Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-10
DIPLOMATIC SERVICE
Reforms Suggested by MIR.
Andrew D. White.
LECTURE ON SUBJECT
PROMOTIONS OF AT LEAST HALF
OF AMBASSADORS.
Appointments of Young Men From the
Departments as Attaches-Other
Hints Given.
LECTURE ON SUBJECT

A lecture was delivered yesterday af.er-
noon in the lecture hall of the National
Museum by Andrew D. White, formerly
United States ambassador to the German
court and before then minister to Russia
1t was given under the auspices of the
regents of the Smithsonian Institution ana
was the first entertainment under the De-
quest of James Hamilton, known as the
Hamilton fund.- The subject was: The
Diplomatic Service of the United States,
With Some Hints Toward Its Reform
There was a distinguished gathering OF
scientific men and women, government
officials and members of the diplomatic
corps and Secretary Langley OF the
Smithsonian Institution escorted the speak
er to the platform and introduced him to
the audience Secretary Langley said:
"A number of years ago Mr.. James Ham
ilton left a small bequest to the Smithson-
ian Institution, the income OF which was
to be appropriated biennially by the secre-
taries either in money or a medal, LOT
such contribution, paper or lecture, on any
taries may approve The regents of the.
institution decided to let this small sum &C
cumulate and it is only recently that the
institution has found itself able to COM
mence to employ the income as
lecture fund The lectures may be on
any scientific or useful subject, but surely
no subject Is more useful or important than
that which tends to promote general
peace among mankind, ana am Ior.uiia.e
in being able to present to you today one
who can speak with authority on the dip
lomatic service of our country, when mas
at all times signally and successfully aloeo
in promoting this great object OF the peace
of the world. l have now particular pleas
ure in introducing to you as the hrst lee
turer in the series one whose name is SO
prominent in these annals OF american
An6r
diplomacy as that OF MI Ahoie" ~
White.
Mr.. Whites Address.
Mr. White introduced his subject by say
inc that some wears since a very eminent
American journalist, in discussing our diplo-
matte service had proposed reform. which
was nothing more nor less than to abolish II
altogether replacing it with special commas
sioners. who might be selected whenever
occa sion demanded their services and dls-
missed when they should have accomplished
their mission. 50
ing and emphasized the fact that such a
revolution in the methods OF government
would prove a reform which would pc pos
sibly tragic in its consequences he argued
that in view of the complex interests OF the
United States, and which were ever oecom-
ing more and more complex, ever demand
ing more and more quick sight and prompt
action what we need abroad is not agents
who may have been selected for the occa-
sion but men who have been trained for
the work, and whose experience fits them
for prompt and successful action in behalf
of the country which they represent.
He illustrated the suggestion of the edl-
tor referred to by saying that some years
since at Constantinople he had asked the
cause of the widespread CONGREGATIONS
which had so often devastated the capital.
He was told that it was because of very
peculiar fire department system in use.
When fire broke out the proper and usual
way was for the owner of the building to
seek out some man who had fire engine,
to find, by proper examination, whether he
was trustworthy whether his helpers were
robust, whether his fire apparatus was eff
fective, and then to make a bargain with
him and his helpers and conduct them to
the fire.
There was usually, found" said the
speaker mot so much trouble in finding
the fire, for by the time the machine had
been approved and the firemen selected and
bargained with and got to the spot the con-
fagration was amply evident. Whether this
sort of thing really existed or not among
the Turks, it is certainly the sort of thing
contemplated in the proposal ! have just
mentioned regarding the beginnings of in
terna tional CONGREGATIONS.
Fully Tried in Middle Ages.
GAS a matter of historical fact this sys-
tenn of special and temporary diplomatic
agents was fully tried out during the mid
die ages, with the result that for hundreds
of years Europe was furrowed and har-
roWed with perpetual war, whereas the
modern system, with all its defects, has
come into existence by an evolution due to
the environment of an ever-increasi sing civ
ihZaton, has certainly prevented very many
germs of International trouble from deyel-
oplng, and has given to the world long pc
RODS of peace
Many examples he said might he mon
toned to show what could be done by the
right man in the right place at the right
tlme, but one relating to Charles Francis
Adams, who was minister to Great Britain
during the civil war, is sufficient to typify
the conditions he named
Mr.. Adams he said. was very capa-
pie man and very cool man. At one time
it is said that during a drought in Kan
sas he was asked to travel through the
state in order to reduce it's temperature A
crisis mad come in the relations of the
United States and Great Britain. 1t looked
much as II number of additional cruisers
nominally American, but really British
were to be let loose to prey upon our com
merce. The British minister of foreign af-
1airs at that time was Earl Russell. a man
whom Carlisle would have called "a SOL
EMMY constituted imposter,' and as he had
not prevented the sailing of previous cruis-
ers, 1t did not seem likely that he woull pre-
about to depart Mr.. Adams called upon
Earl Russell and said: I need not remind
your lordship that this is war; This cool
plain. straightforward statement. made by
right manner, prevented the sailing of the
cruisers, immensely to the advantage of the
commerce of the United States and to the
interests of the country"
Other Diplomats of Value.
He cited other instances where our diplo-
mats had been invaluable in saving the
country from serious complications, if not
actual warfare with the nations of Europe
and said that a special reason for an or
ganized diplomatic service is found in the
need of making or modifying treaties Here
1t Is, he said, that a minister residing at a
foreign court has a decided advantage He
notes the progress of affairs, watches op-
portunities, makes the acquaintance of
statesmen and other men of influence In
the country to which he is accredited and
is thus able to suggest treaties and modifi-
cations of treaties much earlier and more
easily than could possibly be done from the
center of a distant government.
He told his audience that no other country
did so much for the protection of its adopt
ed citizens when visiting their native lands
as did the United States. Great Britain, he
said, while protecting her subjects in all
other countries, does not do SO when they
undertake to revisit their native land. In
that event they do SO at their own peril.
Plan Of Reformation.