Evening star., 1923-03-04

BY FREDERICK CUNLlFFE-OWEN,
c. b. e.
i1H 7 HEN in 1908 the Earl of
AN/ Loreburn, then lord high
- v chancellor, presented to
the upper house Of the
British parliament for legislative ap-
proval a measure entitled The On
cial Secrets Bill Amendments" in the
debate which enSued, it was pointed
out that the only great power which
had until then enjoyed an almost
complete immunity from indiscreet
revelations in print. by those who
had been in its service as ambassa-
dors, cabinet officers and as members
of various branches of the govern
ment at home and abroad was the
United States.
This was extolled as being all the
more meritorious since their terms Of
office was ephemeral. their pay ridic-
ulousIy inadequate and their work,
no matter how brilliant, devoid OF any
reward in the shape Of titles, orders
Of knighthood and pensions. Atten-
ton was also drawn to the fact that
servants Of Uncle Sam were mostly
men Of moderate means, largely chos-
en- from the literary professions. gift
ed with a facile pen. and therefore
tempted to turn the experiences OF
their official life to pecuniary account
in response to lucrative offers from
publishers and newspaper owners.
Yet. up to that time they seemed to
have made 1t q point of honor never
to reveal after their restoration to
they had become acquainted while In
the employ of their government. In
fact, much was made at the time both
in the house of lords discussions and
lous care exercised by former Ameri-
can officials in preserving inviolate,
the condolences Of their own and for
eign governments that had come
within their ken while still in the
service.
| Unfortunately, different conditions
| now prevail. The ethics that formerly
governed American statesmen, diplo-
mats and even the miner fry OF the
| administration, have gone by the
! board. They have ceased to exist and
/ the atmosphere here, - in 50 many
countries in Europe. Ms redolent with
! feNSldIlOH6 III pILiI lh&S dA Q hA1N-@
| ed, all too frequently, for selfish gain
| in tho shape Of money or OF motor
| iety, and with very little regard Tor
, the sense OF honor involved In the
| betrayal Of secrets Of others.
| 1t is difficult nowadays to open any
publishers list without finding in Its
pages the titles Of hundreds Of volumes
Of "reminiscences Of all sorts OF former
officials advertised in such fashion as
| to wet the appetites of the prospective
purchaser. Tho writer's seem to be lit
| orally falling over one another In their
eagerness to tell all they know, regard
| less Of consequences. and whereas ef-
| forts have been made from time to
| time to check breaches Of trust OF this
kind in the old world, no steps have as
vet been taken in that direction In the
United States. Yet, they will have to
come sooner or later, il those conf
dental relations between foreign gov
| ernments, that are so necessary to In
ternational intercourse, are to be main
|! tanned. 49,
I Thus we have the revelations Of Rob-
ert Lansing, published on his retirement
from the Secretaryship Of State, and In
xhich he made use OF a number Of ofn-
cial documents which came within his
| reach while still in the service.
! Josephus Daniels was already at
work on his volume Of experiences as
Secretary Of the Navy before he was
retired into private life. Joseph Tum-
] ulty, in spite Of his real devotion as
private secretary to woodrow W0soos