The San Francisco call., 1903-01-17
DIPLOMATIC LANGUAGE.

X Britain against the passage of the Darda-
nelles by certain Russian torpedo boat de
stroyers the Russian Government said have made
answer that such boats were sent through the
straits. Investigation discoses the fact that the,
Russians are right. When. the boats made the trip
they had no armament and few the commercial flag
They could not at that time have destroyed any
thing, much less a torpedo, and harmless as
wolf in sleeps clothing.
We are told that European diplomats are now
busily engaged in trying to determine when a tor
pedo destroyer is torpedo destroyer 1t appears
given boat may be warship in the Black Sea,
merchant vessel on her way through the Turkish
waters and warship again when she gets into the
Mediterranean. There is, of course, good deal OF
danger in that kind of definition, and naturally di-
plomacy would like have a better understanding
on the subject.
This is the second lesson Russia has given Europe
of the fexibility OF diplomatic language within a
year. The first lesson occurred in connection with
the settlement OF the Chinese question AT that time
Russia promised to evacuate her posts in Manchuria
Weeks became months and the promise remained
seemingly unfulfled Russian troops continued to
be conspcuousy notable every strategic point of
the province and at last Germany and Great Britain
made joint request for explanations. They were
that she had evacuated her posts in Manchuria ac
cording to her promise but that owing to the dis
order prevailing in the province she had been COM
PEELED to occupy certain new posts for the sake of
protecting life and property
Russia is the only nation that finds diplomatic
language excellent means for concea1ing thought
1t is only short while ago that Germany and Great
Britain had all dplomatists studying find out what
is meant by "a peaceful blockade" 1t appears the
peaceful nature of the blockade OF the Venezuelan
ports did not prevent the smashing of several Ven
ezuean warships, the bombardment OF Venezu-
elan forts. The difference between that kind OF
thing and real war is very subtle, but fortunately
while the world trying to study it out the whole
controversy was referred to arbitration, that a
determination of the exact meaning of peaceful
blockade ceased to be of practical value.
A little further back there was still more striking
illustration OF the amazing neatness of diplomatic
phraseoogy. Nearly all the great powers OF Eu-
rope, in combination with the United States, sent
fleets to Chinese waters and armies to invade the
country. There was a complete demonstration in
force" Forts were bombarded battles fought,
soldiers were killed, wide region OF country was
devastated the capital OF China taken, its wealth
plundered and its private houses looted. Still that
was not war Diplomacy said so, and in all the world
there Dig enough to dispute the saying
When is a war not war? When is blockade
by force peaceful blockade? Under what circum-
stances can nation be said to have evacuated a
province while still retaining military control over
it? When is batteship not a battleship?
Those are not wholly idle conundrums, got up to
please children. At present the discussion upon them
is purely academic, but some day there may be
needed satisfactory answer to every of them.
Suppose a European power should establish military
posts on the soil Of some South American country
and when asked under the Monroe doctrine to
evacuate should move the army OF occupation from
cne set Of posts to another set in the country
would not the plain American citizen have some dif-
cuty in understanding the delicacy of the situation?
Might there not be a ruction the meaning Of
/ the word?
Diplomacy is evidently very pretty game to play
at In old times it was secret and occult mystery
and mankind had sort of reverence for it; but of
late the newspapers are making known the inner
workings of the cult and it shows up very much like
confidence game. Evidently the promises of Dip
lomacy can be relied upon only when there is power
strong enough to compel the keeping OF the prom
ises. We strong enough to make the blockade
OF the Venezuelan ports comparatively peaceful af-
fair. but is any one strong enough to compel Rus
sa to build her warships in such manner that they
will remain warships when seeking to pass through
the Dardanelles?