Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

minister as to the scale of expense. When I was in Paris two thirds of the diplomatic men of the second and third orders entertained nobody. Yet they were as much invited out and honored as those of the same grade who entertained. I suspect from what I hear that the Chancellor, having always stood on a line with those of the first expense here, has not had resolution enough to yield place there, and that he has taken up the ambassadorial scale of expense. This procures one some sunshine friends who like to eat of your good things, but has no effect on the men of real business, the only men of real use to you, in a place where every man is estimated at what he really is."

[ocr errors]

Unfortunately, Mr. Jefferson when in Paris did just what he condemned in Chancellor Livingston, and it is understood that he laid there the foundation of his later financial misfortunes. Nevertheless, the views expressed in the foregoing extract are well founded, and emphasize the fact that too much importance has been attached to social display in the diplomatic service. A palace, uniformed lackeys, and extravagant entertainments add little to the accomplishments of a weak and unskillful representative. Social courtesies may smooth the way of the able diplomatist, but they are far from being the most important of the elements which make his services useful to his government.

Congress has shown an indisposition to make any material increase in the salaries of our foreign represent

1 8 The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, edited by Paul Leicester Ford,

[ocr errors]

atives, but there is a measure which it might well adopt which would bring great relief to the service. I have already referred to the great embarrassment to the American representative going abroad for the first time to enter upon his duties, to find that his first task is to search for a suitable house in which to install himself. The proposition has frequently been made to Congress to purchase or lease permanent residences for our diplomatic representatives. President Cleveland was especially urgent in bringing this subject to the attention of Congress, in two successive messages, and Secretary Olney submitted to that body a special communication embodying the reports of our ministers abroad as to the cost of such residences. From one of Mr. Cleveland's messages I make the following extract:

"I am thoroughly convinced that in addition to their salaries our ambassadors and ministers at foreign courts should be provided by the government with official residences. The salaries of these officers are comparatively small and, in most cases, insufficient to pay, with other necessary expenses, the cost of maintaining household establishments in keeping with their important and delicate functions. The usefulness of a nation's diplomatic representative undeniably depends, to a great extent, upon the appropriateness of his surroundings, and a country like ours, while avoiding unnecessary glitter and show, should be certain that it does not suffer in its relations with foreign nations through parsimony and shabbiness in its diplomatic outfit. These considerations, and the other advantages of having fixed and somewhat

permanent locations for our embassies, would abundantly justify the moderate expenditure necessary to carry out this suggestion."

[ocr errors]

If Congress would be as liberal with our foreign representatives as it has been in providing the two commodious and sumptuous palaces for the accommodation of its own members, our embassies and legations in the leading capitals in Europe could be supplied with permanent homes. If an appropriation cannot be obtained sufficient to purchase residences, it should be entirely feasible to secure an appropriation that would enable the secretary of state to lease for a term of years suitable houses in those and other prominent capitals. Such a course has been adopted by the government of Great Britain in a number of countries. If such residences should be leased and furnished, they would accomplish three much desired ends. First, they would constitute for American embassies and legations a permanent home, much to the relief of our representatives and to the convenience of all persons having business with them. Second, they would enable public men of moderate means to accept these posts. Third, they would prevent rich appointees from renting great palaces and making extravagant displays of wealth, very unseemly in republican repre

sentatives.

1 9 Presidents' Messages, 640, 723; U. S. For. Rel. xc; Sen. Doc. No. 128, 54th Cong., 2d Sess.

CHAPTER VI

TO THE FOREIGN GOV

DUTIES OF A DIPLOMAT

-

ERNMENT

WE come now to consider the duties of the envoy having relation to the government of the country of his residence and its people; and it is in discharge of those duties that the skill, discretion, and tact of the diplomat are most brought into exercise.

There is no just foundation for the prevailing popular impression that diplomacy is somehow associated with deceit and cunning, and that practice in these artifices gives great advantage in international intercourse. The experienced British statesman, Lord Clarendon, on being asked if there was any special art required in diplomacy, replied: "No; I think the special art required is this -to be perfectly honest, truthful, and straightforward." An ex-diplomatist, who wrote a treatise suggested by his service, with dry witticism thus sums up the art: "Take snuff often and slowly, sit with your back to the light, and speak the truth; the rest you will learn by observing your older colleagues." Bernard well remarks that among the most distinguished names in diplomacy are those of men notoriously not only true but frank.

The standard of conduct for an American diplomatist was fixed by the first President of the United States in the instructions given by the secretary of state to Mr.

Jay, special minister to Great Britain in 1794; and it is a matter of just pride for the country that it has seldom been departed from by his successors. It was as follows: "It is the President's wish that the characteristics of an American minister should be marked on the one hand by a firmness against improper compliances, and on the other by sincerity, candor, truth, and prudence, and by a horror of finesse and chicane."1 Secretary Hay in a public address declared the "Golden Rule" to be the cardinal principle of American diplomacy, and the enthusiasm with which his utterance was received proved its hearty indorsement by the American people. While it is perfectly true that frankness and straightforward action should mark the conduct of the diplomatist, if he meets the requirements of his position, he must exercise constant circumspection, and occasions will frequently arise when his ability and tact will be put to the test.

The first care of an envoy in his relation to his mission is to make himself persona grata at the foreign office, and at the court or in government circles. While a self-respecting minister will never play the part of a toady, he should strive to make himself personally popular by studying the amenities of official and social intercourse, and by conformity to all innocent local customs, sentiments, and even prejudices. It is in these relations that the importance is seen of sending abroad

1 1 American State Papers, For. Rel. 497.

"Diplomacy is like a midnight ghost; a menacing giant to the sight of those that fear it, it melts like a fine mist before those who resolutely go to meet it."— Mazzini to Victor Emmanuel, letter September 20, 1859.

« AnteriorContinuar »