Evening star., 1923-02-25
BY FREDERICK CUNLIFFE-owEN, Q. b. u.

~ SECRETION on the part Of the member
of the administration at Washington
who Is intrusted with the conduct Of
49, Americas foreign relations appears
to be regarded by many OF his fellow coun-
trymen as unwarrantable secrecy Of tho most
reprehensible character. Some denounce this
reserve as the absence of any policy, resulting
from his incapacity to grasp and deal with the
international problems by which the United
States Is confronted. Others again stigmatize
his secrecy as an almost criminal attempt to
pursue, in behalf of certain interests a course
prejudicial to the welfare of his native land
calculated to breed distrust abroad and to
ALLEVIATE the principal friendly powers.
Many of those who thus assail the Secre-
tary Of State are politicians whose Ignorance
of conditions in other countries than their
own is of the most extraordinary nature, and
in keeping with their astounding self -sufi-
cheney, whose horizon is restricted to
their native land-sometlmes even to the bor-
ders Of their state, Of their townlet, and
who have no conception whatsoever OF the
international obligations Of this republic
one Of the great powers OF the world. Other
attacks may be attributed to the blindness Of
overzeaous partisanship.
x x
Yet. the American people should have it
brought home to them that never, since Elihu
Root released his mastery and experienced
hold Of the rens Of the Department of State In
1909. has that branch Of the administration,
and, as the result the entire American govern
the esteem Of all foreign nations These have
learned once more to trust Uncle Sam, and no
longer fear breaches Of discretion at WASH
ington.
In Americas relations with any foreign
power the latter's wishes for secrecy are en-
titled to consideration. 1t may be q matter
of vital importance to its government that the
negotiations should be treated confidential
and withheld from the knowledge Of it's own
people, or at any rate, from its political ad-
versaries. domestic and foreign. To be kept
in perpetual state of apprehension. lest this
confidence should be be betrayed at Washing
ton, as has repeatedly been the through
out more than decade has been of a nature
to paralyze all freedom of diplomatic inter-
course between friendly nations and tho
United States. greatly to the latter's disadvan-
tage and injury. Revelations to Congress By
members of the administration, incautious and
unWise political utterances the part of the
officials Of the cabinet of persons known to
be in the possession of its confidence. and,
above all. the amazing publication OF conf
dental correspondence and negotiations
tanned in the flood Of books. magazine and
newspaper articles, published by former cabi-
net officers and agents. diplomatic and other
wise, ended by creating such state Of alarm
among foreign statesmen that they were afraid
to deal freely with the American government
officials
x X x * s..-
This condition OF affairs has been completely
changed since Charles Evan Hughes has been
at the head Of the State Department and IN
charge Of Uncle Sans relations with no less
than fifty foreign governments. He brought
to his high office from the American bar its
best traditions of discretion and Of profound
respect for the sacred character OF conf
dences. He knew how to keep his mouth
shut and TO refrain from disclosures even
when these would have added to his prestige
among his countrymen. and would have re-
lIeved him Of the reproach Of undue secrecy
His attitude in this respect has done more than
anything else to restore abroad the sadly
shattered confidence in the discretion OF the
State Department and of its methods and last
but not least it has had the effect Of winning
the respect and the esteem OF the leading
Americans-captains OF industry Of commerce
and of tnance-Who know better than anv
else the nestimable value oc confidential
intercourse in their business dealings which