The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-05-29


A very interesting article might he
written on the rights of diplomatists,
and on the rights of the governments
sending and receiving such representa-
tives. But only few general princi
Piles can be mentioned here. In the
first place. the diplomatists sent by
each of two countries to the other
should be of the same rank. Great
Britain sends an Ambassador to Tur
key. and Turkey sends an Ambassador
to England.
The highest rank of American for.
eign Ministers is that of Envoy Elk
traordinary and Minister Plenipoten-
tiary. and, accordingly, no Ambassador,
which is the highest rank in diplomacy,
is sent to Washington by any govern
ment
Again, the government to which a
Minister Is accredited has right to re-
fuse to receive him, and, if the reason
be personal one, the government
which sends him need not take oAense.
In 1861 the Austrian Government re-
fused to receive Mr.. Arson Burlingame,
who afterward did good service a.
American Minister to China, but no of
tense was taken, and the historian
Motley was appointed Minister to vi
emma.
Moreover, If Minister has been re-
ceived, it is the right of the govern
ment near which he is serving to ask
that he be recalled, at any time. The
United States Government has more
than once taken this course-the most
notable case having been during Wash
ington's administration, when M.
Genet, the French Minister, had be-
haved himself with intolerable inso-
lence.
But, on the other hand, if the gov
eminent whose Minister is thus virtu-
ally sent home regards the reasons of
his dismissal as insufficient, the retail
alton takes the form of leaving the mis-
sion vacant The other government
soon recalls its own Minister, and dip
lomatic relations between the two coun-
tries are suspended. If some time
elapses before Mr.. Sargent's place at
Berlin is filled, it may be expected that
an excuse will be found for withdraw
ing the German Minister from Wash
ington.
So long as Minister remains at q
court, and the relations between his
own government and that to which he
is accredited are friendly, he is entitled
to all the official courtesies which are
extended to the Representatives of any
government. To withhold one of these
would be more than q slight-it would
be an insult to the government from
which the Minister came.
Yet, outside of the purely formal
courtesies, there are offered opportuni-
ties to q sovereign or q foreign Minister
to show special friendlness, or the re-
verse. For example, Prince Bismarck
was forced, by diplomatic usage, to in
vite Mr.. Sargent TO the dinner which
he gave to all the foreign Ministers at
Berlin on the Emperor's birthday.
But, while he shook hands with oil his
other guests, he put off Mr.. Sargent
with courteous bow.
The late Emperor Napoleon was an
adept at this sort of business. At his
New Years receptions he graded his re-
ception of the different Ministers ao-
cording to his disposition toward their
respective governments, and his smiles,
mods, and frowns were reported by tel
egraph al over Europe.
Prince Bismarck seems to have sue
ceeied him in this trick, but it would
be absurd for any one in America to be
angry simply because testy old man
shows a lack of good-breeding.-
Youths Companion.