The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-03
Seer ecy
In Diplomacy, Evil Handed
Down by Tradition.

No sane man proposes that the day to-
day conversations between the minister
and an ambassador shall be revealed.
but between that reticence and the un-
limited power to commit the nation to
a policy that involves thousands Of
lives and millions of treasure is quite
another thing. What was the arrange
ment existing between Germany and
Austria In the closing days Of July,
1914? No one knew. for that was 4
secret between the two emperors. How
far was Germany prepared to go in the
support Of Austria in reducing Serbia
to terms? Again that question re-
manned unanswered, because while the
two emperors knew, their subjects did
not. What understanding existed be-
tween England and France? The Brit
ish people did not know, the British
parliament did not know, neither the
German emperor nor the Austrian en-
peror knew. Sir Edward Grey, the
then foreign secretary. converted
somewhat loose entente, the terms of
which even to this day no one knows.
into a formal alliance, and then went
told what he had done. Parliament
naturally had to stand behind the gov
eminent. what other course was pos
sible? But it simply ratified an execu-
tive act after the was committed. in
stead OF delegating to the executive
authority to act, AZ the American con-
gress does, thanks to the foresight of
the fathers.
Diplomacy with it's shoes OF felt"
clings to secrecy because even in an
age Of progress diplomacy remains
faithful to tradition. 1t resists In
novation. and 1t stands triumphant as
the one perfect institution devised by
the perverted ingenuity Of man. The
professional diplomatic service Of Eu-
rope is n trade union, very jealous OF
its membership. but, similar to other
trade unions. while the members quar-
rel and intrigue against each other,
they are always ready to forget their
differences when in danger from out
side attack. A foreign minister may
know OF the Incompetence OF his am
bassador, but the sode OF professional
ethics and loyalty to the trade union
stay his dismissal, because that would
be a reflection upon the service. The
interests Of a nation may be put in
| jeopardy but the feelings of a diplomat
must never be hurt.
Mr.. Balfour has said that the bust
ness Of diplomat "is entirely directed
not to making quarrels, but to healing
quarrels: not to create difficulty but
to preventing difficulty; not to pro-
woke war but to stopping war" but
/ vs,hn nf hn nf
mons suggested that IL the house had
been taken into the confidence Of the
government the war would not have
pected thunderbolt. Mr.. Balfour said,
II do not believe that the government.
| in June. 1914. had the slightest notion
that there was any danger ahead" 1t
was a cynic who described doctor as
saying to patient, II haven't az yet
made the diagnosis. but do not alarm
yourself needlessly. for we will be able
to discover everything at the autopsy
and Mr.. Balfour's admission that sixty
days before the greatest war the world
has known the British government haG
no suspicion OF what was coming. sug.
gests the happy indifference Of the
physician, who atones for hia lack ol
diagnostic skill by his ability In max.
ing the post mortem, which satisfie.
the laudable curiosity Of the practic-
toner but does not exactly compen.
safe tho patient, II Il were not for tht
coroner fewer medical mistakes would
go unrecognized. and the diplomat
shrouded from public gaze. can blundel
until war or history, usually long aftel
the event, reveals his ineptitude, ant
then It In too late for the damage to b,
repaired.-A, Maurice Low, in Thu
North American Review.