The Progress., 1893-04-01
pleasant talk not only at court, but also IN

pleasant Udlk nOC Only dI OOuit' bUN "AoO AZ
society.
During one Of my stations at Toxic there
was a very estimable old fellow as Amer
lean minister who used to horriiY both the
japanese dignitaries as well rs his diplo-
matte colleagues by receiving them IN hls
shirt sleeves, while another United States
envoy to the same court gave rise to much
disagreeable comment. first, by his fight
in the local press with his consul general;
secondly, By the fact that his son-in-law
held lucrative post in the service OF the
state to which he was accredited, and,
thirdly, by playing his cards in such
manner that when his term of Office as
American minister expired he entered the
service of the japanese government as one
Of its legal advisers.
Better care with regard to social status
and breeding appears to be exercised by
the United States government in selecting
men to represent it in London, Paris,
Vienna and Berlin, and neither the Messrs.
Phelps, at London and Berlin; Colonel Fred
Grant, at Vienna, nor Mr.. Whitelaw Reid,
at Paris, have ever given cause for the
slightest criticism on the score of manners
and usage. Indeed from a social point Of
view no more accomplished and charming
representatives of this great and glorious
country could be desired, and the personal
popularity and universal esteem which
they acquired in the capitals where they
were appointed to reside undoubtedly en-
abled them to obtain exceptional advan-
tages and consideration both for their own
government and for their fellow country
men.
IL. 81. -.l 10Th
from an official and social point of view is
all the more to their credit by reason of the
fact that none of them possessed either
previous diplomatic training or even pre-
vious personal acquaintance with the gov
ernment and with the society among which
they were called upon to represent their
country. There have been other American
ENJOYS of equal social eminence at home
who have been far less fortunate. Had,
for instance, Mr.. Coolidge, who succeeded
Mr.. Whitelaw Reid at Paris, possessed the
slightest diplomatic training or experience
you would certainly never have heard any
thing of the unfortunate Borup scandal,
which has contributed so much to injure
the prestige both of American diplomacy
and of the American army in France.
No German, English or Russian embas-
sador would have permitted his military
attache to be subjected to such indignity
as was suffered by Captain Borup, who
was innocent of doing anything else than
that which falls within the recognized du-
ties of military attaches, and even if the
military attache had really rendered him
self guilty of the offenses falsely imputed
to Captain Borup by the Partisan press
his ambassador would never have allowed
the matter to develop into public scandal
At Rome one of your most amiable and
personally irreproachable of ministers, Mr.
W. w. Astor, gave rise to no end of un-
friendly gossip in official and diplomatic
circles when he first took up his resi-
dence in the Eternal City by address
ing invitations for dinners and recep-
tions to official personages and dignita-
ries upon whom he had not previously
taken the trouble to call and to leave
cards. The consequence was that part of
the people asked took no notice of the in
vitations of the United States envoy, while
those who availed themselves thereof did
so with an indulgent shrug Of the shou:-
ders and comment to the effect that it was
necessary to make certain allowances for
the ignorance Of diplomatic and official
usage of the American minister
The best proof of the fact that diplomatic
training is indispensable is to be found in
the practice which you seem to adopt of
leaving your secretaries of legation at ST.
Petersburg, London, Vienna, and to GER
tain extent in Paris, not merely for four
years, but almost for generation, at their
posts. Mr.. Henry White appears to be a
fixture in London, just in the same way as
Mr.. George Wurtz at st. Petersburg and
the late Mr.. Delaplaine at Vienna.
Long residence in the respective capitals
in which they are stationed and their
thorough acquaintance not only with the
court and society of the place, but also
with the inner workings, usages and un-
written laws thereof, render them so in
valuable to the United States government
that their chiefs, the ministers, become
altogether superfuous 1t is these secre-
taries and not the ENJOYS who receive
from their diplomatic colleagues and from
the members of the government to which
they are accredited condolences of nature
to prove of interest and of use to the state
department at Washington.
Beaurocratic to the very core, it is only
natural that the European government Of
fetal or statesman should prefer to trust
III pcAoOh hC iCSaAuo as DclllS III
the permanent service of the United States
government such as the secretaries of lie,
cation, rather than in the minister, who
was lawyer yesterday and will probably
blossom forth as journalist-that official
bette noir of the European official-tomor.
row.
Among other of your trained and eS.
perienced diplomats with whom l have
been brought into contact, and who en-.
joyed the greatest regard in both the
official and social circles of the capital
where they were stationed, should men.
tion the names OF Mr.. Nicholas Fish, the
late Mr.. Moran and the late Eugene
Schuyler.
Let me add two brief recommendations
in conclusion. In the first place, bearing
in mind the fact that the United States Is
regarded as one of the so called great pow
ers, you should follow the example Of the
latter and accredit your ENJOYS to the great
powers of Europe as ambassadors instead
of ministers. The latter necessarily take a
secondary rank and enjoy precedence only