The Washington herald., 1908-02-23
Historic Examples Show the
Need for DiScreetneSs.
DUPLIcITY IS OUT OF STYLE
Necessity for Ambassadors in NOwfse
Abated Because of Greater FHcili-
ties for international Communiea-
fion-DiPIomats No Longer Take
Part in Politics of Other Countries.
By Ex-ATTAcHE.

with the ultra-liberal faction. but that
he considered that by promoting its sue
cess he was furthering the interests OF
his own country, serves to call TO the at
tention OF people here in America 10 a
form Of Old World diplomacy which is
practically unknown on this eide Of the
Atlantic.
Much has been said and written TO the
effect that In these times OF facIle tele-
graphic intercourse and Of phenomenaIly
rapid communication ENJOYS have ceased
to be Of any importance. save from an
ornamental point OF view. and that they
no longer serve. save 10 execute the in
structions which they receive over the
wire, communications which might just
as well be transmitted directly from one
foreign Office 10 another. have fire.
quently explained in these letters that
this is an altogether absurd contention in
nOwise warranted by the facts. and that
to-day. as in olden times before the in
PRODUCTION OF electricity. the friendly in
tercourse between nations which assures
the maintenance of peace, and conse-
quently OF prosperity. is largely due 10
personal negotiations on tire part Of the
envoy.
Always Powerful Factions.
In every country. 10 matter whether
subject 70 monarch or 10 q republican
form OF government, there IS always some
personage-sometimes . small ring Of IN
dividuals-who exercise a predominating
influence: an influence that is not always
apparent on the surface. bat which. by
the very reason OF its occult character. is
ali the more potent. The envoy who
knows his business IS able not only 70
discover this power behind the throne.
but likewise 20 turn the knowledge 20
good account managing In that way 10
overcome many difficulties that in regular
formal official intercourse might prove
insuperable. Not only the American GOV
ernmeni. bur likewise trade and Industry
have derived many advantages from the
tact and diplomacy OF their ambassadors
and ministers abroad IN this particular.
But with al that the diplomatic repre-
sentatives Of CEcle sam have been singu-
laTly fortunate. not Ia say shreWd. in
avoiding anything IN the nature OF an
imputation OF participating directly or
Indirectly. in the factiOnal political war
fare OF the countries 10 which they are
accredited. or or even betraying more
pronounced sympathies for ore or another
OF the political camps.
QuId Pro Quo.
Perhaps II is due to the care which they
display In this matter that the foreign
ENJOYS at Washington observe an equally
great discretion with regard 10 the pollt-
ical parties in America: a discretion. how
ever, which they DO not consider Il so
-.
the Old World
Even in Europe however. there is much
more circumspection I'm this respect than
formerly. and the days when the Princess
OF Lieven. the ambassadors Of the Car
az the Court OF -. James, worked as one
Of the most active electioneering agents
in parliamentary contests for the success
or the political party that she knew TO
be friendly 10 the cause OF Russia. are
past and gone One has only 10 read the
memoirs Of the first few decades OF the
nineteenth century in orde. 20 obtain
some idea OF the entire absence Of all re-
straint which not only the Russian En-
bassy. but also other foreign mission IN
London displayed in championing the in
terests Of their friends in the various pO-
IiticaI controversies and contests Of Great
Britain. This occasionally led to the ne
@
matte representation in London, since il
was often difficult for the secretary OF
state for foreign affairs in the incoming
administration TO transact confidential
business with an ambassador who either
himself or in the person Of HIS wife had
vigorously contested the victory Of the
new cabinet and who was identified heart
and soul with the interests Of the defeat
ed party.
Some Guilty of Breaches.
Sometimes the ENJOYS did not have the
delicacy to ask for their transfer. and
there are several instances during the
first half Of the reign of Queen Victoria
where foreign ambassadors. notably the
Due de Persigny and Count Walewski
(the latter a natural son Of the first En-
peror Napoleon), while acting as Napo-
leon IIIs representatives. rendered them
selves guilty OF placing al the disposal OF
their friends and allies in the opposition
confidential information which they had
obtained from the minister OF foreign al
fairs in the course of their diplomatic ne
gotiatiOns Charles Greville's memoirs. as
we'll as many other works Of a similar
character. describe plenty OF instances
Of this nature.
call anything Of the kind taking place
in England. was in the seventies, when
Count Shouvaloff represented Russia as
ambassador at the Court OF St James
and was assisted by Nine. de Novikoff.
the latter in a more or less official ca
pacity.
Both with Liberals.
Both Of them. but more especially Nine.
de Novikoff Identified themselves with
the cause of the Liberals, forming q
close and intimate alliance with the then
Liberal leader. the late William E. Glad
stone. who in consequence thereof inau-
gurated the pro-Russian campaign
against Turkey, of which the alleged
Ottoman atrocities in Bulgaria constitute
ed the principal plank of the plattorn.
Gladstone almost succeeded, bus not
quite. in turning the Conservatives out OF
office On the strength of his pro-Russiau
indictment OF the Turks, and the extent
10 which political passions were excited
at the time, may be gathered from the
fact ,hat the windows Of Nine. de Novi-
koff at ClaridgeS, and those OF the
Grand Old Man" at his house IN Harley
street, were smashed by mObs which
charged Russia with corruptng English
statesmen. and the latter Of having III
lowed themselves to be induced by dip
lomatic agents Of the Car 10 betray the
cause of Great Britain in the Orient
Two years afteTWaTd. the Russian
Embassy and Nine. de NOvikOf were
largely instrumental in securing the re-
turn Of Gladstone and the Liberals tc
power.
Most Recent Instance.
This is the most recent instance that ]
can recall in England Of foreign embas-
sizes actively and openly engaging in ihe
warfare Of domestic politics for the pur-
pose Of securing the advent to power ot