The record-union., 1899-08-07
ENGLAND,s DIPLOMATS.
Why Her Representatives Are S.
Successful.


Many Englishmen are reared for dip
lomatic careers. England's sovereignty
over one-fifth of the globe is due in a
large measure to the men she has tu-
tored in statecraft and disciplined in
the Foreign Office, so that they are
able to look wisely after her colossal
interests. Many of these young fell
lows are educated at Elton and Oxford
for the profession, but they get a prac-
teal drill by going through every grade
OF the service; for instance, at Brus-
sells, Rio de Janeiro, Washington, Lis
bon. Constantinople, Paris, Picking,
Athens, Rome, Egypt, Berlin. After
such experiences man is usually old
enough to acquire the Grand Cross of
the Bath and to be appointed Privy
Councillor-the ultimate goal of his am
bition. Just think what all this sump-
tuous travel and intercourse with rul-
ers, dignitaries and aristocratic society
mean to wide-awake mani.
The first requirement of the British
service is that the applicant for dip
lomatic billet must be gentleman by
birth and education. Noble blood is not
necessary, nor are academic honors. In
fact, many of the young men of title
who enter the Foreign Office are not in
the least scholastic. They Of course
must have private income of at least
$1,000 a year; for they are sent to some
foreign capital first as unpaid attaches
to the Minister. They must keep out Of
debt and conserve their reputation. The
moment they get into scrape and Gre
ate scandal they are ruined so far as
ho COZ &c .ieri6
regulations, not relaxed even in the
cases of noblemen, preserve the high
standard of character for which En-
glish diplomats are celebrated the
world over.
1t may be several years before the
unpaid attache gets a paid appoint
ment, and then usually the remunera-
ton is of microscopic amount. But in
the meantime he is being watched by
the Under Secretary at Whitehall, and
if his Minister writes favorable reports
of his penetration, shrewdness, gallan-
tries to the ladies, ETC.. he is likely to
receive a promotion. When he becomes
a Second Secretary of Legation he gets
$4,000 a year, and in the grades above
that the salaries range from 81 900 to
SOC, Automatically better pay than
American diplomats enjoy. The British
public takes pride in being-I am
tempted to say-fashionably represent
ed abroad by popular ambassadors, and
it is a rule Of the department to give
every gentleman representing the
Queen a comfortably Independent posi-
ton. In addition to his salary he is
given fine house, servants, and an al
lowance for furniture. No wonder that
the British diplomatists are Jealous in
their efforts to serve their country hon.
orably and faithfully. They have every
incentive in the world to be good and
faithful. Many of the British Embas-
sailors are rich and spend twice the
amount of their salaries every year in
the splendor of their entertainments
and princely hospitality. Not a few of
them have been ruined in this way
notably Lord Augustus Lotus. who
some years ago went into bankruptcy,
having contracted enormous debts
while ambassador at st. Petersburg.
But with a rational exercise of fru-
gality these financial disasters need not
occur among the Queens foreign Min
listers; for they are paid literally and
are handsomely treated in every way.
The United States Government should
at least increase the salaries of it's EN-
bassadors to Great Britain, France,
Germany, Italy, Austria and Russia, so
that our representatives might main
tain establishments in consonance with
our rich and illustrious nation. These
provisions will come some day. when
we are better understand our need Of
diplomatic tuition. The time is ripe
now for us to realize this need-Leon
Mead, in Self Culture.