The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-12
CIRCULATION STATEMENT.
The Profession of Diplomacy.


In an editorial under the caption Of NO
School of Diplomacy Needed" the New
York sun" says:
EVERY now and then somebody asserts that our
International interests would be promoted by d
body ct professional diplomatists, and that q
might he well for Federal Governmt M
10 establish at Washington a school IN which
young men should be trained for diplomatic iuuc
tioBs."
The sun" does not see any necessity for
such Government institution. and neither
do We. 1t is no more requisite for the ma
tiOn to teach diplomacy than it is for il
TO teach theology or law. There are sem
inaries in plenty for students Of divinity,
and law schools without number for aspi-
rants TO the bar and bench. For that rea-
son no necessity exists for paternaliziug
either branch of learning at the public
expense. Equally. there could be TO cry
ing demand Tor a school of diplomacy IN
der national auspices. simply bscause there
is such a school in Washington already,
and a very hourishing one at that Il IS
one Of the special schools Of the Colum-
bian University, and is officially known as
the School OF Comparative Jurisprudence
and Diplomacy" Within its walls Young
men are trained for diplomatic functious.
although it is to be doubted if many Of the
student body expect ever to perform them.
but that is beside the question.
While we quite agree with the "Sun"
that diplomatic education is not a proper
subject for Government interference. we
are not so sure that it is right in consid-
ering our present system Of diplomatic ap-
pointments. tenure. and so on preferable
to one more permanent. It is true. as our
contemporary argues. that the duties and
opportunities Of ambassadors and minis
tiers have greatly narrowed since the ad-
vent Of an era Of rapid and easy com
municstions with the remotest parts OF
the world In these days a diplomatist on
service in a foreign capital is able in
stsntly to refer an important question to
his home government and secure advice
and instructions within a few hours. For
merly. in like circumstances. he would
have had to wait for weeks. meantime
acting on his own judgment and initiative.
But the change alluded to does not abolish
the necessity for diplomatic training A
few weeks ago a former minister from
this TO an Eastern country. in a lecture
al the School Of Comparative Jurisprudence
and Diplomacy. said that it frequently oe--
CURED that men appointed to high places
in the service were without previous
knowledge OF international law. or other
subjects pertinent to their business. He
added that it would have been Of The
greatest advantage to him. in the first
years of his diplomatic career. if he could
have enjoyed the advantage OF a course in
such a school as can now be found in
Washington Diplomats. the sun" thinks
are like poets. born not made. This is
correct in principle. Great inventors like
Morse. Edison, Mergenthaler. and Besse- 7
mer, also are born and not made. but their
genius would probably not amount TO
much in the way OF practical results in the
absence Of training in the use Of tools
and some knowledge OF electricity. chem
istry. mechanics. or what not In the
same way a diplomatist needs to krow
his profession quite as much as an engin-
Ger does his. The contrary assumption in
times past has worked to our disadvantage
in the diplomatic settlement OF many
.yestions with other nations
While there is something 10 say on bath +
sides Of the matter. on the whole we are
inclined TO think that a permanent and I
specially educated Diplomatic Corps would
be ar improvement upon existing condi- /
lions We have 20 doubt at al that q
permanent Consular Service under the .
merit system, with tenure during good be- .
hayior, would advance the public inter I
ests