The Washington weekly post., 1899-11-28
Our Diplomatic Service.

without stopping 10 ascertain the exact
amount Of truth in the report current
some days ago that one Of the attaches Of
the United States Embassy at Berlin-a
DR.. Stiles. we think-had become persona
non grata TO the German government and
would soon be recalled. we hasten to say
that, In our opinion. the Emperor would
be fully within his rights In suggesting
such step and that Washington would
have no sort Of right to complain. At
taehes who make themselves obnoxious,
from any cause or from no cause, at once
lose their usefulness TO the government
they represent No matter whether the
unfsvorable impression be created de-
liberately or be merely the result Of in
nocent misfortune. the fact remains. The
man is no longer capable of render
ing valuable service. We 90 further.
indeed, and assert that, even though
he may still receive the formal recog-
milton OF the foreign Office, the per-
sonal ill-will Of those with whom he
comes in contact and whose hostility car
ries with il an Unfavorable influence, is
enough to make his retention exceeding
ly unwise.
For our part, we should like to see the
possibilities Of this kind Of mischief cur
tailed by a reduction Of our diplomatic es-
adjustments at the capital of every coun-
try with which we have relations. II
seems to us that the scheme of represea-
tatiOn has gradually attained needlessly
complex and unwieldy proportions. AS for
the military and naval attaches, We have
already expressed the opinion that they
are undesirable in every way. Such in
formation as foreign governments choose
to communicate we can obtain without
trouble through the ordinary diplomatic
channels. II is a matter OF mere routine
Information which these governments do
not wish TO communicate, can be o. 'ained
only by irregular If not dish, rable
means. On special occasions, VIII, OUR
official presence and observation are in
vited, 1t is always practicable to send spe-
cial representatives, provided the cases
are of sufficient interest. But to keep
army and navy officers permanently sta
TONED at foreign capitals is obviously un-
necessary and too often embarrassing. IL
not scandalous We have had at least one
experience in the line of scandal. and the
Dreyfus case has furnished abundant IL
lustration of the shameful possibilities of
the system. II is quite clear to US that the
United States will consult its own dignity
and fame by holding scrupulously aloof
from the whole shabby business. Our own
attitude in this respect shows clearly
enough that We do not want foreign off,
cials prying into our military secrets
Why, then, should we send representa-
tives abroad who. If they have any serious
function at all, have that of committing
the very offense which we ourselves resent
in others?
AS for the so-called scientific" addI-
uons to our embassies and legations. we
find them quite as superf1uous as the mill
itary and naval additions. They stand for
nothing so much as for a MULTIPLICATION
OF offices and an increase of the material
for mischief and irritation. DR.. Stiles NAV
or may not have committed the smallest
indiscretion. We are not considering him
at all. But 1t must be obvious that the
more we reduce our diplomatic estab-
lishments the more We lessen the posi-
bilities of blunder and complication. This
is matter which needs careful considera-
ton by the legislative as well as the ex-
ecutiye branch of the government. We
trust that consideration will be bestowed