The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-10
AMERICAN DIPLOMACY.
British Protests Compared With Brit
ish Methods.

Washington SteE
What right has England TO lecture on the
81 jeet OF the amenities in diplomatic cor
respondenee? Does she ever observe them ex-
cept toward nations powerful enough and in
position to resent q statement made with too
much directness. HISS she not always ignored
them toward small nations, ana large nations
in periods OF their embarrassment?
Take the Trent affair; the United States was
torn with civil war. Europe believed, and
England hoped, that the union was on the
point OF dissolution. England seized the
Trent affair for the purpose OF fastening the
catastrophe. Her Premier drew, and his Cab
met approved, q dispatch so insulting
IN tone mat war Would inevitably hare
followed its receipt 81 this capital Full
as his hands already were OF domestic
troubles. Mr. Lincoln would yet have been
obliged 10 re EN- such 6 communication. It
was the Queen tho so.tened The tone OF the
deliTersnce and made il possible Tor This Gov
eminent 10 comply with the demsn with
seit-Eespect. Very appropriately, the Presi-
dent, IN his jubilee letter 70 the Queen, re-
ierred 10 this gracious act OF hers. But il was
her own act and not that OF the statesman re-
spoQsib 2 for the diplo macy of the realm.
Take Lord Begconsfeld's dispatch a. the
time OF the close OF the Turko-RusSian war,
when he was arranging that sps ctscular
maneuver which eliminated in the Berlin
conference. Russia, Englsnd's old enemy,
had rriumphed over Turkey. but she wss in
no condition or position 10 engage fresh
in stopping Russia practically al the gates OF
Coastsnlinople he empIoyed some pretty
sharp language. Then, when he got 70 Berlin,
he conducted his case with an arrogance OF
tone and manner which the Russians have
never forgotten.
Toward small powers England has never
held but one tone. and that an offensive one.
She has never taken the trouble 10 conceal neT
contempt Tor little fellow. In the Corinto
ms tier she sent sharp message, and followed
that with wsrship and demand for smart
money" Venezuela had 10 break of dipIo-
matte relations with her owing 10 her often
siysuess IL the matter OF the boundary dis
pute, and If the United States had not inter
tered English warships would in tine have
appeared of tie coast OF that country. Mr..
Chsmberlsiu's communications TO President
Kruger in the Transvsal affair carry in places
the zone OF an impatient chief toward & stub
born understrapper.
So far as the diplomatic correspondence o.
this Government IS concerned, il has always
been conducted II what may be described as
g purely democratic form. 1t has never be en-
tricked out with the fTiiIs of n elaborate or
insIncere civIlitv. Master minds Ike those OF
Cay Webster, Aarcy, FISK and Blaine never
pied the European definition of diplo-
macy. They never tried to hide thing ind =
2 suited cere mon al or in lsbyriu OF Inegn-
ing .ess phrsseOlogy. In their diplomatic cor
rsspoadeace Jhey were always direct md
straightforward, and never, when stating g
case, beat stoUi the bush or LETT their real
meaning in doubt. Those English editors Who
are 50 much exercised over M ShsT mans
letter oCgHt 70 refresh their minds with
I 3