The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-09 00:00:00

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was not the rule. Undoubtedly the practice, and the just
practice, was that all p rson3 holding subcrd'nite ranks in
the diplomatic profession went into that body without
salary, and they might be called the " great unpaid."
They were first unpaid attaches, then they became paid
attaches, then secretaries of legation, and secretaries of
embassies. But it was by no means the invariable rule
that missions should be filled • by persons taken from the
next in rank. Ho could mention many instances which
occurred in his time where missions were filled by men
conversant with the affairs of the world, but who had not
gone through the various services of diplomacy. There
was Lord Clarendon, who went as ambassador to Spain
without having risen through the various ranks to that
position ; there was Sir Henry Bulwer, and Mr. Wise,
who was now at Athens. Neither of these had gone
through the previous ranks in the diplomatic' service.
Therefore, it was not the case that the country was depen-
dent for their diplomatic missions upon the system of pro-
Motion, as stated by the noble lord, but was often served
by men who, though not having filled any previous diplo-
matic office, yet were by their official knowledge and per-
atonal ability qualified to servo their country in that depart-
ment. The fact was, that those persons who had been long
connected with political life in this country, and especially
members of Parliament, did by practice acquire a great
deal of that knowledge which was essential for well con-
ducting the business of a diplomatic station. They became
acquainted with the political events of Europe, with public
w, and were in all respects perfectly competent to per-
form the duties required. Therefore it would be seen that
this country had now the very system which the
noble lord wished to establish. They had the advantage
in the inferior ranks of having men well trained in
acquiring a knowledge of the interests and relations of the
different countries in Europe, and when a vacancy hap-
pened; in any mission it was filled either by some dis-
tinguished man who had arrived up from the inferior ranks
his capacity to a superior position, or by some person
et. great talent, who, by his knowledge and personal ability
at home, had shown himself qualified to take charge of the
interests of his country abroad. (Hear.)
DISR A ELI said the last few sentences of the noble
„,•tord's speech . completely answered his first observations.
Pie noble lord first assumed that every person who was not
trained and professionally educated as a diplomatist ought
llot t° be appointed to that office ; though he afterwards
sued that a man who had devoted himself to public life,
and who was endowed with pre-eminent qualifications for
the office, would necessarily be selected to fill it. The fact
Zas own experience contradicted the conclusions of
Gable lord. 'Why, some of the most eminent diplo-
113;"ste of this country, even in our own times, had never
hen trained in the inferior ranks of diplomacy. Was
buke of Wellington trained a diplomatist—(hear,
aetr)— he who transacted such great historical affairs,
who might be fairly called the most beneficial nego-
t
amplomatist,
diplomatist,
of our time ? Was Lord Ashburton trained a
and yet was he not highly accomplished,
conducting
_onrd fit to take upon him the highest office required
'Yet he diplomatic intercourse ? ho was
re Grenville ? Was he a trained diplomatist ?
in the h. istory of Fran
,s sent to Paris at the most important epoch
to di
plomacy ? Was LordCastlereagh trained
Franco,
Y tne • t e so numerous
upon this subject that those he 7inaccradwvee;ted to were only
a few that had occurred to him without the slightest
preparation. He could prove from experience that there
was not a shadow of foundation for the argument of the
noble lord, and that his noble friend (Lord Stanley) was
perfectly vindicated. He believed that his noble friend
pact laid down a sound and good policy, and that it was a
Policy which must come to pass. The noble lord partially
professed to adopt it, but it must be adopted completely.
'fie Present system was an imperfect training—it was
Merely a nominal and not a real training. The argument
,°,_f his noble friend was, that if they wanted efficient men
'4'4Y did not take them from trained men. The noble lord
gaily attacked that remark when he first rose, but before
he sat down he confuted his own argument, and maintained
the principle advocated by his (Mr. Disraeli's) noble friend.
Ithey Was his (Mr. Disraeli's) firm belief that, sooner or later,
would have a reform of the diplomatic service on the
principle laid down by his noble friend, and he believed
that by carrying out that principle thoy would render the
service much more efficient and much more economical.
Mr. BOWYER said, the Americans were fully alive to
„
importance of diplomatic qualifications. No doubt
there were many diatinguished persons who were adapted
at once for the office, but that was not a sufficient reason
why a complete system of education should not be adopted
In this country which had been found so highly beneficial
in all other countries in the world. He adviLed the Go-
vernment not to overlook the advantage of requiring from
candidates for diplomatic office, he would not say a com-
plete, but at any rate, some knowledge of civil law.
, Mr. PHILLIMORE expressed an opinion that a know-
ledge of civil law was not necessary for the diplomatic
service. The service in which the greatest ability was
displayed was the Russian ser vice, and he wal not aware
that the functionaries in that service were remarkable for
a knowledge of civil law.

Dr. PHILLIMORE said there was very high authority
in favour of the opinion of the hon. member (Mr. Bowyer)
with respect to the necessity of the study of civil law by
diplomatists, and that was the authority of Lord Stowell,
who had laid it down that civil law was the basis of all in-
ternational jurisprudence.

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