New-York tribune., 1922-06-10
Talking Ambassadors

The outcIy against ambassauoIS
who discuss here international ques-
tions which affect America comes
from those who apparently are not
esrnes, in their friendship toward
omen diplomacy They think so little
Of II that they arc unwilling 10 pay
its necessary costs. They would
have il. vet condemn the methods in
cident 20 Il.
What is open diplomacy? Its es-
sontial is that one people, when de-
sirous Of good relations with an
other. shall speak directly to the
other people rather than solely TO
their government. Here IS open
diplomacy's basic principle
We applaud the selection Of rep
resentatives who are said 20 be IN
tune with the new spirit and come
not so much the personal represent
atives Of a sovereign or govern
ment as ambassadors from a people
70 a people. Yet when they exercise
their function there is sudden ap-
peal to the rules Of propriety whose
violation inhamcl Washington
against Genet and led 20 the sacking
Of Sackville West during the first
Cleveland administration.
Though the evils Of so-called
secret diplomacy have been grossly
exaggerated, nevertheless the bal
anee of advantage seems 70 most
Americans TO lie on the side Of the
new way. It's technique more ac-
cords with the democratic ideal. 1t
lessons the danger Of war by pro-
noting mutual understanding. II
humanizes all, for it brings out the
great truth that. though interests
seem al times 20 differ. civilized men,
as 70 most important matters, are
ieint heirs 70 a common estate.
For an ambassador to intrude in
the discussion Of the domestic phases
Of an international question in such
way as TO browbeat Congress is, Of
course. offensive. This country, with
its large foreign-born population,
won't tolerate foreign parties here.
We have had enough Of hyphenism
and It's works. But this does not i'm
ply that an ambassador, when asked
by Americans to express his
thoughts. should suddenly become
dumb or insincere.
America is not afraid Of the re-
suits Of free talk. The prerogatives
Of Congress are not diminished by
it. More than any other body It
should welcome illumination from
any quarter. America will scarcely
be benefited by gagging foreign rep
resentatives or otherwise denying 10
them access 20 the open forum Of
American public opinion. To empha-
size, as Ambassador Ricci did, the
proposition that international trade
is necessarily reciprocal-that sell
ing can't occur unless there is buy
ing-should not be unpalatsble. A
truth remains q truth no matter
what It's mouthpiece.
Congress is equipped with ample
power to protect itself against die
tation. II will have only itself TO
blame II il becomes meanly subservi-
ent. Senator Watson is needlessly
alarmed. Il may be suspected that
he shifts his ground because he does
not find it easy TO resist the argu-
ment that we should consider our
export trade when adopting regula-
tons TO govern our import trade.
A little common sense will temper
the indignation felt toward ambas-
sadors who speak 10 our people man
fashion. And If the common sense
has its due ingredient Of logic the
absurdity Of shouting for open
diplomacy and Of then getting red in
the face over use Of its methods will
provoke only smiles.