Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-16
THE NEW DIPLOMACY.

THE NEW DIPLOMACY.
benjamin Franklin, who chained the
lightning and welded the editorial
pen. and also found time to represent
the most democratic nation at for
eign court. would doubtless he shock
ed, II he could see the queer estate
into which American diplomacy has
fallen in recent decades. Uncle Sam
has been represented on a scale rival
Ing royalty itself in England during
the query Is raised whether the am
bassadorship to the Court of st. James
can ever again be reduced to demo-
cratic simplicity or republican dignity.
on the other hand we have had petit
cote diplomacy reflected in the Storer
correspondence episode, while in oc-
casional instances an ignorant boor
has lolled abroad in an American en-
bassy simply because he happened to
he n successful politician within GER
tain geographical limits.
If President Taft has his way. all
this will be changed According to
| the latest presidential mandate shirt
sleeve diplomacy" must go. Hereafter
it will not be possible for an unfit
man who has opened barrel" to
help along campaign secure a reward
| in the shape of rich consulship or am
| hos 40
are not to be appointed under the new
order of things simply BECAUSE they
! happened to carry couple of congress
sionai districts in Massachusetts or
captured the delegates from Indiana
in national convention. In short
American diplomacy is to be exempli-
fed by actual diplomats. if such are
to be found. and If not they are to be
developed, in the thorough school of
IT, apprenticeship.
The Roosevelt administration saw
a beginning of the new day of Ameri-
can diplomacy, but it has remained
for President Taft and Secretary Knox
to fully transform the requirements
for a consulship or an embassy Tn
der the rule issued by the department
Of state a man who desires to become
consul or consul who desires Il
dor, must pass an examinatio and If
he is already in the service his exper-
fence and record are to be taken into
consideration.
| The execution of this order will rem
der 1t imperative for number Of min
listers. secretaries and assistant secrc-
| taries. now in our diplomatic service
| abroad to come home and engage in
some other work. and their places
will be taken by men chosen from sub
ordinate positions by right of efici-
| ency and industry and tact These
! will be the tests of Advancement 1t is
| stated. however. that the department
| Of state will seek to apportion repre-
sentation fairly among the States and
Territories. This means that 1t Is not
| assumed that any one State has a
monopoly Of diplomatic timber, or
| even the great generals OF diplomacy.
This change Is in full keeping with
the progressive spirit Of this partic-
ular age. We demand more OF men
and moro OF corporations as regards
| legitimate service than we did even n
| decade ago. With our war-craft en- =
| tering foreign ports in all parts of
tho world. every commander OF bat
| tleship must be an arsenal of inter
national law ready at a moments no.
| tice to determine what he must do
and what he must not do to enhance
international comfy and rramoto the
pcc Of nations. And so IT, is ftting
that American diplomats should be
men equipped with the knowledge of
international law and the tact and the
efficiency. which will enable them ia
stand foremost among the diplomat
lists of all nations in any foreign cap
ital.