The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13

century that diplomacy can be said to have
become Q system In Italy. After the prac-
tioal deliverance Of the Italian States from
the control Of the transalpins emperors.
they constituted little world by itself
whose component psrts were HUMOROUS.
feeble and mutually hostile. To discharge
the regulative functions which the Empire
had ceased to exercise. they evolved an
organism TO which the name Of diplomacy
Is applicable. To learn the intentions Of
ones neighbor, to defeat his hostile designs,
to form alliances with bis enemies. 10 steal
away his old friends and to avert his pro-
ouremeut OF new ones became matters OF
tho highest public interest. Less costly
and hazardous than war. diplomacy now
in large measure superseded it with plot
and counterpart. The system long In use
at Venice was henceforth adopted by every
Italian State. By A. d. 1900. Florence was
already skilled adept But at this period
the venetians had carried their methods
still nearer to perfection. and Venice con-
tinued to be the school and touchstone
Of ambassador
DR.. Hill deduces the character Of We
netian diplomacy in the latter half Of the
thirteenth century and later from some
Of the laws and regulations applicable to it,
agents. BY law Of Doc. u. 1858. for in
stance, an ambassador was forbidden to
let his wife accompany him upon his mis-
sion, lest abe divulge his business; ON the
other hand he waa required to talee his own
cook, lest he be poisoned. BY another law
of the same year any present received from
a foreigner had TO be sent home for deposit
from his mission. No diplomatic agent
was despatched into a foreign territory
wherein he had possessions. Nor was he
allowed to be absent single day from his
post In 1898 he was directed to file Q
complete written report within fifteen days
after the return Of the embassy. Through
out the thirteenth century the duration Of q
mission was limited to two or three months,
and It was not until the fifteenth century
that 1t was extended to two years. The
effect OF longer expatriation then became
apparent from the severe laws passed to
prevent the disclosure OF State secrets.
Thus a law Of 1850 forbade conversation
with strangers on public affairs or letters
on political questions addressed to persons
not connected with the Government. A
decree Of 1881 went 80 far as to punish With
Punishment and fine OF 1000 duoats any
conversation with q foreign Minister on
affairs Of State-beyond, Of course, the
communication Of the demands or sugges-
tions formulated by the Signory. That
diplomatic missions thus restricted were
not sought for is evident from decree of
1871 which imposed fine OF 20 sold upon
any one who, having received . mission. re-
fused to start; and from q later decree
(l2se) which admitted only severe sickness
as an excuse for delay. A still moro strin-
gent law. Of 1850. deprived for ono year Of
public Office and the emolument thereto
attached an envoy disobeying an order to
proceed upon his mission.
What now became tho primary aim OF
italian dinlomatists3 DR.. Hin answers
that no long OF perience was needed TO prove
that, n political power could be secured
within given State, It could easily b for
tilted and perpetuated by compact and al
lance with exterior Powers. Tho conception
OF equilibrium evolved a. q necessity
Of defense, was soon reduced b . science,
and served TO secure for the italian COM
monwealth many Of the advantages which
might have been afforded by confederation.
. Always changing, requiring the utmost
vigilance and sagaoity, the system Of transit
tory alliances. as tested and tried by the
princes and republics Of Italy. was q proto-
typo and epitome Of what all Europe was
soon to practise upon q creator scale. When
the national monarohies came TO self-
consciousness and developed INTO modern
States, 1: vas TO ITALIAN stste.Ensnship.
trained and directed BY tho experience
OF Italy that Europe looked for the guidance
which was to create an International sys-
tenn A Italy had given to Europe the En-
pire-now at the close Of the thirteenth
century outworn and reduced to impotence
so abe was to supply %the organization
the methods. and 70 . great extent the
agents. Of that larger and moro perma-
nent development Of diplomatic intercourse
whose results are embodied in the present
nexus OF independent sovereign States.