Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-03


worth are to unveil a bust to their ia
vorite poet: form c, the opening of a
new Anglo-American club in London. TIL
scheme unfolds itself to any practical
mind
ITO be sure. the unexpected is alway 5
happening. But, even in such event,
would have the situation handled with
caution and according to instructions re
ceived by the diplomat If, for instance
a society is placing a tablet in honor OF
George Bernard Shaw. and should invite
our diplomat to submit a few remarks
on that occa sion. and his index failed to
disclose an appointed form. news of the
exciting event might be cabled to the
Secretary of State and an approved
speech he received by cable in ample time
for its delivery.
What, l ask, could be more solenlnly
whimsical than an expression of the
opinion Of the present Secretary of State
the life and writings of George Bern
ard Shaw? Unless. indeed, it might be a
whimsically solemn review by Mr.. Shaw
of the diplomatic eXcellencieS of the pres
emit Secretary of State of the United
States"
The reader must judge FOR himself of
the degree Of seriousness contained III
the following suggestion. which Mr..
ing conditions:
There are in the Department of state
in Washington score-prooably more
than that number-of men who have re
ceived years of training there They are
linguiStS and highly skilled in the details.
the precedents and the history of our
foreign relationship kind of men for
eign nations appoint to diplomatic posts
but incapable of making large campaign
contributions These are without pros
,c I,nt,, cny1f nv fiy11n
matte posts at important capitals.
I'VE should provide a new position i'll
each American emhassy-that Of assist
ant ambassador-and to these places
should be appointed men such ! have
described and thus. by the presence Of
such man at each embassy, the anbas-
sador will be given freedom solely to en-
joy social delights, except upon such oc-
casions when he might he required 10
deliver an address relating to form A, +
or c, which form would be deity select
ed for him and filled in where blank
spaces as to the name and occupation of
the person whose memory WAS to be cele
hrated required.
This assistant diplomat could perform
the simple duties of the office. such as
conveying to the governments to which
his chief was accredited the information
his own government wished to he con
veyed and receive from that government
the information which it wished to con
vey to Washington. and diligently de
vote the rest of his time to discovering
means of increasing our foreign com
merce.
Having been trained i'll his business.
this assistant ambassador would know
what he was in the foreign capital for:
he would be under no illusions as to Do
ras: he would know that there was no
hocus-pocus. sharp card tricks. no
foolery whatever of any kind about this
business of maintaining proper and profit
able foreign relations between the comn-
tries whence he came and to which his
superior officer was accredited. He would
know that NJ. Sardou was just as much
a joker as Mr.. Ibsen, and that the play
of Diplomacy is no more like the real
thing diplomacy than "A Dolls House
Is like anything that really ever existed"
Though speaking in a light vein at
times In the foregoing, Mr. Townsend
has seriously applied himself TO the
problems involved in our foreign rela-
tons To no committee work assigned
him has he given greater attention. thali