ThequestionnowcameupinourAmericandelegationastosigningthethreeconventionsintheActeFinal——namely，thoserelatingtoarbitration，totheextensionoftheGenevarules，andtothelawsandcustomsofwar。Wevotedtosignthefirst，tosendthesecondtoWashingtonwithoutrecommendation，andtosendthethirdwitharecommendationthatitbetheresigned。ThereasonforsendingthesecondtoWashingtonwithoutrecommendationisthatCaptainMahanfeelsthat，initspresentcondition，itmaybringonworseevilsthanitprevents。Heespeciallyand，I
think，justlyobjectstoallowingneutralhospitalshipstotakeonboardthewoundedandshipwreckedinanavalaction，withpowertothrowaroundthemthesafeguardsofneutralityandcarrythemofftoaneutralportwhencetheycanagainregaintheirownhomesandresumetheirstatusascombatants。
ThereasonforsubmittingthethirdtoWashington，witharecommendationtosignitthere，isthatconsiderableworkwillberequiredinconformingourlawsofwartothestandardproposedbytheconference，andthatitisbestthattheWashingtonauthoritieslookitovercarefully。
Iwasveryanxioustosignallthreeconventions，butthefirstisthegreatone，andIyieldedmyviewsonthelasttwo。
Thepowersaretohaveuntilthe31stofDecember，iftheywishit，beforesigning。
July27。
EarlyinthemorningtoameetingofourAmericandelegation，Mr。
vanKarnebeekbeingpresent。Weagreedtosignthearbitrationconvention，attachingtooursignaturesareservationembodyingourdeclarationofJuly25regardingthemaintenanceofourAmericanpolicy——theMonroeDoctrine。AtelegramwasreceivedfromtheStateDepartmentapprovingofthisdeclaration。TheimbroglioregardingtheforcingofthePopeintothemidstofthesignatorypowerscontinues。Theultramontanesarepushingonvariousdelegates，especiallysundryAustriansandBelgians，whodependonclericalsupportfortheirpoliticalexistence，and，insomecases，fortheirdailybread;andtheresultisthatM。
Descamps，oneofthemosteminentinternationallawyersinEurope，whohasrenderedgreatservicesduringtheconference，butwhoholdsaprofessorshipattheUniversityofLouvain，andcanholditnotonemomentlongerthantheJesuitsallowhim，ismakingagreatdisplayoffeelingonthesubject。Italy，ofcourse，continuestotakethestrongestgroundagainsttheproposaltoadmithisHolinessasanItaliansovereign。
Ourpositionis，aswaswellstatedinthegreatcommitteebyMr。
Low，thatthecontractingpartiesmustallconsentbeforeanewpartycancomein;andthisunderoneofthesimplestprinciplesoflaw。Weoughtalsotoaddthatanypowerthusadmittedshallnotonlyconsenttoarbitrateonothers，buttobearbitratedupon。This，ofcourse，theVaticanmonsignoriwillneverdo。TheywouldseeallEuropedelugedinbloodbeforetheywouldsubmitthepettiestquestionbetweenthekingdomofItalyandthemselvestoarbitrationbylaypowers。AllotherthingsareheldbythemutterlysubordinatetotherestorationofthePope’stemporalpower，thoughtheymustknowthatifitwererestoredtohimto—morrowhecouldnotholdit。Hewouldbeoverthrownbyarevolutionwithinamonth，evenwithallthetroopswhichFranceorAustriacouldsendtosupporthim;andthenweshouldhavetheoldmiserablestateofthingsagaininItaly，withbloodshed，oppression，andexactionssuchastookplacethroughoutthefirsthalfofthiscentury，and，indeed，whileIwasinItaly，undertheoldpapalauthority，in1856。
Intheafternoontothe"HouseintheWood"togooverdocumentspreliminarytosigningthe"FinalAct。"
July28。
Intheafternooninplenarysessionoftheconference，hearingthefinalreportsastoformsofsigning，etc。
To—dayappearsintheLondon"Times"theinterviewwhichitscorrespondenthadwithmeyesterday。Itdevelopsthereasonsforourdeclaration，andseemstogivegeneralsatisfaction。SirJulianPauncefotetoldHollsthathelikeditmuch。
