New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-06
IAN AMBASSADOR TO A PEOPLE"
"The Nation" Analyses the Place IN English Lite Occu
pied by the American Ambassador
in London.
IN London.

, CLUB, II they can secure him, will have no
one else for their guest.
Things, indeed. have come 10 such
pass that an American Ambassador VINO
was content to be merely an amoassadof'
who could not or would not speak, VINO
loathed public occasions and Stunned
platform, and who screened himself De-
hind the official ramparts, would be reck-
oned a failure. almost, indeed. a freak of
nature. But II is partly America OWL
fault She should not send us cultivated
complaisant men, triply armed with inc
capacity to meet our exaotons. Adams
Phelps. Lowell, Hay. Choate and white
law Reid-what other embassy in the
world can show such line of occupants
Every one of them was distinguished as a
lawyer. citizen or literary man before ne
became eminent as a diplomatist Every
one of them had interests and Affiliations
that stretched beyond protocols and dis
patches and official routine. Every one
of them brought into British life the
flavor of the best Americanism. and yet
was a success in his business and par
gaining hours.
out Of the remarkable succession of
representatives who have held the post OF
American Ambassador in Great Britain
not one has held security OF tenure OF
any regular and recognized system Oh
promotion, or any pension. All appoint
ments are made by the President from
men OF his own party, and are liable 10
cease at a moments notice when the
other side comes in. Diplomacy. In fact'
in American eyes i. rather a diversion
than a career. and many OK the hisHes'
posts in the service are gwen 10 men "ho
have had no official training, but VINO
like TO round off successful political
professional or business career by ne"
and pleasantly rich experience. rms Wa!
of doing things is not without its obvious
disadvantages, one OF the greatest OF
which is that Il restricts the ambassador
ships at the chief capitals 10 men OF
wealth. and brings into their bestowai
flavor of party politics. A nation win
heavy and serious diplomatic RESPONSE
bIlities. and less immune than are the
Americans from the intimate clash oi
international politics. probably couid not
afford 10 organize its diplomatic service
on any such lines.
But the point to note is that in Amefi-
can hands an apparently faulty system Is
made IN WELD so far at least az Great
Britain is concerned. admirable resuiue'
The reason Is that the American Amoas-
sador i'm Great Britain regards hlmsef az
At least as much the Ambassador TO the
British people as to the British court. ana
precisely because ne is free from the re-
strIctjons and the professional OUTLOOK
and the Journalism of the regular service
he is able TO reach the man IN the
street" 70 win his regard and 10 hold
his interest II is TO men Of this type
and WITH this broader fresher ana more
human way Of looking at their functions
that the future of diplomacy belongs MI.
Rrvce. for instance, has amply and brill
iantly demonstrated that the kind or man
I,who ought always to represent Irea,
Britain I'm the United States is the KIND
OF man who for the last two generations
has renresented the United States in Great
Britain.
There is another country in which an
official commemorative OF this stamp would
| find indispensable opportunities FOR use
| fulness. and that country Is Germany a
/ British Ambassador In Germany. APP
+ prOacnlnS his uut4ts III ''4' "' . 4,
which Mr.. Choate and Mr.. Whiteiaw heid
approached theirs in London, ana MI
Bryce his in Washington. able TO hoid ms
own in the intellectual life Of the German
Empire. making a point Of seeing all he
could of the country and its people at
tending meetings. congresses and univeI-
stiles. and competent to explain Great
Britain TO German audiences, would DC
an inestimable asset TO the cause OF An
glo-German amity. Have we ever uieo
TO send this kind OF man to Berlin! Ana
what kind of success has attended the use
Of the conventional ambassadorial type1
Let the recent relationship Of Germany
and Great Britain bear witness