New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-17


10 view in the newspapers. The mysteries OF State
have passed beyond the coury circle, and when the
Il eirlaure axis for and obtains copies of letters be-
tween the Executives of different nations, every
,Lir must be developed. II is at least in Ecgland,
ard also in this country when Congress asks for nfor'
nation.
Every first class Power in Europe and nearly every
secondclass one, provides By examination for the ca
pacity of the persons employed in diplomacy, and for
the utility and importance of their employment. This
oxamration was commenced, we believe, in Prussia,
and it there is two-fd first, when man desires 10
enter the diplomacy at all as unpaid attachG, and
next, much more strictly, when the atache is pro-
noted TO the rank of Secretary Thus though bril-
liont dipomatsts nay not be secured ignorant ones
are certainly excluded. This examination plan has
been adopted in England at last Mere saunerers are
shut ou-so are the offshOots of noble and influential
families WHO used to be made attaches to get them
out of the way. Ard as now can enter the En-
clsh 0iplomacy without a severe test Of his compe-
forcy for such employment, the tone of the profession
is elevated 10y increasing the requirements Of the per-
sons belonf ing to it. In the United States, the
trary there is 30 test no trial whatever. The atache
the Secretary, the Consul, nay the very ambassador
him self, is not required to speak and write the Ian
guage The country TO which he may be SENT and we
Iced not say what evils may Tesut-and have re.
sulted-om such ignorance II is literally absurd to
send Embess adors and Secretaries attaches and Con-
suls TO France and Spain Austria and Italy Portugal
and Prussia who cannot speak five sentences OF
French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese or
Dutch. Mere party and personal considerations rail
continue to prevail dare say, but the rule should
be laid down and rgidy adhered to, that above every
other qualification for foreign mission should be- at
least conversational knowledge OF the language OF
the country which the official was to be sent. Nor
with our general aptitude for languages lin which
Americans far excel European), would any real diff
cuties be caused by establishing and getting upon such
a sine 9ud nan as this.
The question might also be raised (only f1r the
"spoils" pIincipe), whether routine Of diplomatic
Office might not be established here it is for the
most part in. the Old World. There, the unpaid
atach6 first serves his apprenticeship az it were.
Next he becomes q paid attach6. Then Sc
cretary of Legation After that, Secretary Of
Embassy. Lastly las in the recent instances of Sir
John Champion and Lord Napier, he may rise to the
rank of ambassador. This, as general rule, does
not exclude the appointment OF erninently qualified
persons conversant with the affairs Of foreign Govern
ments, without thus running through the grades Of
Office Thus in 1912, Lord AshburOn, who never
before Hdu dcteu III was oSht
as Special ambassador TO this country, to settle the
differences about the Oregon Territory, and it is
doubtful whether any other person could have
executed the charge with much satisfaction to both
countries.
The difference in the payment Of the diplomatic ser.
vice at home and abroad, is very considerable. The
United States pay the least, but are not the best
served. Russia generally speaking, does not pay her
dplomatists avishly, but then almost every one Of
them is personally wealthy as not have much
need Of the emOluments of Office and dignfied resi-
dence at foreign courts and the prospect Of honors and
advancement for zeal, ability and tact, tempting
BATE France pays great deal better England,
though her tariff of pay la. been greatly reduced, still
pays the most but Claims set-O TO be by far the
best served Of any country having diplomatic agents.
In 1881, during the retrenching commencement Of
Lord Greys Ministry Select Committee Of the British
House of Commons made an inquiry into and areport
upop the Cost of Fo eign Missions 1t was reported
that the British diplomatic service was needessy e1-
Jensive, and it strongly recommended that the
future cost exclusive Of pensions to retired Ministers,
should be f14O 600 year. that sum TO include f995O
per annum for house rent and sl3005o for salaries
That arrangement gave Go, OOO each to the Embassa-
doris to France and Russia with 60, 900 for Austria,
fG5O for Turkey and other rates much at present.
Within the ast few years, further revision has
taken place The rates per anuum now are:
FIRST CLAss-EmJassadors Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiory: France, $4,000; Secretary ElOOO.
Turkey, f7,CGO; Secretary, $500. ,,c,.
SEcoSD CIAss-EnrOgs Ertraorda oooy ard M.n,s'
ters Penipotentiary: Russia, $4,000; Secretary,
200; Austria, f5,Coo; Secretary tSoc' sP saG.
Secretary, $3.50. Prussia f5,COO; Secretary tooV.
Two Settles. $4,000; Secretary, $500. Portugal
9iCOO; Secretary, ESQ. Brazil, $4,000; Secretary
ESQ. Netherlands, f3, COO; Secretary t5oo. Bel
gium Sc, 600; Secretary, f5OO -,
ters Plfaipo,eatiary: SARDINIA, f3,600 Secretary,
200. Bavaria, f3, GOO; Secretary, t5o; Denmark,
"a mn. Secretary, GEO. Sweden, E3, Seereta-
", s5eO Ha1oyer aSTg 40 sec Grssse - &c., Sec
io.'' t| t%To Wurtcn5erg, $4,000; Secretary taoO
s Saxdsv c Secretary, EtQO Tuscany tSooo
secretary. f4OO Switzerland, fz,Vv.: y'
Zoo Mexico, $500; Secretary, f6oOi Busnos
A,res, f3,00O; Secretary, f5W r
ForRTn CLAss-Charres FAGa,res' Ihese are ac-
credited to the Governments Of Venezuea, New
Granada Peru Chill, Montcyideo, Bolivia ana Cen
trnl America Officers OF this class VINO are Consuks-
General receive. in addition TO their saiSy es sucn,
an allowance OF ESQ year Tor tner o'Piou"''o SCI
vices.
In every instance OF the three first classes except
France and Turkey, where the Ambassadors occupy
mansions the property of England, there Is hoefsi
allowance in addition to salary for house ren'' Coi
lectye,y this allowance is cIose on floVoo per an
mum. Each person in these classes aao has sum OF
mercy paid down, on appointment, Tor outnt. oucn
CoLsuls General as CO not combine with tneir once
that Of charge Aaires DO not hold diplomatic rank.
Tleir salaries range from 81 COO ayear to t6oO the
higher salaries being paid to those ON the eastern
co.ss Of the Mediterranean where the duties are OF
mixed ard difficult nature, the allowance being fixed