Thecommitteeonformsofthe"FinalAct，"etc。，hasatlast，underpressureofallsorts，agreedthatthequestionofadmittingnon—signatorypowersshallbedecidedbythesignatorypowers，hereafter，throughtheordinarymediumofdiplomaticcorrespondence。ThisisunfortunateforsomeoftheSouthAmericanrepublics，butitwillprobablyinsomewayinuretothebenefitoftheVaticanmonsignori。
July29。
Thelastandculminatingdayoftheconference。
Inthemorningtheentirebodygatheredinthegreathallofthe"HouseintheWood，"andeachdelegationwassummonedthencetosigntheprotocol，conventions，anddeclarations。Thesewerelaidoutonalongtableinthedining—roomofthepalace，whichisadornedwithveryremarkablepaintingsofmythologicalsubjectsimitatingbas—reliefs。
Allthesedocumentshadtheplacesforeachsignaturepreparedbeforehand，andourseals，inwax，alreadyplaceduponthepagesadjoiningtheplacewhereeachsignaturewastobe。AttherequestoftheForeignOfficeauthoritiesformyseal，IhadsentadayortwobeforehandthesealringwhichGoldwinSmithgavemeatthefoundingofCornellUniversity。ItisanancientcarnelianintagliowhichheobtainedinRome，andbearsuponitsface，exquisitelyengraved，aWingedVictory。ThissealIusedduringmyentireconnectionwithCornellUniversity，andalsoasamemberoftheElectoralCollegeoftheStateofNewYorkatGeneralGrant’ssecondelection，when，attherequestofthepresidentofthatbody，GovernorWoodford，itwasusedinsealingcertificatesoftheelection，whichweresent，accordingtolaw，tocertainhighofficialsofourgovernment。
Iaffixedmysignaturetothearbitrationconvention，writingin，asagreed，theprovisothatoursignaturesweresubjecttotheMonroeDoctrinedeclarationmadeinopensessionoftheconferenceonJuly25。TheothermembersoftheAmericandelegationthensignedinproperorder。Butthetwootherconventionsweleftunsigned。ItwaswithdeepregretthatI
turnedawayfromthese;butthemajorityofthedelegationhaddecreedit，anditwasdifficulttoseewhatothercoursewecouldpursue。ItrustthattheWashingtonauthoritieswillrectifythematterbysigningthemboth。
Wealsoaffixedoursignaturestothefirstofthe"declarations。"
AtthreeP。M。cametheformalclosingoftheconference。M。deStaalmadeanexcellentspeech，asdidMr。vanKarnebeekandM。
deBeaufort，theNetherlandsministerofforeignaffairs。TotheseCountMunster，thepresidingdelegatefromGermany，repliedinFrench，andapparentlyextemporaneously。Itmusthavebeenpainandgrieftohim，forhewasobligedtospeakrespectfully，inthefirstplace，oftheconference，whichforsomeweekshehadaffectedtodespise;and，secondly，ofarbitrationandtheothermeasuresproposed，which，atleastduringallthefirstpartoftheconference，hehaddenouncedasatrickandahumbug;
and，finally，hehadtospeakrespectfullyofM。deStaal，towhomhehassteadilyshowndecideddislike。Hedidthewholequitewell，allthingsconsidered;butshowedhisfeelingsclearly，asregardedM。deStaal，byaddingtopraiseofhimgreaterpraiseforMr。vanKarnebeek，whohasbeenthemainmanagingmanintheconferenceinbehalfoftheNetherlandsGovernment。
Thentothehotelandbeganworkonthedraftofareport，regardingthewholeworkoftheconference，totheStateDepartment。Iwasespeciallyembarrassedbythefactthatthewordingofitmustbesuitedtothescruplesofmycolleague，CaptainMahan。Heisamanofthehighestcharacterandofgreatability，whomIrespectandgreatlylike;but，asanoldnavalofficer，weddedtotheviewsgenerallyentertainedbyoldermembersofthenavalandmilitaryservice，hehashadverylittle，ifany，sympathywiththemainpurposesoftheconference，andhasnothesitatedtodeclarehisdisbeliefinsomeofthemeasureswhichwewereespeciallyinstructedtopress。