A COACH AND SIX

The announcement that Henry Lane Wilson of Indiana is to be appointed next ambassador to Turkey recalls the rather disrespectful reply of the Sultan when he was once courteously asked if he should like to receive an ambassador from the United States. "No" he said, "I have enough of those fools hanging around me now!" Ambassadors, it seems, were entitled to his "ear"; but the American minister along with the other ministers had only the right of negotiating through the Grand Vixier. America's unique conception of democracy long forbade an exchange of ambassadors who as the highest in diplomatic rank are legally regarded as personal representatives of the sovereign and entitled to all his privileges. It was not until 1893 that Congress realised the practical advantage of sending official representatives who by international law are granted priority in negotiating with foreign governments.

When Ambassador Harvey appeared at a London court function clad in knee breeches and buckled shoes he was ridiculed in the United States for aping the undemocratic aristocracy of the Old World. Yet the right to a salute of nineteen guns, to ride in a coach and six, and to be honored as the dignity and power of his state would be honored, is not inconsistent with democracy. Indeed the American ambassador to St. James who in his simple evening dress was mistaken for a butler and commanded by a haughty European ambassador to "call my coach, sirrah!" would undoubtedly approve of the new policy of adapting American diplomatic manners and practices to the generally accepted standards.

But more than a realization that a democratic heart can beat under silks and ribbands, it is necessary to obtain efficiency in American diplomatic circles. It seems self-evident that ambassadors should be selected upon the basis of ability and experience. No effective reform, however, can be instituted until Congressmen realize the value of a trained diplomatic service. Perhaps the failure of the Versailles treaty will point the moral, for it was definitely a pact written by politicians who had to arrange the provisions to humor their constituencies. The first improvement should be the raising of diplomats' salaries to the point where other than millionaires can accept the post of ambassador. Until then the "brilliant but poor" college man cannot enter the service; nor will the United States be served by an efficient and experienced body of diplomats.