The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-08-07
FRoM THE AuaoRA
THE DIPLOMACY EXAMINED.
No. III.

but denies the tenor and construction of his dis
course as reported by Mr. Erskine The qucs.
lion IS now reduced to very narrow limits -
ave cannot believe both, because the assertion
ana The denial are opposite it is in the
nature of language to state neg alive and affir-
native.
Mr. Erskine with an earnestness that will not
be questioned by any one, seeks 10 be the meL.i-
am OF good underst anding beiw his own
government and the United States. There APP
pears to be Az eagcrness and sincerity in his de-
sres, TO accomplish this object. which exhibits
rare exception to the duplicity Of diplomatic
dealing; he appears to have conceived that there
was kind ot necessity for liberal understan
ding, and the extinction ofall causes Of resent
ment; he appears TO have deceived himself,
INTO the belief that his government, was equally
sincere, and that substantial settlement and
Quoting OF the subjects which had stirred up the
danger OF hostile contention, might be accom-
plisied without difficulty.
Under these convictions, to which the diversi-
ny OF the Instructions, both IN num6e, and SUB
stance, afford very ample latitude he employs
his hours with diligence that reflects great
credit upon hi,n as public servant, to seize
upon every avenue through which he could be
LIKELY to sobtain an intimate and unequivocal
snowiege of the dispositions of men who held
Tue most eminent stations in the u. States govern
Inent.
The circumstances of Great Britain were at
the time encumbcred with pcrils and dangers -
The. peace of Tiisit in July 1907 had pros,rated
the Russian and Prussian armies converted
Russia, upon whose power so much reliance had
been placed. and so much gold expended, into
an ally, and reduced Prussia to a power of the
third order. The commerce of the Baltic, which
1t was hoped to secure by tue attack on Copen-
hagen, was gSin endangered; and Sweden "a
hone appeared Ii. last feeble ally in the north Of
Enrop- The British projects upon the naval
sorce of Denmark .nd Portugal, had precipita-
IN nh ri. hon, al hal
1nediiaied; with the expectation of a, once rem
Ding from Britain the resources which she
received from Spanish commerce, and rescuing
from her grasp the Spanish navy
Mr. ErsS:ne Witnessed the indignation which
was produced by the mission of MIR. Rose
which although smotherei by the disdain or
codness of the American Executive, WAS suffi
ricntly percephble tn any man who even less
a stranger to the country than Mr.. Erskne The
tone OF the British government itself had sunk
With its disasters, aud the new coalition with
Austria had not ripened into light or form, when
She instructions were given to Mr.. E.rskine to
follow up the negotiation left incomplete by MIR.
Rose
The dispatches of Mr. Erskne, which have
attracted much attention and excited both aston
is!iment and concern are dated the 81 and 4th
OF December, 1903 The general state Of affairs
IN Europe, which could not be kHown TO our
statesmen, while it accounts for the eagerness of
@lr Erskine, excites additional CONSERVATION in
contemplating the conversation and conduct of
our own executive officers. For we leave out
ofv'ew at present the unconstitutional as well as
fatal course OF men appointed TO nne department,
undertaking to execute the duties of another
a custom never advantageous i'll any kind of
affairs, always dangerous and often fatal in di-
plomacy.
We must keep in vew the visible growth of a
new war in Germany in the beginning of 1909,
which became less equvocal some time in April
of that year in order to combine and take into
our estimate the impression which must have
been made by Mr. Erskine two dispatches of
December, 1903 on The minds of the British
ministers. We shall then very easily account
for the style of Mr. Canning dispatches of the
c3i January, 1909, well as for his writing four
dispatches to the same minister on the same sub
ject in one day.
We must keep in view that Mr. Erskine re-
manned under the impressions communicated in
his two dispatches of December, during the
whole period between that date, and the receipt
of MIR Canning's Instructions, which arrived on
the 10Th OF March, that is, during three months
of an important epoch in national aft ,irs, the
retirement IF one chief ms istrate and the &C
cession of another.
Nor must we loose sight Of the state of natl
onai affairs during the same period We disco
yer in his dispatch of 9TH August, 1909, np,rked
No. XIV in the documents published in the
Aurora, what his impressions were of our al. ,rs
and how much the events appeared to sanction
and to impress upon his mind those ideas of
confidence which he repeatedly and explicitly
declares that he reposes in the declaration of
Khe officers of the American government with
whom he had conversed. These circumstances
combined, all shew, aud they account most natu
rally, for the steps taken by Mr.. Erskine. Mr..
Canning had informed him that the British 90.
0ern7aent SDGs not Sviiiing TO trust TO assurances
jjsDs the american goperauleHt and no man
ought to know better than MIR. Canning, how
Tar credit is due to any assurances Of states
men,
But Mr. Erskine, in his dispatch of the 25th
March, 1909, Enclosure A. ], No. VII) declares
that 1" the weight and influence Of the eastern
states had forced the government to abandon the
embargo He declares that " the non .importa-
ton law would be merely nominal" and that
:" many leading men of the eastern states had Sc.
riously contemplated dissolution ofth union"
With these Impressions, and as he ssys, hav-
ing g collected from his instructions that his
majesty was DESTROYS of accomplishing his retaH.
ufing system" by such means as were most conn
p.Hi6!e with good understanding with friendly
and heutrd powers, felt confident that his ma
Jesty would have approved of the arrangement
bad concluded, as one likely to lead to a cor.
dual and complete understanding and co OPERA
TIoH" WITT 4 Britain " which , OPERATIONS
never could be a" obtained by precious St,bHla.
tim"
These are the sentiments given in explanation
Of his motives and conduct BY Mr.. Erskmc him.
self; the cOunenancc given by the rebclhrus pro
ceediugs in Massachusetts, and the more con.
tempdOle GiouGb more direct outrage Of public
law IN Pennsylvania, went too powerfully TO
strengthen aud prepare MIR /Erskine's mind for
the Impressions which were made by converse