New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-17
DIPLOMATIC EXPENSES, HERE And
ELSE WHERE.

Now when the Executive at Washington, over
whemed with applicatons-made, for the most part,
on the principle of the Office being good for the man.
rather than the man for the Oficeis On the eve OF
making grand sweep among the Embassadorlal, MIN
isteria and Consulate appointments it may be as WELL
perhaps to show what are the differences between
mode of conducting diplomacy with foreign countries
and that which prevails elsewhere 1t will be proper
to commence with what Il really the leading point
for the cost is secondary object. This point undoubt
eddy .s, fitness Of nen for the office.
Over century ago English wit, who himself had
no small experience in diplomacy, declared, with as
much truth as sarcasm, that " an Embassador was
oman sent into another country TO le-or the benefit
" of his own" At tie time this dictam was delivered
it was ndisputably founded on fact In the early
wears of the last century and indeed far into latter
period, it was considered that the great art of dplo.
macy was to obtain knowledge the secrets of other
Embassies without permitting those of your own to be
aivulged; to throw dust in the eyea of those with
whom you were negotiating to conceal the truth with
out actually mourning the liability of being justly ac-
cused of insincerity; to delay deceive, crcumvent,
when the occasion seemed TO demand it, or when the
command to resort to such tricks from headquar
ters in word to avoid straightforward dolngs and
dealings and pursue tortuous policy in preference to
one that was plain straightforward aud honest. That
the tradition and even than the tradition, Of such
modes of procedure remained at period much within
Iyins memory is proven by an anecdotc, extrsncIy
well authenticated, of an occurrence, exactly thirty
years ago during the administration of Mr.. Canning
whose shoit.lived English Premiership was terminated
by death in 1897. The late Lord Dudley and Ward,
Foreign Minister at that time, man Of powerful tai
cnts. was very remarkable for an absence of mind
10 and n
nov ing difficulties. ON occasion, when Prince
Polispac was ambassador from France AMI Prince
Leyen from Russia, Lord Dudley had to write an Of
fetal note TO Prince Pognac on the Greek question
the Cabinet discussion on which evenuated in the fol-
loving October in the battle of Navarno the destruc-
ton Of the Egypto-Turkish feet, aud the establish
ment Of reyoled Greece as independent mon
ercbv The rote intended for the Fr6Hch ambassador
was sent TO the Russian, who set down as
very clever ruse exrt mey creditabe to the tact OF
the British Minister. Prince Leven, taking II a. a
trar ad for him by Lord Dudley took great credit Tor
having sdro.ly las he thought avoided falling into 1t.
He clucked over his escape from the deep and sinis'
ter ingenuity of the English Secretary aud returned
the dispatch with polite note, saying toat ne haa mol
read lie of it iof course after lie hsd asccrained
that was intended for Prince Pognac. so self graft
fed was he indeed with his own sharpness, that nav
ing me. Lord Dudley al evening party immediately
after be could not help telling him that he was strap
'fa. but that dipomatss of his standing were not so
easily caught. What his Russian Excellency after
ward may have thought Of the matter is not recorded
Diplomacy, as formerly practiced in Europe, wa.
extr mely costly not only because the salaries
high the fees and other emoumcnts large and the
thing pensions heavy but because the secret service
money was very largely drawn upon TO provide pay
nent for the purchase Of international being con-
sidered quite legitimate in those days to bride clerk
and even servants into treachery. 1t was usual on
all sides to pay for copies Of dispatches aud replies
md of course fal.e documents were frequently sub
-tiiuted for the true ones. Ia cases where double
bribery was practcoJ fictitious letters and papers were
made 10 deceive the dccciver. As far os Eosiahd Is
now concerned this expense j: either wholly or almost
wi oily abolished for the annual amount Of secret ser
vice money voted as part of each years eSHna'esj
has not exceeded cl00 600 for long time, ana even
The whole amount Of that sum is rarely expended now
The manner Of dplomacyis as much changed as Tue
,,oease. Formerly great deal depended on tn man.
n.rs of the Embass adors. He who was what was
called can elegant gentleman" adroi. and graceful
replete with poitesse with politics, capable OF hu-
eutly and wittly using the language Of the Court cup
piled with good cook and brilliant saloon, able TO
i,n aweDpae ed ccpyf men. foJ agrnce orr l|'nees