Evening star., 1922-05-19
PLACES DIPLOMACY
ABOVE WARSH|PS
Secretary Hughes Tells c. Of
c. Of Inner Workings Of
Foreign Service.

National security depends to a very
large extent upon the United States
having a good diplomatic service,
Secretary Hughes of the department.
told the annual convention of the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States at its closing meeting in Con-
vention Hall last night. He told the
delegates that diplomatic strength
is even more important than naval
strength, adding that ut is a poor
patriot who. would scrap both his
ships and his diplomats at,the same
time"
Secretary Hughes reviewed the his
tory of the department from it's early
days to the present, told how tho
diplomatic service was underpaid and
undermined. and gave figures to show
that the State Department took In
more in passport fees than the work
OF the entire department cost.
For Open Diplomacy.
He gave the delegates little in
sight into. the workings Of diplomacy.
said that he was for candidness and
open diplomacy, but explained in de-
tail how it was impossible sometimes
TO tell of every step made in dip
Conferences between representatives
OF nations can accomplish greater re-
suits than the writing Of notes. he
said, and pointed out that the inter-
national conference itself Is largely
successful in inverse proportion to its
numbers.
apart from the remedial lack of
adequate knowledge of general con-
ditions and backgrounds. there is al
ways the difficulty of conveying to
the public full understanding Of the
facts of the particular situations
diplomatic officers." said Secretary
Hughes. This can largely be met by
a constant effort to make known to
the public the general lines Of policy,
to give adequate information as to
particular aims and to take the public
cable extent with respect to particu-
lar measures. There should be no
reticence for it's own sake, or as
mere continuance of a perverse habit; +;
there should be directness, prompt
ness. candor-in short. efficiency.
Certain Limitations Vital.
But it should be understood that
there are certain inescapable limita-
tions in the most straightforward
diplomacy. I am glad to say that in
the dealings of this government with
other powers there are no intrigues,
no hidden purposes. no deceptions.
Nothing Is done or proposed which.
concerned. could not be shouted from
the 'housetops. But 1t does not follow
that in good faith and with practical
regard to results particular steps oan
Immediately be made public. One
reason why the methods OF diplomacy
are so often misunderstood and criti-
cized is that the necessary amenities
Of the intercourse with sovereign
states are not taken into considera-
ton. 1 am not an apologist for .inept
monial survivals unsuited to our time,
but it must not be forgotten that gov
ernmeEts deal with each other sub
ject to the obligations of honorable
intercourse between equals Each
must be free to make tentative sug-
gestions and later to withdraw them.
Foundation Of Security.
I'm considering the relation Of our
diplomacy to the business interests Of
the country. it should always be re-
membered that the department which
deals with our foreign relations is
the department of peace. The re-
sources Of negotiation, Of reason and
very foundation of all business secu-
rity, in an important sense, Is within
the keeping of the foreign Offices of
governments as to themv-as the agen-
cies Of peoples-must be intrusted the
practical processes by which nations
may adjust their mutual interests,
settle their disputes and prevent the
frightful losses and dislocations Of
war.
Another fundamental question at
this time Is the preservation Of the es-
sential bases Of international inter-
course through the demand for tho
recognition of valid titles acquired in
accordance with existing law and for