The Portland daily press., 1877-03-28
GutieS Of q DiplOmatist,

= The recall of Minister Russell, our diplo-
matic.representative to the Venezuela Gov
eminent, provokes inquiry as to the duties of
ambassadors and other diplomatic agents.
Formerly it was the chief concern of the resi-
dent at a foreign court to acquaint himself
with all matters going on there which would
in any way interest or amuse the home gov.
ernment. In fact he was spy in the house
of the enemy, specially exempted by inter-
national law from the penalties usually Wis
ited upon spies. Of course he had other du-
ties, as protecting the interests of his fellow
countrymen sojourning in the foreign land,
as the medium OF intercourse between the
two nations, as master of ceremonies Wien
ever fellow subject desired.to be presented
at court, &C., but his primary business was
that ofspy. The Republic of Venice, whose
ENJOYS were in their day the most accom-
plished diplomatists in Europe, fully recog-
nized this duty, and her diplomatic archives are
mines of wealth to the historian. Therein are
exhibited the secret springs of every court in
trigue in Europe, the moving causes of wars,
of alliances, of the downfalls of faverites, of
the promotion of ministers. Even tine petit
est details of court gossip are not neglected. In
consequence of the unceasing vigilance of her
agents Venice was we'll informed of the inner
history Of the cabinets of her friends and foes
and rarely failed to receive timely warning of
all movements calculated to advance or dam
age her fortunes. Her example was followed
by other courts; and it is in the diplomatic
archives of Europe that the modern historian
looks for her true history, for the explanation
of wars and treaties otherwise but i'll under
stood.
In late times it has been the fashion for
each nation to regard all other nations as
friends, and the pretense is made that the
presence of an envoy is but perpetual cere-
monial call, indicative of high respect and
good will. We have but changed the theory
the fact is the same, and the duties of the
foreign minister have undergone no change.
Mr.. Russell has but followed the traditions of
diplomacy and attended to his proper busi-
ness in making his report. But the State
Department has been guilty of an indiscre-
tion in publishing the report, and for that in
suffer.
In his report, after mentioning the Venez-
uelan Presidents message to his Congress,
Mr.. Russell says:
I would respectfully suggest the inquiry
whether it is not desirable at this time TO urge
upon Venezuela the payment of the United
States claims. ] feel bound to add that, in my
opinion, there are only two ways in which the
payment of so large an amount can be obtained.
The flrst is by sharing the proceeds with some
of the chief officers of this government; the
second by a display or at least threat of force.
The first course, which has been pursued by one
or more nations, will of course never be fol-
lowed by the United States. The expediency
of the second it is not my province to discuss.
This statement is strictly in the line of Mr.
RusselPs duty and proper one for him tC
make; but it is an eminently improper one
for the Department at home to publish. 1t:
improperly lies, not in the pen of him who
wrote it but in the eye of him who read it.
1t was published, went to Venezuela, and of
course at once provoked a remonstrance.
Mr.. Russell had to be recalled. 1t would
have been an affront to the Venezuelan Gov
erument to have kept him from his post. So
he has been withdrawn. There was no other
course to be taken. But it should be under
stood that no blame attaches to him. The
blame is to be visited upon whoever edited
the State papers. The duty of cur minister
was to learn all he could of matters affecting
our interests. But it certainly was not the
duty Of The State Department to publish the
information. The affront to a friendly ma.
ton was not in making the report, but in
making it public.
The business of diplomatic agent is still
to be spy; but in diplomacy apparently as
in some other things the crime is not in do
ing, but in getting found out.