Inhisbooksheisonrecordagainsttheimmunityofprivatepropertyatsea，andindrawingupourmemorialtotheconferenceregardingthislattermatter，inmakingmyspeechwithreferencetoitintheconference，andinpreparingourreporttotheStateDepartment，Ihavebeenembarrassedbythisfact。Itwasimportanttohaveunanimity，anditcouldnotbehad，sofarashewasconcerned，withouttoningdownthewholething，and，indeed，leavingoutmuchthatinmyjudgmentthedocumentsemanatingfromusonthesubjectoughttocontain。Sonow，inregardtoarbitration，aswellastheothermeasuresfinallyadopted，hisfeelingsmustbeconsidered。Still，hisviewshavebeenanexcellenttonic;theyhaveeffectivelypreventedanylapseintosentimentality。Whenhespeaksthemillenniumfadesandthisstern，severe，actualworldappears。
Iworkeduntillateatnight，andthenwenttoScheveningenalmostindespair。
July30。
ReturnedtoTheHagueearlyinthemorning，andwentonagainwiththereport，workingsteadilythroughthedayuponit。ForthefirsttimeinmylifeIhavethusmadeSundayadayofwork。
AlthoughIhavenoconscientiousscruplesonthesubject，itwasbredintomeinmychildhoodandboyhoodthatSundayshouldbekeptfreefromallmannerofwork;andsothoroughlywasthisruleinculcatedthatIhaveborneitinmindeversince，oftenresistingverypressingtemptationtodepartfromit。
Butto—daytherewasnoalternative，andthewholetimeuntilfiveo’clockintheafternoonwasgiventogettingmydraftready。
AtfiveP。M。theAmericandelegationcametogether，and，tomysurprise，receivedmyreportwitheveryappearanceofsatisfaction。Mr。Lowindicatedsomeplaceswhich，inhisopinion，neededmodification;andtothisIheartilyagreed，fortheyweregenerallyplaceswhereIwasmyselfindoubt。
Mydrafthavingthusbeenpresented，IturneditovertoMr。Low，whoagreedtobringitto—morrowmorningwithsuchmodifications，omissions，andadditionsasseemedbesttohim。Theoldproverb，"’Tisalwaysdarkestjustbeforedaylight，"seemsexemplifiedintheaffairsofto—day，sincethekindreceptiongiventomydraftofthereport，andthesatisfactionexpressedregardingit，formamosthappyandunexpectedsequeltomywretcheddistrustregardingthewholematterlastnight。
July31。
TheAmericandelegationmetateleveninthemorninganddiscussedmydraft。Mr。Low’smodificationsandadditionswerenotmanyandweremainlygood。ButheomittedsomethingswhichI
wouldhavepreferredtoretain:thesebeinginthenatureofapleainbehalfofarbitration，or，rather，anexhibitionoftheadvantageswhichhavebeensecuredforitbytheconference;but，betweenhisdoubtsandCaptainMahan’sopposition，Ididnotcaretocontestthematter，andseveralpageswereleftout。
Atsixintheafternooncamethelastmeetingofourdelegation。
Thereports，dulyengrossed，——namely，thespecialreports，signedbyCaptainMahanandCaptainCrozier，fromthefirstandsecondcommitteesoftheconference;thespecialreportmadebymyself，Mr。Low，andDr。Hollsasmembersofthethirdcommittee;andthegeneralreportcoveringourwholework，drawnalmostentirelybyme，butsignedbyallthemembersofthecommission，——werepresented，re—read，andsigned，afterwhichthedelegationadjourned，sinedie。
August1。
Aftersomelittlepreliminaryworkonmattersconnectedwiththewindingupofourcommission，wentwithmyprivatesecretary，Mr。
Vickery，toAmsterdam，visitingtheoldchurch，thepalace，theZoologicalGardens，etc。ThencetoGoudaandsawthestained—glasswindowsintheoldchurchthere，whichIhavesolongdesiredtostudy。
August3。
At8。30leftTheHagueandwentbyrail，viaCologneandEhreinbreitstein，toHomburg，arrivingintheevening。
August5。
ThismorningresumedmydutiesasambassadoratBerlin。
TherewasoneproceedingatthefinalmeetingoftheconferencewhichIhaveomitted，butwhichreallyoughttofindaplaceinthisdiary。Justbeforethefinalspeeches，totheamazementofallandalmosttothestupefactionofmany，thepresident，M。deStaal，handedtothesecretary，withoutcomment，apaperwhichthelatterbegantoread。Itturnedouttobeacorrespondencewhichhadtakenplace，justbeforetheconference，betweentheQueenoftheNetherlandsandthePope。
