New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18

admittedly the greatest masters of the dipI'-
macy of the old or Mach:avciiian school. When
the late Lord Clarendon. so long in charge Oh
the International relations Of Great britain. was
examined by The Parliamentary committee On
the diplomatic service. and was asked whether
in his judgment any special art is required IN
diplomacy. he answered. No; think the spc-
ciai art required is ths-to be perfectly honest
ana truthful and straightforward" II Is upon
This axiom that Anglo Saxon diplomacy Of me
present day is based. and there is no doubt that
slowly and by degrees the practice is extending
20 other countries
AN EXCESS OF FORMAILTY
One thing. however. has still remained 70
hamper this AnSiD-German form Of modern
diplomacy. ro:ne'y. n 700 defcrentia, regard FOR
the various ru',s and formalities of the profess
sion. and above all. conviction that ii was the
first and fcrrm st duty Of an ambassador q ne
silent and as :mpcncrable the Sphinx. |
can recall Sir Edward Malet in delivering
speech at the Queens jubilee banquet in 1887
cxcUsinS himself for what he alleged To DE ms
lack II coqurnce with the remark: You kr0w.
we diplomalists are told not To speak. ana 10
keep mouths cl3scd' Now silence is Ill
very wri in It's way, especially rs it has the
effect not oriy # rlystifyinG the people with
whom one is brought into contact, but likeNis"
If mhuinc them with The belief. sometimes undo
served. Of ones sa-;acity. Yet there are moments
here silence il drawback and where d.
roctEcsS Of speech - IF advantage from 4 dpo-
matte Point Of yiew This has been realized and
put int, practice with signal success by the
foreign representatives. Of the United states.
VINO. unhindareI by old-timc traditions. rules
and ethics Of diplomacy. bring T. the perform-
arCc OF their duties the unicttered principles Of
plain. honorable. and. above all. frank business
men. who If they perceive Il sensible and
straightforward manner cf accomplishing their
official task at orce proceed 10 DO So without
the slightest regard for or Difference to the
trammels and preceicnts If diplomacy.
That is evidently what Sir Edmund Monson
meant when ne described himself at the Cham
Der of Commerce banquet the other day as tax
ing leaf put Of the book Of the new American
diplomacy. lis action was American in that it
was unwarrantcd ny precedent or diplomatic
rule Ard get il was a sensible and sure
method If achieving 4 certain object, which in
spite Of all that is said to the contrary. has
been secured Foreigners are far too apt to
judge Franco from The irresponsible utterances
If the Partisan new spapers and from the oc-
casiona speeches. and sometimes from the
policy NJ short-iiv.d ministries, the members Of
which arc willing 20 pander to the Chauvinist
sentiment Of the boulevard in order 10 win
and re,ain that cphemcral popularity which is
the basis rf their brief tenure Of Office. This is
mistake The most important element Of pub
lie opinion in France-thal. in fact. which fron,
time to time makes It's irresistible power felt in
The councils Of the nation. Of which it may be
sail . constitute III. true backboLe-is to De
found in the great Industrial. commercial and
agricultural interests situated beyond the walls
of Paris. IN the great provincial towns and rural
districts.
TIE PEOPLE TO REACH
The french manufacturer. the merchant the
landowner and the petty trader as well have
'u, little IN common or in sympathy with the
noisy, frothj Partisan press or with the carpet
i,ag.poiiticians who constitute nine tenth3 Of