The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-23
The Ambassadors.

It is amusing to find that les vielles
cours have got 20 dance the American
minuet and that neither in Berlin nor
any other European capital is the per
former and the performance Of half so
much consequence. The qualifications for
the office and their effects upon public
measures and foreign affairs are gravely
set forth Monsieur Jusserand, as a fls-
cinating critic and historian OF English
letters. greater an this field than any
other living writer. having the profound
insight into the spirit of English Iitera-
ture which Noltaire lacked and Paine
affected is that far "a valuable asset Tor
his government, it is stated. Also that
he can and does play tennis with the
President But then the Count Won Stern
bury rides with the President and shares
his tastes and sympathies in other things
AIr. Bryce's Holy Roman Empire Is
notable event among mere literary
people, but when II comes 90 recover
! ing the blue ribbon Of diplomacy" pre-
sumably of the Presidents comforting.
T ne cannot ride or WELD a racket with
his rivals for he is not athletic and
is obviously not the man for the
place. in spite Of his academic per-
/ Torrance. The Holy Roman Empire"
and his other gifts and talents. The
I temper Of the government and the
people OF the United states is compare
lively Of small Importance. What the
ambassador has got 20 do Is to please
I the President. There is but one United
States. and Roosevelt is its prophet,
! briefly sums up the political situation
here for Europe, II seems, because
! Mr.. Roosevelts personality is the
dominating influence upon the nation.
and VIII remain dominant no matter
/ who is elected for a third term. CThis
/ is seriousJ Nothing can withstand his
{ influence. 4 successful ambassador
must tee adjusted 20 his temperament.
! The President is an imperialist in
every fibre Of his being. He is fun Of
/ a Bismarckian directness and vitality,
and all purely pedantic or diplomatic
/ qualifications are useless in dealing with
/ him. The navy is expanding. Free
trade is dead. The only dispute be-
tween parties IS as TO whether the
/ tariff should be high or low II viii
I be well for the new British ambassa-
dor to be in the fullest possible sym
pathy with this temperament. He
/ ought to be young, vigorous. rich. and
his wife ought 10 be a charming hos
tess" Poor ambassadors, We can
/ only hope that the President viii be
. careful IN Ills EtUltG OF luiltos since
/ these must cen dance 20 It. and not pipe
madly like the Pied Piper of Hame-
lin. and that he win be merciful in the
matter Of temperament" We all Ike
and honor him for one reason or other
most Of us for many excellent ones,
and his friends 'just nachelly" love
him, as they say in Georgia. But when
one thinks Of the difficulty of pleasing
anybody much or long, What per-
spective the whole question opens up
What a vista Of terrible possibilities
and absurd Representatives, Think OF
the nervousness engendered by being
between the devil and the deep sea
the government a diplomat represents,
and the President in matters of liter
airy taste, dress, sport, character, con-
duct. amusements! 1t would make a
wreck of any man less intellectually
subtle than MachiavelI, a coward of
Marshal Ney.