TheQueen’sletter——written，ofcourse，byherministers，inthedesiretoplacatetheCatholicparty，whichholdsthebalanceofpowerintheNetherlands——dweltmostrespectfullyonthehighfunctionsofhisHoliness，etc。，etc。，indicating，ifnotsaying，thatitwasnotthefaultofhergovernmentthathewasnotinvitedtojoinintheconference。
TheanswerfromthePopewasamasterpieceofVaticanskill。Inithereferredtowhatheclaimedwashisnaturalpositionasapeacemakeronearth，dwellingstronglyonthispoint。
Thereadingofthesepaperswasreceivedinsilence，andnotawordwaspubliclysaidafterwardregardingthem，thoughinvariousquarterstherewasverydeepfeeling。ItwasfeltthattheDutchGovernmenthadtakenthismeansofforestallinglocalDutchopposition，andthatitwasapurelylocalmatterofpoliticalpartizanshipthatoughtnevertohavebeenintrudeduponaconferenceofthewholeworld。
Ihadnofeelingofthissort，foritseemedtomewellenoughthatthefactsshouldbepresented;butaleadingrepresentativeofoneofthegreatCatholicpowers，whodrovehomewithus，wasofadifferentmind。ThiseminentdiplomatistfromoneofthestrongestCatholiccountries，andhimselfaCatholic，spokeinsubstanceasfollows:"TheVaticanhasalwaysbeen，andisto—day，astorm—center。ThePopeandhisadvisershaveneverhesitatedtourgeonwar，nomatterhowbloody，whentheslightestoftheirordinaryworldlypurposescouldbeservedbyit。ThegreatreligiouswarsofEuropewereentirelystirredupandeggedonbythem;and，aseverybodyknows，thePopedideverythingtopreventthesigningofthetreatyofMunster，whichputanendtothedreadfulThirtyYears’War，evengoingsofarastodeclaretheoathstakenbytheplenipotentiariesatthatcongressofnoeffect。
"AllthroughthemiddleagesandattheRenaissanceperiodthePopeskeptItalyinturmoilandbloodshedfortheirownfamilyandterritorialadvantages，andtheykeptallEuropeinturmoil，fortwocenturiesaftertheReformation，——infact，justaslongastheycould，——inthewarsofreligion。TheydideverythingtheycouldtostirupthewarbetweenAustriaandPrussiain1866，thinkingthatAustria，aCatholicpower，wassuretowin;andtheneverythingpossibletostirupthewarofFranceagainstPrussiain1870inordertoaccomplishthesamepurposeofcheckingGermanProtestantism;andnowtheyaredoingalltheycantoarousehatred，eventodelugeItalyinblood，inthevainattempttorecoverthetemporalpower，thoughtheymustknowthattheycouldnotholditforanylengthoftimeeveniftheyshouldobtainit。
"Theypretendtobeanxiousto’savesouls，’andespeciallytolovePolandandIreland;buttheyhaveforyearsusedthosecountriesasmerepawnsintheirgamewithRussiaandGreatBritain，andwouldselleveryCatholicsoultheycontaintotheGreekandEnglishchurchesiftheycouldtherebysecuretheactiveaidofthosetwogovernmentsagainstItaly。TheyhaveobligedtheItalianyouthtochoosebetweenpatriotismandChristianity，andtheresultisthatthebestofthesehavebecomeatheists。Theirwholepolicyisbasedonstirringuphatredandpromotingconflictsfromwhichtheyhopetodrawworldlyadvantage。
"Inviewofallthis，onestandsamazedatthecoolstatementsoftheVaticanletter。"
ThesewerethewordsofaneminentRomanCatholicrepresentativeofaRomanCatholicpower，andtothemIhavenothingtoadd。
Inlookingbackcalmlyovertheproceedingsoftheconference，I
feelabsolutelyconvincedthatithasaccomplishedagreatworkfortheworld。
Themereassemblingofsuchabodyforsuchapurposewasadistinctgain;butvastlymoreimportantisthepositiveoutcomeofitslabors。
Firstoftheseistheplanofarbitration。Itprovidesacourtdefinitelyconstituted;aplaceofmeetingeasilyaccessible;acouncilforsummoningitalwaysinsession;guaranteesforperfectindependence;andasuitableprocedure。
