The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-05-14
"PRAC1ICE OF DIPLOMACY. >
EX-SECRETARYFO STER AIDE ESSES
THE YALE Law SCHOOL.

First of the Series of storrs Lectures
Large AssembIage and an Admirable
and interesting Dlscourse-severa
Amusing Stories.
The Storrs series of lectures before
the Yale Law school opened yesterday
afternoon at o'clock at Hendrie hall
The lecturer is Hon. John w. Foster
LII. D., of Washington, D. c., former
secretary of the interior and ex-minis.
ter to Russia. The series of lectures is
on "The Practice of Diplomacy" and
yesterdays subject was Ambassadors
and Ministers; Their Grade, Appoint
ment and Entrance on Mission" The
lecture this afternoon, at the same hour
and by the same speaker, will be on
Duties of Ambassadors and Minis
ters."
Hendrie hall was well filled with
members of the law school and invited
friends, and there was a generous
/ sprinkllng of women. The lecturer was
| applauded as he entered the hall and
on opening and finishing his address,
| President Hadley, of Yale, Dean Way
land, of the law school, and Professor
Wurts, of the school, had seats ON the
platform, and President Hadley intro
duced the speaker as man having had
the highest practical experiences, and
possessing the most distinguished pow
err of presenting them.
Reviewing the attempts centuries ago
to establish international diplomatic re-
lations between the nations of the
world, Mr.. Foster came down to the
congress of Vienna in 1915, which prac-
tically furnished the basis for the pres,
ent system. Many of the nations in
earlier things regarded diplomacy and
its maintenance as rather more orna-
mental and expensive than necessary,
and this question has been considered
both by the United States congress and
the English parliament. But it is rec
ognized that diplomacy is growing
more, rather than less, important be-
tween the nations.
A diplomatic career generally lasts
lifetime, and in foreign countries can
didates are required to pass examina-
lions with special reference to the du-
ties of the office In some countries
after a long service they are retired on
pensions. In the United States no ex-
animation is required, but candidates
are usually chosen from among those
who have become distinguished in leg
islative halls 1t will be many years
before the United States adopts in full
the present European methods in Sc
Letting and maintaining ENJOYS. The
first appropriation for the diplomatic
service in the United States was $4,000;
now the sum of $1622,700 is annually
expended.
Mr. Foster explained at length the |
difficulties met in the early days, espe- |
cially over the question Of precedence.
which issue was ever to the fore, and |
he gave some amusing historical rec !
ords of the tribulations encountered in
those days over the question who
should be first. Up to the reformation |
the pope had precedence, the emperor |
Of Germany coming next and as the
contest grew in intensity the round ia
bic and other geometrical eveners were
called into play to solve the problem |
Finally it was decided that among in
dependent nations all ENJOYS must |
stand on an equality the highest and
the lowest, the powerful and the weak,
and so it remains at present. No prece-
ience is recognized.
Mr.. Foster spoke at length upon the
difficulties confronting United States
ENJOYS because they stood lower in
'ank than those of some of the foreign
and strongly disapproved the
action of congress in increasing the
grade of our representatives without
Increasing the pay The expenses of
the office are very high and
early growing larger, until it has come
% be true that none but rich men can
lccept the honor The salary of the Of
ice is far below the expense of holding
t. "It is a sad day for this republic"
aid Mr. Foster, when the highest Of
ices are the reward of wealth rather
han of fitness and ability" All class
must be abolished and a
ingle grade established in all the diplo-
matte corps Of the world
The present diplomatic body of the
United States was enumerated and ex-
,lained, and the procedure in selecting I
n ambassador, notifying the country
or which he is chosen and the formal ;
ties of his acceptance or rejection, his {
rival, the presentation Of his creden- q
ials and his acceptance at court were |
II fully set forth by the speaker. In {
onclusion Mr.. Foster told several very | I
stories of personal experience 6
l Russia and elsewhere, in which his {
arrest endeavor to comply with every
base of court etiquette led to some /
cry embarrassing though laughable q
tuations. c
SEA LIONS r