The Washington herald., 1909-08-01
Rx RUDOLPH DE zAPP.

Diplomacy IS the art Of making good
the justihable self-interest Of state or
country by means Of negotiations with
other states OF countries IN other words.
Its mission Is, BY observation. written
and spoken representations. and Dersua-
sions, to defend the commonwealth 70
which It's practitioners belong against
foreign adversaries; 70 prevent the con-
clusion Of alliances hostile TO that com
Inonwealth; to gain allies and keep them
and to act with these latter IN such sort
that the interests OF the monarch and
people represented by the diplomatist
may be advanced, their influence, power.
and well-belng promoted and enlarged.
Everything else considered appurtenant
10 the qualifications and duties OF dip
lomatic agent Is superficial. supplement-
tary, and chiefly ornamental. That many,
parhaps most, OF the gentlemen practic-
ing diplomacy attach more Importance 70
these extraneous matters than 10 the es-
sentiaI ones is nothing 10 the purpose.
Indeed. It exhibits their capacities IN an
unfavorable light. as do the opinions and
actions OF certain phiiologists who make
a great fuss about trihes.
Questions OF outward show. etiquette.
and ceremonial cannot but be invested
with a certain importance. court circles
being what they actually are. and an ex-
act knowledge OF the rules and prece-
dents obtaining IN those spheres is IN
dispensable 10 persons called upon 70
move and act therein. But the first duty
and most exalted object Of the occupant
OF a diplomatic post IS and always must
be, 20 obtain the advantage for his en-
ployer IN all political transactions. His
mission Is closely akin 20 that OF the SOL
dier OF high rank and TO that conhded TO
ecclesiastics BY the Roman Catholic
Church In It's capacity OF a political
entity.
This relationship has led 10 the circum-
stances that the ranks OF European di-
piomacy have been largely recruited at
times by generals and preiates In the
Middle Ages the latter were considered
10 be specially qualified for conducting
political negotiations. because they were
In those days almost exclusively pos
sessed Of the requisite education and be-
cause the church as a combative force
was ever striving to obtain greater influ-
ence and the extension Of its benefcent
rule Even nowadays the cardinals. nen-
clos, and legates OF Rome enjoy the repu-
! tation OF being uncommonly astute and
clever diplomatists. In the practice Of
which profession IL should be remem-
bered that they have the advantage OF
the church's experience for al least a
| thousand years past, embodied 81 trans
| mitted recipes and maxins OF approved
value Hence II was by no means sur
\ prislng that temporal sovereigns IN later
times. and even down 10 the present cen
/ tury, employed politicians belonging 70
the ecclesiastical caste 20 serve their
ends. not infrequenuy with excellent re-
! suits. seeing that the very able persons
in question as a rule served a king just
as well as IN other Official position they
would have serve the Pope. The names
Of Richelieu and Mazarin wil suggest
themselves at once. as well as that OF
Talleyrand. who was the model OF q
skilled diploma-ist Of his era.
The affinity OF superior military OF GERS
/ with the diplomatic world IS too Obvious
! TO need demonstration al any length.
We talk about diplomatic tactt-- trait
egy. and campaigns.
Besides priests, soldiers. and profes-
sional dlplomatists. the policy Of mon
arcks and republics has availed itself OF
other intelligent persons whose services
must not be undervalued because rem
dered by agents not occupying any off,
/ cial position I refer 20 women. More
over. petticoat politicians have frequent
| ly played a part at court. In ministries,
and in diplomatic salons. sometimes with
/ salutary results but more frequently
f r-fe ef N0 -
I actuated by sentiment and seldom, IN
/ deed. by sensible redeCton-always. how
ever. so manifest in their agency that IN
/ all peculiarly complicated and perplex-
ing cases we are driven TO the inquiry
/ "Ou est Ia femme?' Suffice K TO remark
that the influence possessed by an envoy
at the court 10 which he Is accredited
and the services he is enabled 70 render
\ there 20 his sovereign and country are
not his own doing in every case. Were
the orders with which he IS decorated be-
slowed In real merit they would now and
! then adOrn the brest OF HIS better half or
CT one Of his female friends among the
| ladies OF the court. Niebuhr in his 'Le-
| bensnachrichten' observes: TT IS a good
thing 10 be ambassador at the papal
court for there, al least, there are no
I maids-of-honor"
<
trious. and persevering children OF Israel.
citizens OF the whole world as they are.
have frequently been employed with ex-
cellent success upon diplomatic business
as spies. gO-betweens, and messengers.
/ In later years however, the diplomatic
abilities OF the Jew have been recognized
by every nation. and he Is TO be found as
| ambassador minister, confidential agent.
! consul; In fact, occupying every station
| IN the diplomatic service Still oftener
| diplomacy has utilized them 70 influence
public opinion by means Of the press.
and their advice and quiet activity have
( mostly been found Of the highest eIR-
cheney IN transactions OF Importance.
A considerable number of capacities
seldom collectively possessed by an indi-
vidual is essential to the requirements OF
an important diplomatic post. The chief
requirements are, first OF all, political in
! telligence; secondly. a practical turn or
mind; then. a thorough historical and
/ geographical education, familiarity with
the traditions Of the court 10 which one
| is accredited, freedom from prejudice.
knowledge Of human nature, sang froid.
a sharp eye and a quick ear for the de
/ velopment Of affairs and for the differ
cIces between seeming and reality, the
/ essential and the unimpoTtant, sim
\ further tact. refinement OF feeling. dis
! cretion, and the gilt OF displaying firm
1 res and resolution with the greatest
amiability Of manner: finally-and this Is
I especially requisite when a genius hap
/ pens to be at the head Of the foreign
/ office or State Department at home-an
! intellect capable OF subordinating and
adapting its own views. wishes. and con-