Closelyconnectedwiththisistheprovisionfor"internationalcommissionsofinquiry，"whichcannotfailtodomuchinclearingupissueslikelytoleadtowarbetweennations。Thuswemayhope，whenthereisdangerofwar，forsomethingbetterthanthatwhichtheworldhashithertoheard——theclamorofinterestedpartiesandtheshrieksofsensationnewspapers。Thenaturalresultwillbe，asintheVenezuelandifficultybetweentheUnitedStatesandGreatBritain，thatwhenacommissionofthissorthasbeensetatworktoascertainthefacts，thehowlingofpartizansandscreamingofsensation—mongerswillcease，andthefindingofthecommissionbecalmlyawaited。
So，too，theplansadoptedformediationcanhardlyfailtoaidinkeepingoffwar。Theplansfor"specialmediation"and"secondingpowers，"whichemanatedentirelyfromtheAmericandelegation，andwhichwereadoptedunanimouslybythegreatcommitteeandbytheconference，seemlikelytoproveinsomecasesaneffectivemeansofpreventinghostilities，andevenofarrestingthemaftertheyhavebegun。HaditbeeninoperationduringourrecentwarwithSpain，itwouldprobablyhavecloseditimmediatelyafterthelossofCervera’sfleet，andwouldhavesavedmanylivesandmuchtreasure。
Secondly，theextensionoftheGenevarules，hithertoadoptedforwaronland，towaralsoontheseaisadistinctgaininthecauseofmercy。
Thirdly，theameliorationandmorecarefuldefinitionofthelawsofwarmustaidpowerfullyinthatevolutionofmercyandrightreasonwhichhasbeengoingonforhundredsofyears，andespeciallysincethegreatworkofGrotius。
Inadditiontothesegainsmaywellbementionedthedeclarations，expressionsofopinion，andutteranceofwishesforcontinuedstudyandperseveringefforttomaketheinstrumentalitiesofwarlesscruelanddestructive。
Ithasbeensaidnotinfrequentlythattheconferencemissedagreatopportunitywhenitmadetheresorttoarbitrationvoluntaryandnotobligatory。Suchanobjectioncancomeonlyfromthosewhohaveneverdulyconsideredtheproblemconcerned。
Obligatoryarbitrationbetweenstatesisindeedpossibleinvariouspettymatters，butinmanygreatmattersabsolutelyimpossible。Whileafewnationswerewillingtoacceptitinregardtotheseminormatters，——as，forexample，postalormonetarydifficultiesandthelike，——notasinglepowerwaswillingtobinditselfbyahard—and—fastruletosubmitallquestionstoit——andleastofalltheUnitedStates。
Thereasonisverysimple:todosowouldbetoincreasethechancesofwarandtoenlargestandingarmiesthroughouttheworld。Obligatoryarbitrationonallquestionswouldenableanypower，atanymoment，tobringbeforethetribunalanyotherpoweragainstwhichithas，orthinksithas，agrievance。GreecemightthussummonTurkey;FrancemightsummonGermany;thePapacy，Italy;England，Russia;China，Japan;Spain，theUnitedStates，regardingmattersinwhichthedeepestofhumanfeelings——questionsofreligion，questionsofrace，questionsevenofnationalexistence——areconcerned。Toenforcethedecisionsofatribunalinsuchcaseswouldrequirearmiescomparedtowhichthoseofthepresentdayareamerebagatelle，andplungetheworldintoaseaoftroublescomparedtowhichthosenowexistingareasnothing。Whathasbeendoneistoprovideaway，alwaysreadyandeasilyaccessible，bywhichnationscansettlemostoftheirdifficultieswitheachother。
Hitherto，securingacourtofarbitrationhasinvolvedfirsttheeducationofpublicopinionintwonations;next，theactionoftwonationallegislatures;thenthemakingofatreaty;thenthecarefulselectionofjudgesonbothsides;thendelaysbythejuriststhuschosenindisposingofengagementsanddutiestowhichtheyarealreadypledged—allthesemattersrequiringmuchlaborandlongtime;andthisjustwhenspeedyactionismostnecessarytoarrestthedevelopmentofinternationalanger。Underthesystemofarbitrationnowpresented，thecourtcanbebroughtintosessionatshortnotice——easily，asregardsmostnations，withinafewweeks，atthefarthest。Whentotheseadvantagesareaddedtheprovisionsfordelayingwarandforimprovingthelawsofwar，thecalmjudgmentofmankindwill，Ifullybelieve，decidethattheconferencehasdoneaworkofvaluetotheworld。
