The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-09
WOMEN's WORK IN DIPLOMACY.
How a Duchess Concluded the Peace
of Cambray.
From the London Standard.

From the London Standard.
Examples of lady diplomatists are so
few that the number may almost be count
ed on the fingers. One of the earliest dlolo-
matte missions conducted by a woman
was that of Margaret, daughter of the
Emperor Macmillan l., who, in the year
1903, when she was widow of Duke Phili-
bert of Savoy, concluded the well-known
league of Cambray. Thes negotiations she
appears to have carried on not only in the
name of her imperial father, but also In
that of King Ferdinand of Spain, while
Cardinal Amboisi negotiated for the King
of France and the pope. By her tact and
cleverness Margaret succeeded in arrang-
ing this treaty, the result of which was
to almost annihilate the Republic of
Venice When Francis 1 of France was
the prisoner of Charles V, after the battle
Of Pavia, his sister, Marguerite of France,
widow of the Due d'Alencon, was es-
pecially sent for by the kings mother,
who held the regency, on a diplomatic
mission to the emperor in Madrid. The
object of this mission was to obtain the
release of Francis, nor is it improbable
that the threat to resign the crown of
France which the French king made,
was a diplomatic stroke suggested by the
princess. This threat brought the en-
reason,
signed, and Francis recovered his liberty.
The famous peace of Cambray, which
was signed in 1879, is known by the name
of the Ladies' Peace" because two ladies
were the negotiators. These were Mar
garet of Austria, duchess dowager of Sa-
voy, aunt of Charles V, and Louise, the
mother of Francis I. They agreed on an
interview at Cambray, and being lodged
in two adjoining houses, between which a
communication was opened by means of
door, met together without ceremony or
observation and held daily conferences,
to which no person whatever was admitted.
LAS both were profoundly skilled In bus
mess" says Robertson, thoroughly ac-
duainted with the secrets of their respec-
tive courts and possessed with perfect con-
fidence in each other they soon made great
progress toward a final accommodation,
and the AMBASSADORS of all the confeder-
ates waited in anxious suspense TO know
their fate, the determination of which was
entirely in the hands OF those illustrious
negotiators." In the reign OF Henry w
we are told France sent an aimbassadress
to Constantinople Wicquefort in his we'll
known work, The Ambassador and His
Functions" mentions the diplomatic mis-
sions of Eleanor, queen of France. and
Marie, queen OF Hungary, who in 1887, con-
,ciuded at Bonnecy a three mouths' armis-
tice in the names Of Charles V and Fran
l.
tentiaries we may mention the duchess OF
sOrleans, who negotiated the treaty between
France and England, which In Charles IFS
dine detached the latter country from It's
alliance with Holland. But perhaps the
two best examples which history furnishes
of ambassadresses are those OF Aurora,
countess OF Konlgsmark. whom Augustus
the strong sent 10 Charles XII OF Sweden,
and La Marchai De Guelbriant, ambassa-
dress OF Louis XIV. Marie Aurora Won
Konigsmark was born In 1896 at the Ago
thenberg near Strade. This lady. who
was renowned for her beauty and wit,
lived for severa. years on the most init
mate terms with King Augustus, but
eventually was nominated abbess OF the
Imperial foundation OF Gredlingburg.
whilst an inmate Of the abbey Augustus
was hard pressed by the King OF Sweden.
and was not only unable 70 oppose him with
an adequate force, but could not even pay
the small body OF troops which he possess
ed.
on hearing OF the evil times which had
fallen upon her whilom lover. the count
ess fastened 10 Dresden. IN order n pos
sihle. to rouse the king 20 action. She
found him given over TO sloth and intern
perance. and 50 utterly demoralized that
he seemed unable 70 take any step for his