New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-03-02
PROPOSED DIPLOMATIC Reform.

them TO an exhaustive examination of the whole
subject. 1t never seems to have occurred TO
them, nor to our Legislators generally, that the
United States have really no place in the diplo-
matte system of Europe. That system IL one
established to guard and protect tho relative
interests of European powers among them
selves. Europe is perpetualiy undergoing
changes which disturb the balance OF power
among its peoples and pOtentates. One power
is losing, or another gaining, or third chang
ing its conditions, almost constantly. The dlplo-
matists arc the picket guard on watch for these
alterations and changes, both actual and threat
ened. and whose business it is to report daily to
Headquarters This gives them occupation,
often interesting, and sometimes important.
They thus become body, which, though in
some sense composed of rivals, is nevertheless
harmonious body in the main, and, from iden-
tity o. pursuit, has a strong feeling of esprit du
CORDS Then the law of their organization
changes the individual members from country
TO country and in 80 doing widens their expert
ence, enargcs their knowledge and makes them
familiar with one another Thus the body ac-
ouircs a homogeneity of character. The diplo-
matist is a gentlemen who lives and dies IN Ills
profession. He knows it in gross, and he
knows it in detail. He enters it before the
mast climbs to be Captain, and dies an Admiral.
We sec in this what European diplomacy
means, and il. IL is a profession; and II means
a watchful care of small, sometimes great, IN
tenatOnal interests; an observation OF local
movements and schemes, which are seldom 30
isolated in their effects as not to lmplnge on
outside relationships. Diplomatists are the
guardians Of little treaty stipulations, trading
arrangements political movements, small com
plants and rival designs, growing out OF con-
tiguous possessions, old agreements, new
reconstrnctons all arising from the family
character of European interests Europe IL
property possessed by certain great families
and these are the stewards who look after the
general business of their principals, the new
cOnveyances, the line fences the trespaSscrs,
those who threaten TO trcspass, the suits, and
those influences, insidous and otherwise which
sometimes generate great and involuntary
changes
From this imperfect sketch, it is apparent
that the United States do not belong, natu
rally, to the European diplomatic system any
more than China does, excepting i'll our com
mcrcal relationships, and these are mostly
managed by Consus, whose peculiar province
they are. Comparatively speaking then, our
diplomatsts in Europe have little or nothing
in common with the European body, and, under
ordinary circumstances are comparatively
idle body, and useless body. The ten thOus-
and little affairs which directly and indirectly
occupy and interest the European dplomatst,
are of not the slightest concern TO the Amer
lean Envoy as they have no bearing, near or
remote, upon American interests.
The conclusion is that the rules which apply
TO the diplomatic profession in Europe have no
application To us, or our body of diplomatists.
We publicly recognize this in the fact that in
this country diplomacy is not made career
IA il il there. Our diplomatists are not grown,
they are made-sOmetimcs out of whole cloth,
often out of wood, sometimes out of putty or
poor clay. Such as they arc-good bad and
indiffercnt-thcy are projected into European
courts full grown, without practice or expert |
ence in their dutcs-dutics which are, happily, |
of such light and general character that
there is seldom any balk in discharging them |
These representatives thus spring into being, !
remain visible while, and then disappear
from their orbits forever. But while this is the |
case, we preserve the traditions of European |
diplomacy that To such and such Court |
there must bc such and such a kind of Minis |
ter. With European powers, there Is an excel !
lent reason for this as we may see from the |
organization of the Diplomatic service among |
them. There are the subordinatcs, and there !
are the chiefs of regular profession, and the /
opportunities of promotion must he preserved, /
or the system would break down, and it /
is essential it should not break down. But I
with us these considerations have no weight. /
As a matter of fact, our Government is .
under no cOnstrant on the subject, and /
may do precisely as it likes in regard to the .
quality of the representative it deputies to any ,
European court. 1t il thus we come to tho |
conclusion that it would be wise To re0rganize |
our diplomatic service on the basis of sending !
out to perform it only those who are necessary |
to discharge its plain and limited duties And |
we hold that, with few exceptions we require !
nothing but Charges DIES Afares at the Euro
pean courts and that one of these is sufficient /
for two or three places, even where we now .
maintain Ministers at each.
We could not, on an instant's notice, venture ,
to say positively just what the necessities of
each case demanded; but in the general we
think we see very plainly where some useful
reforms could be instituted. Perhaps we need
Il full mission to England, and at least resi-
dent minister in Paris. But we know no reas N
why our interests in Spain and Portugal should
not be united and committed to the care of
single Charge DIES Affares. We think that
Austria and Switzerland would be well served by
a similar arrangement and Italy and Rome by
another like it, Certainly IA Charge for Con-
II i.