Thereisalsoanothergain——incidental，butofrealandpermanentvalue;andthisistheinevitabledevelopmentoftheLawofNationsbythedecisionsofsuchacourtofarbitrationcomposedofthemosteminentjuristsfromallcountries。Thusfarithasbeenevolvedfromthewritingsofscholarsoftenconflicting，fromthedecisionsofnationalcourtsbiasedbylocalpatriotism，fromthepracticesofvariouspowers，onlandandsea，moreinobediencetotheirintereststhantotheirsenseofjustice;butnowwemayhopeforthegrowthofagreatbodyofinternationallawunderthebestconditionspossible，andevermoreandmoreinobediencetothegreatimpulsegivenbyGrotiusinthedirectionofrightreasonandmercy。
CHAPTERL
HINTSFORREFORMSINTHEDIPLOMATICSERVICE
InviewofaconnectionwiththediplomaticserviceoftheUnitedStatesbegunnearlyfiftyyearsagoandresumedatvariouspostsandperiodssince，Ihavefrequentlybeenaskedformyopinionofit，ascomparedwiththatofothernations，andalsowhatmeasuresIwouldsuggestforitsimprovement。Hithertothisquestionhassomewhatembarrassedme:answeringitfullymighthaveseemedtoinvolveapleaformyowninterests;sothat，whileIhavepointedout，inpubliclecturesandinletterstomenofinfluence，sundryimprovements，Ihavenothithertothoughtitbesttogofullyintothesubject。
ButwhatInowsaywillnotseethelightuntilmydiplomaticcareerisfinishedforever，andImayclaimtospeaknowforwhatseemstomethegoodoftheserviceandofthecountry。Ishallmakeneitherpersonalcomplaintofthepastnorpersonalpleaforthefuture。Astothepast，myexperienceshowedmeyearsagowhatIhadtoexpectifIcontinuedintheservice——insufficientsalary，unfitquarters，inadequatemeansofdischargingmyduties，andmanyotherdifficultieswhichoughtnottohaveexisted，butwhichIknewtoexistwhenItookoffice，andofwhichIhavethereforenorighttocomplain。Astothefuture，I
canspeakallthemoreclearlyandearnestlybecauseevenmyenemies，ifIhaveany，mustconfessthatnothingwhichisnowtobedonecaninuretomypersonalbenefit。
Astothepresentcondition，then，ofourdiplomaticservice，itseemstomeamixtureofgoodandevil。Itisbynomeanssobadasitoncewas，andbynomeanssogoodasitoughttobeandasitcouldveryeasilybemade。TherehasbeengreatimprovementinitsincethedaysoftheCivilWar。Thediplomaticserviceofnoothercountry，probably，wassodisfiguredbyeminentlyunworthymembersaswasourownduringthequarterofacenturyprecedingtheinaugurationofPresidentLincoln，and，indeed，duringapartoftheLincolnadministrationitself。
DuringonepresidentialtermprevioustothattimeourministersatthreeofthemostimportantcentersofEuropeweremakingunedifyingspectaclesofthemselves，wheneveritwaspossibleforthemtodoso，beforethecourtstowhichtheywereaccredited。
Ononeoccasionofcourtfestivity，oneofthem，inagorgeousuniformsuchasAmericanministersformerlywore，ranhowlingthroughthemudinthestreetsofSt。Petersburg，thehighpersonagesoftheempirelookingoutuponhimfromthewindowsoftheWinterPalace。Sundryotherperformancesofhis，towhichI
havereferredintheaccountofmyRussianmission，werequiteasdiscreditable。
AnotherAmericanrepresentative，stationedatBerlinduringthatsameperiod，disgracedhiscountrybynotoriousdrunkenness;andthoughsomeofourcountrymenatthatcapitalsoughttokeephimsoberforhisfirstpresentationtotheKing，theywereunsuccessful。Happily，hiswildconductdidnotculminateabroad;
