Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-08


leagues the discussions in their first inception and hear
ing them let il be remembered from those best uniformed
and most anxious TO represent each his views most
strongly; or new appointment do not how able,
10 whom the whole controversy would be matter
H is this common view of the matter that has made
diplomacy every where else but in the United States
profession and which, We feel the want of
rect information, will make il with And itdoes
not follow, has been very sophistcay argued that
because some Of the most distinguished Secretaries Of
State OF modern times who have controlled the
foreign policy of their respective countries have never
been in diplomatic life that therefore regularly or
ganixed diplomatic body is unnecessary The duty Of
Secretary of State is to direct his counrys policy
the duty ola diplomatic body to supply him with reliable
information how other Secretaries directing theirs
1t true that Lord Castereagh and the Duke Of Yelling
ton who represented England at the Congress Of Vienna
were not diplomats but they judged and acted on the
opinions and information of active and intelligent
corps the Importance Of whose efforts in combining the
European Powers for that very Congress cannot beexag
gerated The one is necessary to the other and 1t IS
this which has induced England to make of her diplomatic
corps well supplied and regularly continued system OF
political observation These Missions" says Lord Pal
merston, speaking of system vastly expensive and
extended than need be- these foreign missions are
the eyes, the ears the tongues by which the British Gov
eminent Sees hears and speaks in regard to It's foreign
relations and do not think you could dispense with any
of these organs without much inconvenience to the public
interests"
And in reply question covering the very ground of
popular objection to general diplomatic SYSTEM his
answer as follows:
429 Formerly when the present system of Ambassadors
and Foreign Ministers established the obtained by
Court from another very much through the Ambas
sado and the Government and the public had of
learning intelligence from other countries except through the
dispatches OF the Ambassador But not that much
changed since the agency the press has much
tended? Is obtained through the press
the foreign office obtains it? should be very sorry
have to rely the accounts of our correspondent
The of public events that have happened doubt
quickly by newspaper accounts by official dispatches
and for this obvious reason that the newspapers find it for
their interest to make expensive arrangements for OBJ
tanning the earliest information Of public events that
But the despatch Of your Minister Ambassador much
tell you Happened inform you deposition
and tentioas The Government ei phich he is in relation.
That Information yon cannot receire rom the correspondents Of
misrepresentation C0. Sat-. page 81.
And he adds:
But it is great mistake suppose that week passes
in country without very important matter being in
discussion which the diplomatic intercourse
mcnts exercises very important influence"
And again. in reply to the question whether great
change has not taken place. nasmuch the decision of
Governments longer depend upon Courts Minister'S
but the results of discussions of public bodies and APP
peals to public opinion, which you know from the
public press, but which you cannot influence through
your Ambassador:
"The best give that is ask whether the
public here what passes in the Cabnet 1t perfect
that the Government take any decided
without the consent of Parament but it does not fol-
low that there very important deliberations
going among the members of the Executive; and when
those deliberations bear upon the foreign policy of the Gov
ernmen be of great Importance that the representa-
tive OF friendly Power should know what is passlng and
many of these deliberations and discussions turn upon mat
in which the friendly Power equally concerned and
to which the wishes Of that Power properly expressed may
exercise considerable influence upon the rcsu"-Idee
And again. even more fully:
az should humby conceive that they diplomatic agen)
important account Of the very circumstances
which have just been stated because when the affairs of
country decided by the caprice of mistress by back
stairs intrigue, by Popes BULL is obvious that your
bassador could have very little interest in directing any
those operating causes Unless be made love to the mistress
drh Tho hoal
hory is evident he could have power Of influencing
any those causes and therefore all he could do would be
let you know he could find how those
acting But in proportion these secret
it difficult for him to arrive at knowledge OF them
In these days. is well stated in the question: the conduct
OF the Government is influenced by public opinion by what
passes in deberaye assemblies and by international consd
raons rather than by personal capces and PASSIONS and it
precisely that kind Of considerations which ambassador
bring under the notice and press upon attention of
another Government Your ambassador tell the minister
Of foreign country that your Interests and that
the public opinion of your county certain direction
and has obtained certain height that there certain
things your Government do and certain things cannot
do and by making the minister Of that other country
of what considered the interests of his country and
what is the prevalent opinion of his country and what
own Government he places under the considerations Of the
Government to which he accredited matters which may
greatly influence the conduct Of that Government with regard
things which mayinyove questions OF peace which,
at all events may involve questions deeply affecting the
mercal interests of the country"
And in order to carry this reasonable system they
IS
its perfection Look, for moment, at the careers Of
some of their most distinguished diplomats.
Sir Sratford Cannng-lately raised to the peerage as
Lord Stratford dc Redclfe-commenced his diplomatic
life in 1907 Precs writer in the Foreign Office,
made Secretary of Legation at Consantinope in 1909,
minister to Switzerland in 1914 and was advanced
ward through twenty years experience to his present
high and important post Of ambassador Constannope
Viscount Melbourne commenced secretary at Naples
in 1871 then secretary to the embassy at Vienna in 18l3
and on through his twenty years experience to the
Austrian mission in 1882.
Lord Blomefeld began an attache at Vienna in 1918,
then paid attache at Lisbon in 1924 then, from 1924 to
1889, (ffteen years. secretary at Stutgard, Stock
holm, and ST. Petersburgh, and in 1874 made envoy
extraordinary, SC. at St Petersburgh.
Sir Henry Lytton Bulwer, from 1927 to 1895, at
tache at Berlin, Vienna the Hague Paris from 1885 to
1913 was secretary Of Brussels Constantnope St. Pc
tersburgh and Paris in 1S43 was minister at Madrid
and in lsf9 was minister at Washington
Lord Cowley, from 1924 to 184S twenty-four years,
was attachG and secretary at various courts.
Hon. Vim. Temple, the brother Of Lord Palmerston,
from 1914 1882, eighteen years. attachC and
rotary, and was then sent to Naples as minister
Henry Unvin Arlington, the present under Secretary
Of State nineteen years employed in subordinate d.
plomatic Offices; and
ngon was eighteen years attache and about ten
tary.
Let il be recoected too, that France Austria Prus
sia Russia SPAIN Sardinia, Belgium indeed all Europe,
Is served by like body Of able men, thus educated,
trained perfected and waving all questions of national
interest how can national pride sustain the contrast
Of our service But il our diplomatic system Is to be
properly organized it be adequately paid At pre-
sent there legation Of the United States which is
even decently gupported-no in which the ordinary
and courtesies of social life be discharged
without drawing largely upon the individual resources Of