Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-19

q business world It's inhabitants are
big business men in the sense that they
represent nations which are essentially
big business concerns. This Is no less
true of the LindSayt, the Claudels, the
| De MartinoS and the Padilla y Bells,
, who can be readily associated with the
old tradition, than of their colleagues,
who frankly and proudly belong to the
new diSpenSation. In fact, Sir Ronald
Lindsay. albeit he is a career diplo-
matist, spent six years as adviser to
the Egyptian government, position IN
which economics, finance and admins
trative problems were his daily diet.
Claudel, despite his love for poetry, was
trained in the consular service OF
France and Is reputed to relish writing
report on some economic question as
keenly as inditing metrical stanzaS.
But whether these men of the older
school have had economic training or
not, they are thinking in economic
terms. They are working in a business
world. and they would not be where
they are if they were not capable of
dealing with business problems. They
are driven by the very nature OF their
service to devote themselves as whole
heartedly to consideration of CONNER
cial and financial affairs as were their
predecessors to the consideration of
matters of high politics. The character
Of the diplomatic world has changed
utterly since the days when they en-
tered diplomacy. That they are num-
bered among its more considerable per-
sonages is evidence not that the diplo-
matte corps is as it was. but that they
have acquired the qualifications which
enable them to meet the demands Of a
new time.
Contrast Sharply Drawn.
When we get away from individuals
and into their activities, the contrast
between the old and the new diplomacy
is still more sharply drawn. Not so
long ago the call of an Ambassador upon
the Secretary of State was something
of ceremony. 1t involved a high hat,
q long-tailed coat, striped trousers and
usually spats. There was much scurry-
ing of underlings, bowling and scraping,
opening and closing of doors and formal
announcements of titles. After the
elaborate ceremonial had been COM
pleted the Ambassadors first thought
was to get back to his embassy and
indite a note to the Secretary, confirm
ing-or perhaps altering as impercepti-
bly, as poSSible-what had been said. All
this must be duly reported in more notes
to the foreign minister at home.
Such formality is now reserved for
the few occasions on which it is deemed
necessary to impress the public. 1t is
as out Of place in the daily round Of
diplomacy as it would be in New York
or London or Toxic. The Ambassador
Of today works at his desk as does the
business executive. A sack suit has sup
planted the long tails except for the
most formal occasions.
Ring on Telephone Spnices.
If the Secretary of State wants to see
an Ambassador, ring on the telephone
sufnceS. A few minutes later the Am
basSador Is on his way to the State De-
partment. There is no time nor thought
for striped trousers and tails. He goes
as he happens to be, and when he ar
rives he Is shown into the Secretary's
ONCE as promptly and informally as he
would be into that of business execu-
tive. Frankness and directneSs charac-
terize the conversation, and rarely does
the Ambassador indite note on his
return.
It is a far cry from this to the days
when an Ambassador was summoned by
formal invitation. Then he went clothed
in all his ambaSsadorial dignity, was
shown into q reception room and there
awaited the entrance of the minister,
who would not receive him in his Office
because the ever-watchful Ambassador
might get his eyes upon some secret
document. Not the least OF the Diff
ferences between those days and the
present Is the decline of suspicion.
Must Cultivate Press.
Nor Is the deformalizing of diplomatic
activities limited to official contacts. An
Ambassador of Minister is still accred-
tied to government but his ability to
A. vryfHk hQk
is now equally important. Social quail
1ications are, of course, part OF his
equipment, but he needs must make
contacts far wider than those Of the
dinner table. Horrendous as it would
seem to an Ambassador of former times,
he must cultivate amicable relations
with the press.
The press Is not only the voice Of
democracy; 10 is the eyes and ears as
well. And an unabashed demos wishes
to know what manner of men these are
who come to us from abroad. Nor is it
content to judge them from their on
cial acts alone. Through it's press IL
would question them as freely and per-
sistently as If there had never been q
rule that a question must never be
directed TO sovereign.
The diplomat of today Is under the
same compulsion to keep on good terms
1st or magnate of finance. Nay, he Is
under the same compulsion TO win the
press as well as the government to a
cordial sympathy with his and his coun-
trys aims II he possibly can. Interna-
tional relations have become relations
between peoples as well as governments,
and the diplomat is caught In the tide.
Called Upon for Speeches.
The ral1 ,,yaOF1 the v,,oAarx, S{,,Iow.ak -
keep in touch with the people as well
as the government to which he Is ac-
credited is not confined TO his relations
with the press. He Is even called upon
to make speeches at public gatherings
The mere thought of such thing would
have sent the diplomats of yore into
cold shivers. Any statement except to
the government was looked upon with
disfavor all around
No small part of the time of the mod
ern diplomat Is devoted to the prepara-
ton Of tust such addresses. Is there a
celebration in California which recalls
the old Spanish customs? Invite the
Spanish Ambassador TO make the prin-
cipal speech. Is q monument to be
dedicated in Milwaukee? Invite the
German Ambassador
Joseph Choate is credited with this
innovation Of ambassadorial speech
making. When he was our envoy in
London during the early years of this
century he was invited to make a
speech at some gathering He was an
excellent orator and invitations came
In rapid succession. His dignified COL
leagues frowned upon the practice and
were inclined to ascribe it to his Ameri-
can barbar1sm. But those still in the
game are all doing it now.
Selling" Himself and Country.
Those who realize the part played
by publicity-as distinguished from
advertising-in our industrial, CONNER
cial and banking world will readily
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