foramurderwhichhecommittedinadrunkenfitdidnotoccuruntilafterhisreturntoourcountry。AthirdAmericanrepresentativeatthatperiodpublishedregularly，inhishomenewspaper，suchscurrilouslettersregardingtheauthoritiesofthecountrytowhichhewasaccredited，hiscolleaguesinthediplomaticservice，and，indeed，thecountryitself，that，accordingtocommonreport，hisearlyreturnhomewascausedbyhisdesiretoescapetheconsequences。Theseweretheworst，buttherewereothersutterlyunfit，——menwhonotonlyspokenootherlanguageusedindiplomaticintercourse，butcouldnotevenspeakwithfairlygrammaticaldecencytheirown。AstotheearlydaysofMr。Lincoln’sadministration，thereisawell—authenticatedstorythat，agentlemanhavingexpostulatedwiththeSecretaryofState，Mr。Seward，forsendingtoaveryimportantdiplomaticpostamanwhoseconductwasthereverseofexemplary，Mr。Sewardreplied，"Sir，somepersonsaresentabroadbecausetheyareneededabroad，andsomearesentbecausetheyareNOTwantedathome。"
Itisagreatpleasuretonotethatsincethewarbothofthepoliticalpartieshavegreatlyimprovedinthisrespect，andthatthestandardofdiplomaticappointmentshasbecomemuchhigher。
ItisadutyaswellasapleasuretoacknowledgeherethatnoPresidentoftheUnitedStateshasevertakenmorepainstomakethediplomaticandconsularserviceswhattheyshouldbethanarepresentativeofthepartytowhichIhavealwaysbeenopposed——PresidentCleveland。Especiallyencouragingisthefactthatpublicopinionhasbecomesensitiveonthissubject，andthattheonlyrecentcaseofgrossmisconductbyanAmericanministerinforeignpartswasimmediatelyfollowedbyhisrecall。
Anditoughtalsotobesaid，evenregardingourdiplomaticsysteminthepast，thatsundrysneersofthepessimistsdoourcountrywrong。ItiscertainthatnoothercountryhasbeensteadilyrepresentedinGreatBritainbyaseriesofmoredistinguishedcitizensthanhasourown，——beginningwithJohnAdams，andincludingthegentlemanwhoatpresentholdsthepositionofambassadortotheCourtofSt。James。MuchmayalsobesaidtothecreditofourembassiesandlegationsgenerallyattheleadingcapitalsofEurope。Astounfortunateexceptions，thosewhoareacquaintedwithdiplomatistsindifferentpartsoftheworldknowthat，whatevermayhavebeenthefailingsoftheUnitedStatesinthisrespect，shehasnotbeentheonlynationwhichhasmademistakesinselectingforeignrepresentatives。
Ourserviceatthepresentdayis，insomerespects，excellent;
butitisbadlyorganized，insufficientlyprovidedfor，and，asarule，hasnotthestandingwhicheverypatrioticAmericanshouldwishforit。
Ihavefrequentlyreceivedlettersfrombright，active—mindedyoungmenstatingthattheyweredesirousoffittingthemselvesforadiplomaticcareer，andaskingadviceregardingthebestwayofdoingso;butIhavefeltobligedtowarneveryoneofthemthat，strictlyspeaking，thereisnoAmericandiplomaticservice;
thatthereisnoguaranteeofemploymenttothem，eveniftheyfitthemselvesadmirably;nosecurityintheirtenureofoffice，eveniftheywereappointed;andlittle，ifany，probabilityoftheirpromotion，howeverexcellenttheirrecord。Moreover，Ihavefeltobligedtotellthemthattheservice，suchasitis，especiallyasregardsambassadorsandministers，isaservicewithapropertyqualification;thatitisnotademocraticservicerestinguponmerit，butanaristocraticservicerestinglargelyuponwealth，——averyimportant——indeed，essential——qualificationforitbeingthatanyAmericanwhoservesasambassadormust，asarule，beabletoexpend，inadditiontohissalary，atleastfromtwelvetotwentythousanddollarsayear，andthatthedemandsuponministersplenipotentiaryarebutlittleless。
