Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-25
NOT AN OUTPOST.
Washington Now an Important Dip
lomatic Assignment.
A FOREIGN POLICY FAST DEVELOPING
Things That Foreign Representa-
tives Cannot Comprehend.
AN IN VITING FIEL D

AN IN VITIN FIELD
A gentleman well acquainted In official
circles in this country and abroad, In dis
cussing some recent diplomatic compiica-
tions, said to a representative of The Star
today:
"It looks very much as If Washington
might soon become one of the most i'm
portant assignments falling to men in
diplomatic service. For years we were not
only in a great measure unknown. but
considered undesirable as far as known.
We were an outpost. Foreign diplomats
locked upon the assignment as a sort OF
banishment-a penitential period in their
official careers. They didn't want to come.
The town was represented to them as
small, and the opportunities for enjoyment
few. There was no opera, no great race
course, no great fete at any time. Their
business was humdrum. The government
had no foreign policy except to let foreign
governments alone as much as possible.
They looked upon life at this capital, there
fore, as fatiguing to the last degree They
felt that while here they would have moth
ing but time on their hands. But all this
Washington is now highly considered
abroad. 1t does not, of course, rank with
the European capitals In its equipment for
great social functions, but its beauty and
its growth are now well advertised, and the
growing Importance of the United States
gives assurance to the diplomat that his
opportunity is here, and not longer In the
older capitals. Diplomacy, like the star OF
empire, and, indeed. following that, is TAX
ing its way westward. The big ventures
are all launched on this side Of the water
now. The greatest wealth is here Em!gra-
ton sets this way. The government is
fast developing a foreign policy. and this,
with the manifold interests involved, makes
a little business now and then for diplomats
to attend to.
The Difficulty increases.
"And as his opportunity increases so does
the foreign diplomats difficulty increase.
This is getting to be a somewhat trying
post to fill. The diplomats are waking up
to the fact that not only some very nice
questions of diplomacy, but some equally
nice questions of governmental response
bility, naturally inhere in a government
like this, made up. as 1t is, of divided re-
sponsibilities, reaching all the way from
the municipality to the national control:
structure difficult to comprehend. and l am
frank enough to admit that 1 myself have
found 1t difficult to explain. / was In Eng
land when the mob in New Orleans killed
and Mr. Blaine wrote his admirable letter
to Rome in response to the demand of the
Italian government for an explanation of
and an atonement for the unfortunate af-
fair. I was besieged with questions on the
subject by my English friends. 1t really
was amusing the way they puzzled over
the municipal the state, and then the ma
tional aspect of the case. I may have
added to their difficulty by my way of put
ting the matter, but believe the best ex-
FOUNDER of things would have failed. AS a
in the assertion that the national govern
ment in such circumstances should be re-
quired to take full responsibility at once in
responding to the demands Of foreign gov
ernmentS, and settle at its leisure and
pleasure with its own local authorities"
How do the foreign diplomats themselves
feel on the general question Of the Ameri
can method of doing business" was asked
Diplomats Have Little to Say.
We'll, being diplomats. they have little
to say. They cannot openly complain.
whatever their feelings may be. But I
think it safe to assume that the situation
now and then puzzles even them. And
several things have happened within the
past few years well calculated we our
selves must admit, to disturb them. The
case of Lord Sackville has never appeared
to foreigners as it appears to us. That Is
the most famous case. Foreigners feel that
the British minister was first tricked and
then sacrificed to election clamor In other
words, they feel that he was dealt with in
Hospitality by this government. His career
up to that time had been very successful.
and his services in this country very ac-
ceptable to the authorities. He had, they
contend, never shown any disposition to
meddle with American affairs, and they do
not believe that a fair reading now of the
Murchfson letter convfcts him of desire
to do SO in that case. But he was packed
off in pretty short order, and it practically
drove him from office. Then in few years
Baron Fava in his efforts to effect prompt
settlement of the New Orleans affair. Like
Senior Muruaga at the present time in the
Alliance matter, he was criticised here for
countrymen for not bringing this govern
ment up with a round turn. 1t looked for
time as If his fate might be similar to
that of Lord Sackville. But he was more
saved to the service. Now we have Baron
Fava again, jealous about an affair in Col
orado, over which, as in the New Orleans
affair. the local authorities are asserting
the first control, and Muruaga held at
arms length by the State Department, and
Thurston's recall requested Of the Ha-
waiian government. All of this is well cal
culated to set the diplomats to guessing,
and to keep them guessing Matters get
mixed here in a very short time, and very
much mixed, and the diplomat who doesn't
get his bearings at once is soon out of the
channel and finds it difficult to make head
way"
Whats the remedy?'
Time and Patience the Remedy.
"Oh, I'm sure can't say. Probably there
is noEe but time and patience. These things
straighten themselves out after awhile. But
meanwhile, with all nationalities already
represented in our population, and the tide
Of immigration still strong; with great en-
terprises afoot, and others under serious
discussion; with the government at last on
the eve of taking a place with other ma
tions in acquiring more territory; the dip
lomat is likely to find more important busi-
ness to attend to at this capital than at
nearly any other post in the whole list of
diplomatic assignments. 1 suppose his way
ought to be made as smooth for him as
possible when he comes. He ought not to
be picked up on trivialities, or held 20 the
accountability Of constitutional lawyer
on the question of the powers of our gov
ernment. But, of course, lie ought to know
his business; and inasmuch as the diff
culties are so greatly increasing here, 1t
must result in raising Washington in the
diplomatic scale. Foreign governments. in
making changes from time to time, will
be certain to slate their good men for