The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-24

having either of them acknowledged an in
ieriority TO the other by so much as toes
Ieng.h. how impressive it all Is, to be
Edmond About has defined diplomacy
as the art OF tying ones cravat "a defini-
ton Wnich would seemingly place most
al'ericah representatives abroad outside
the pale Only the new-iiedged diplomat
ever thinks of thinking for himself or of
uong anything upon his own response
putty. The old hand never takes
STEP with express instructions from his
government, which is jealous of inter-
ference with Its conduct of affairs, regard
ing as It's most satisfactory agents those
VINO act as mere machines, executing dex-
tefonsly the orders telegraphed or written
10 them: thus ministers and ambassadors
are at liberty to engage themselves chiefly
with the elaboration of matters of eti-
quette, which are of greater importance
today than ever before, because the ocean
grey mound and the electric cable have
mace ali the nations next-door neighbors.
these envoys ind little more expected OF
them IMAM 10 pay calls, attend dinners. and
wear Their clothes properly; but woe be TO
MIN VINO pays his calls wrong or ties his
cravat crooked. He will be declared per-
soma 1ngrata and recalled. This subject of
visits is one of the largest consequence in
the preservation of international relations.
The hrst thing diplomat takes pains
10 una out, upon arriving at foreign cap
1tai. is the etiquette governing calls, which
differs widely in the various countries
OF Europe. He obtains the information
informally at the foreign office, and gov
ems himself accordingly. In America
the customs in this respect have never
been Very clearly defined. Representatives
OF other powers, upon reaching Washing
ton. call upon the president, vice presi-
dent and officers of the cabinet as soon as
they have presented their credentials and
been formally recognized, but whether or
not they should visit the senators before
the latter call upon them is n matter for
their discretion to determine. The wife
of an envoy from abroad may remain in
entire seclusion while here, if she chooses.
in which case she will simply be ignored
socially, and nothing will be thought OF
1t, Oriental ministers usually leave their
wives at home, hut il they bring them
other ladies in Washington do not visit
them. There is plurality about
the marital relations of these gentlemen
from the East, which acts as a bar, as it
were. To this rule the wife of the Japan
csc representative is a notable exception.
She goes out in society. Diplomatists who
run harems when at home either do not
fetch them hither or maintain them while
in this country under the rose. The Chi
nese ladies cannot very well indulge in So
c1al delights on account OF their feet. Ii
the wife of any high official here prefers to
seclude herself and not go anywhere, the
fashionable part of this community soon
accepts the situation and invites the hus-
band, If he is agreeable, without his part
ner. Contrariwise to the proposition
stated above, American ladies abroad are
never presented to the wives of the king of
Siam, the emperor of China, the shah of
Persia or the sultan of Turkey. Nor are
any calls made on our ministers wives by
native officials in those countries. Women
are not included in the official entertain
ing by the courts, having no status. They
don't know women over there, any way.
Precedence is of enormous importance
in diplomacy. Readers of American his
tory will recall the vigorous row made by
the British minister, Merry. because some
one else was handed in to dinner at the ex-
ecutive mansion by Thomas Jefferson be-
fore his wife. Nevertheless. the Jeffer-
sonian system in this regard has been pur-
sued ever since with satisfaction. Before
his time both Washington and Adams had
given great attention to the subject, en-
deavoring to establish rules on the lines of
those governing at foreign courts. But
the apostle of simplicity smashed the
whole system and established the regula-
ton, pursued to this day, that precedence
should depend solely upon the dates of the
diplomats credentials. According to this
mesaod the representative from abroad of
LONGEST service here is always dean of the
corps at Washington, whether he comes
fron. Great Britain or from Nicaragua.
Baron Fava was dean, and, unless he
comes back Romero, of Mexico, will sue
coed him. The Marquis di Imperial is
only a charge d'affairs and is not
al ar,T k,.f
merely to the department of state.
according TO the rule. SHOULD
the Italian mission to the United States be
withdrawn permanently and a charge
d 'affaireship substituted, as has been
threatened, Italy. in point of the diplo-
matte recognition accorded her at this
capital, would take place below Nicaragua.
Bolivia, Greece or any other two-penny
power
In 1867 congress passed law forbidding
'any diplomatic official to wear any uni
form or costume not previously authorized
by congress-" Certain authorities have
since held that this implied that minis
ter from this country abroad ought not to
wear any clothes at all unless authorized
by act of the national legislature; but the
possibility of an ENJOYS going around in
strength of this law, has not thus far been
realized.
All dispatches of international import
ance are written by Mr.. Blaine with his
own hand. Each communication of the
sort he indites in the shape of rough
draft, which is apt to be full of corrections
and interineations. This goes to copy
ist, who reproduces it in fair and beautiful
script on the big sheets of fine linen
paper already described. Next it is copied
into the record books, after the secretrry
of state has signed it; but if it is TO be
sent by telegraph, the pretty copy on linen
paper is omitted, the record book only pre-
serving transcript of it for future refer
ence if needed. 4 single wire connects
the Office with the Western Union, and an
operator is always at hand TO receive and
transmit messages 20 all parts of the world
at cut government rates. When dispatches
arrive they are handed over by the
chief clerk to the officials for whom they
are properly intended, and such of them
as require translation are given for that
purpose 10 Mr.. Thomas, the polyglot 9TH
cial translator for the department. There
are others who assist him in this work.
but he is responsible for it all.
RENE BAcHE.