Andyet，ifCongresswouldseriouslygiveattentiontothematter，callingbeforeapropercommitteethoseofitsownmembers，andothers，whoarewellacquaintedwiththenecessitiesoftheservice，andwouldtakecommon—senseadvice，itcouldeasilybemadeoneofthebest，andquitepossiblythebest，intheworld。ThemostessentialanddesirableimprovementswhichI
wouldpresentareasfollows:
I。Asregardsthefirstandhighestgradeinthediplomaticservice，thatofambassadors，Iwouldhaveatleastonehalftheirwholenumberappointedfromthosewhohavedistinguishedthemselvesasministersplenipotentiary，andtheremainingpostsfilled，asatpresent，fromthosewho，inpubliclifeorinotherimportantfields，havewonrecognitionathomeasmenfittomaintainthecharacterandrepresenttheinterestsoftheircountryabroad。
II。Asregardsthesecondgradeintheservice，——namely，thatofministersplenipotentiary，——Iwouldobservethesameruleasinappointingambassadors，havingatleastamajorityoftheseattheleadingcapitalsappointedfromsuchasshallhaveespeciallydistinguishedthemselvesatthelessimportantcapitals，andamajorityoftheministersplenipotentiaryattheselessimportantcapitalsappointedfromthosewhoshallhavedistinguishedthemselvesasministersresident，orassecretariesofembassyoroflegation。
III。Astothethirdgradeinourservice，thatofministersresident，Iwouldobservethegeneralruleabovesuggestedfortheappointmentofambassadorsandministersplenipotentiary;
thatis，Iwouldappointamajorityofthemfromamongthosewhoshallhaverenderedmostdistinguishedserviceasfirstsecretariesofembassyoroflegation。WhenonceappointedI
wouldhavethemadvanced，fordistinguishedservice，fromthelesstothemoreimportantcapitals，and，sofaraspossible，fromtheranksofministersresidenttothoseofministersplenipotentiary。
IV。Astothelowerorspecialortemporarygrades，whetherthatofdiplomaticagentorspecialcharged’affairesorcommissioner，Iwouldhaveappointmentsmadefromthediplomaticorconsularservice，orfrompubliclifeingeneral，orfromfittingmeninprivatelife，asthePresidentortheSecretaryofStatemightthinkthemostconducivetothepublicinterest。
V。Iwouldhavetwogradesofsecretariesoflegation，andthreegradesofsecretariesofembassy。IwouldhavethelowestgradeofsecretariesappointedontherecommendationoftheSecretaryofStatefromthosewhohaveshownthemselves，ondueexamination，bestqualifiedincertainleadingsubjects，suchasinternationallaw，thecommonlaw，thecivillaw，thehistoryoftreaties，andgeneralmodernhistory，politicaleconomy，aspeakingknowledgeofFrench，andareadingknowledgeofatleastoneotherforeignlanguage。Iwouldmaketheexaminationinalltheabovesubjectsstrict，andwouldobligetheSecretaryofStatetomakehisselectionofsecretariesoflegationfromthementhuspresented。But，inviewoftheimportanceofvariouspersonalqualificationswhichfitmentoinfluencetheirfellow—men，andwhichcannotbeascertainedwhollybyexamination，IwouldleavetheSecretaryofStatefulllibertyofchoiceamongthosewhohavehonorablypassedtheexaminationsaboverequired。ThementhusselectedandapprovedIwouldhaveappointedassecretariesoflowergrades，——thatis，thirdsecretariesofembassyandsecondsecretariesoflegation，——andthese，whenonceappointed，shouldbepromoted，forgoodservice，tothehighersecretaryshipsofembassyandlegation，andfromthelesstothemoreimportantcapitals，undersuchrulesastheStateDepartmentmightfindmostconducivetotheefficiencyoftheservice。Nosecretariesofanygradeshouldthereafterbeappointedwhohadnotpassedtheexaminationsrequiredforthelowestgradeofsecretariesasaboveprovided;butallwhohadalreadybeenintheserviceduringtwoyearsshouldbeeligibleforpromotion，withoutanyfurtherexamination，fromwhateverposttheymightbeoccupying。
VI。Iwouldattachtoeveryembassythreesecretaries，toeverylegationtwo，andtoeverypostofministerresidentatleastone。