubt, was very unthinkingly advanced
by Mr. Canning. It is opposed to the very office of Parliament.
If all diplomatic intercourse, or the most important part of it,
makes place in the closet or presence of Princes ; and if it be-
comes a received principle, that what is transacted in the pre-
sence of Princes is not to be iair! before Parliament, this is a
scheme by which the communie.tion to Parliament of this
species of intelligence is entirely cut off. No elucidation of
the diplomatic transactions of Government can any longer
he received by the Legislature. Let Ministers act wisely
or foolishly, virtuously or criminally in their intercourse with
foreign nations, the power of Parliament to controul them is at
nn end. It is denied the proper information on which aJu
went either of approbation or censure can be founded. Whst
check upon misconduct would there remain? If it be so dial.
cult, with all the helps which can be devised, to hind public
men to their duty, what ruin must ensue when the most ins
portant helps are voluntarily removed ?
We were extremely happy to perceive, that the Chancellor
of the Exchequer dissented from this doctrine of his colleague.
it is not, therefore, a Miuisterial doctrine. It was merely a
batty concluyion of Mr. Canning, in which the rest Of the Mi-
nistry did not support him. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
said, "he did not go so far as his Right lion. Friend. lie ;Lc-
" knowledged it might be right sometimes to communicate to
" Parliament even the conferences of Princes, but it ought to be
" done, he thought, With taution."

Does not that depend, however, upon the kind of the con-
ference ? May there out be many conferences with princes,
in which public inaltersare discussed with caudaur and wisdom,
and where no caution is necessary in regard to their communica-
tion But the distinction between one kind of conference and
another is.eqiially necessary in respect to those of lucre agents.
as those of crooned heads themselves. There arc many of the
communications between the Ministers of different countrie•
which could not with propriety be laid before the Public, 111
feet it is the nature of the communication, and not the persna
by whom it is made, that determines the propriety or the impro•
priety of making it public. If we speak, of caution, we readily
allow that caution is necessary in every part of public husirres,;
but we believe there are few occasions on whieh it is less wee,-
sary than in the communication of intelligence. Seldom, indeed,
does it happen that any serious. litjury is sustained from that
cause. It is en the other side that danger is most commonly
funnel. Besides, we are confidently persuaded, that there ant
very fcir occasions.on which a Prince could be offended by the
communication of a couference of his coon, on which he would
not be equally offeudial by the communication of the conference
of his MinSster. What, on such an occiasion, is the :Minister,
hut the mouth of the Plitt& ? hat shouldisflend the Prince iu
divulging his own conference, if not the disclosure of improper
intelligences bast this iudiscrctiou i equally injurious it' incurred
is respect to the conferences of his idiuiuvv as twuryeti-iu rise
spect to thew with himstif.