The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-22
RAISE OF RANK.
President Mckinley Re-
ported to Favor II.
For Ministers at Madrid and
at COnStantinOple.
Would Make Them Ambass adors
Pay for Political Service.

WASHINGTON, March Ga Especial. =
President Mckinley il in favor of elevat-
ing our ministers at certain foreign courts
To the rank of ambassador. Tho particular
posts whose importance he wishes to in
crease are that at Constantinople and at
Madrid. As to the first named, 10 is un-
derstood that negotiations have already be-
gun with the Turkish government If
the porte be found willing To increase the
rank of its representative in Washington,
the new minister of the United States at
Constantinople will DO made an embassa-
dor. While the United States has small
direct interest in the outcome Of the great
game of world politics now being played
Mt Constantinople, our indirect interest is
very great. A mere minister is not taken
into the confidence of the representatives
of the European powers at the Turkish
capital. For year or moro Minister Ter
rell has been unable TO keep the state de-
partment informed concerning the progress
OF events there save AS they were observed
from the outside. President Mckinley feels
that the dignity of the United States could
be better upheld by making our diplomatic
agent there rank with the best of them.
The president is also anxious TO have our
minister at Madrid raised to the rank of an
ambassador The leading nations of Eu-
rope keep ambassadors at Madrid, and con.
sidering the Importance Of the relations be-
tween the United States and Spain at the
present time, and their still greater proba.
bic importance in the future, It would
seem to be good policy to invest our repre-
sentative there with all possible dignity
and rank.
ambassadors Defined.
People who are not familiar with the
workings of diplomatic corps cannot un'
derstand why "A minister plenipotentiary is
not just as good as an embnssador. But
hero in Washington we see u great differ-
ence. AT the Inauguration of President
Mckinley, for instance. the diplomatic rep
resentatives of Great Britain, Germany,
France and Italy being ambassadors, were
given seats in the senate chamber almost
beside those of President Cleveland and
President Elect Mckinley, while all the
ministers occupied seats on the floor OF the
senate. This one circumstance indicates
the great difference between the rank of a
minister and that of an EN- mbassador. The
former is the representative of his govern
ment attached Co the government of tho
country in which he resides. The embas-
sador, on the other hand, is the personal
representative of his sovereign near the
person of the sovereign or head of the coun-
try TO which he is sent.
i have been asked the question why this
government does not send an ambassador
TO Sc. Petersburg. Russia Is one Of the
greatest nations in the world. It is n first
class power while Italy, TO which we do
send an ambassador is o second rate pow
er. The explanation is that this govern
ment applied To the ears government
some time ago for permission TO exchange
ambassadors, but Russia was not willing
to do SO. The refusal implied no affront
TO the United States, no intimation that
this republic was not considered n first
class power, but was solely matter of do
nestle convenience. All the great foreign
nations maintain a permanent diplomatic
service. Their consuls are promoted to be
ministers and their ministers TO be embas-
sadors. After n man has once served as
ambassador he cannot be reduced TO the