The Washington herald., 1914-08-09
U. S. Ambassadors IN War
ring Capitals Face Stupen-
deus Problem in Protect
ing Interests Of Interested
Governments as Well as
Uncle Sans. !
By JOSEPH p. AMIN.

diplomatic representatives al the cap
itals Of nations embroiled in Europe.
The possibilities ahead Of these gentle
men. two Of whom have not yet assumed
| their duties and all Of whom are COM
parative newcomers In the diplomatic
field, include all the horrors Of siege,
bombardment famine, and the incon-
venience which naturally falls TO the lot
Of nationals in hostile territory.
Our diplomatic Representatives in Wen
IA, Berlin, Paris, st. Petersburg, and
London, have been instructed on the
request of interested governments TO pro-
tect the interests Of citizens Of countries
at war with the nation to which In each
case the American Ambassador Is &C
credited.
series of intensely interesting letters
between Elihu B. Washburne, OF Illinois,
American Minister TO France during the
lFranco-Prussian war Of 1870 and n, fur
nish striking and dramatic testimony 10
the trials and fluctuations which diplo-
mats situated as ours may have 10
endure. During the siege OF Paris Mr..
Washburne was in charge of the inter-
ests of all nations at war with France,
| and when the situation became too
warm for the comfort Of other diplomatic
representatives. assumed the same re-
sponsibility for virtually all Latin
American chancellories and some Eu-
ropean nations Mr.. Washburne stuck
1t out to the bitter end His letters tell
ing of the suffering in Paris, the perse-
cution Of Germans, famine and bonn
hardment are particularly interesting at
| this time.
Rigid Censorship Maintained
So strict was the military attitude Of
Count Won Bismarck during the siege OF
| Paris that diplomatic representatives
were refused the privilege OF sending
through the German lines to mutual
| territory Official dispatches sealed and
| in code. Virtually all OF the CORE
spondence was sent across the channel
| to England by such messengers as from
| time to time passed between the coun-
tries with diplomatic privileges. Writing
to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish,
under date of October 4. 1870. Mr.. War
| burne says of Count Bismarck's insist
ence that all dispatches through his lines
be subject to the inspection Of the Prus-
sian authorities and contain nothing in
relation to the war, For myself / de-
termined instantly that would not send
dispatches under any such conditions, for
I assumed that the government Of the
United States would permit no other gov
eminent to examine the official dispatches
OF its diplomatic representatives"
Bismarck further violated the usages
of international custom by Smelling Paris
Immediately prior to the conclusion Of
the siege without warning diplomatic rep
resentatives Of his intention.
In attempting to protect the German
citizens left under his care, Mr.. Wash
burne was informed first that the French
ministry had determined to prohibit the
departure from Paris OF all Germans OF
military age. Thousands were thrown
into prison, and others were subjected
to persecution by the populace off Paris.
Upon strong representations from Mr..
Washburne, a large number were permit
ted to leave the Capital early in the
siege. but many who remained despite
the order of expulsion. threw themselves
upon his hands, not only for protection
from persecution, but toward the end for
food and fuel as we'll
After the siege had actually begun,
Mr.. Washburne had great difficulty even
in procuring safe passage fofr Americans
in Paris.
1T had been twice decided" he wrote
Secretary Fish late in October Of 1870.
that at this stage OF the siege no for
eigner would be permitted to leave Paris,
but after having several interviews on
the subject with Gen. Trochu and Mr..
Jules Favre, they finally agreed to change
their determination and let all OF our
Americans go who wanted to leave" A
few DAYS later he concluded another
communication: 81 am very glad that I
have so many Of our countrymen safely
away"
War Times In Paris.
War times in Paris are graphically de-
scrioed by Mr.. Washburne in his letters
to the State Department Here is his
description Of the scenes resulting from =
hoax played on the populace OF Paris
when they were made to believe that
instead OF a disastrous defeat the French
forces had been victorious at Weissen-
burg. on the French frontier:
Things. however, passed on quietly
enough until about loon on Saturday.
when. as the report goes, a man In the
uniform of a courier. or messenger. rode
up to the front OF the Bourse. where d
large crowd had already assembled, and
delivered into the hands OF a person
who was evidently his confederate. VIVA;
purported to be an official dispatch, and
which gave an account OF a great battle
having been fought. in which the French
had been victorious. taken forty guns.
e. 900 prisoners, among whom was includ
ed the Crown Prince. The assembled
multitude broke out into the widest
shotNs; the people rushed into the>streets;
the flags were everywhere displayed. men
embraced and kissed each other, she'd
ding tears of joy. Shouts, vociferations,
and oaths filled the air, and probably
such a delirium was never before wit
messed After the FIRST Juror of
the first enthusiasm had subsided. some
persons began to suggest that 1t would
be well to inquire a little further Into
the news and OF course, the result was
that it proved to be stupendous hoax
As 1t originated at the Bours',
the cry was raised In the crowd, a la
Bourse' and away the people went.
breathing vengeance against the money
changers and the spectators who, it
was alleged, had taxen advantage OF the
false report to get the benefit OF q rise
of about per cent in the stocks. Never
were money changers more summarily
driven out of their temple. In 4 few
moments all persons In :hs Rourse were
expelled, some of whom, Z is said. were
thrown head and heels out OF the win
dows and doors"
In striking contrast to the delirium of
Joy described on the receipt Of the false
news, the same letter tells of the state
was learned.
1T is difficult to convey to you" Mr..
washburne wrote, "and adequate idea Of
the state of feeling which this extraordi-
nary news from the battlefields, to which
was added the declaration Of the siege
of Paris, and the convocation Of the
Corps LegisIatif has created. Paris has
hardly ever seen such day since the
time Of the first revolution. The whole
people seem paralyzed by the terrible
events which have burst upon them in
such rapid and fearful succession"
Oyerturu of Bouaparte Dynasty.