Page:Paul Samuel Reinsch - Secret Diplomacy, How Far Can It Be Eliminated? - 1922.djvu/149



X.

THE DESTRUCTION OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE

OUR historical survey of diplomatic policy and practice does not hold much assurance that the evils of secret diplomacy have very appreciably waned since the eighteenth century. The cruder methods of deception and corruption which were at that time employed would indeed now be con- sidered beneath the dignity of diplomats; al- though it is unhappily true that some of the most despicable tricks, such as stealing correspondence and placing informers in houses to be watched, are still practised occasionally. However, it may be said that while in general the trade-secrets of diplomacy have lost greatly in prestige, the spirit of diplomatic action itself has not yet been brought into accord with democratic ideals.

A secret service attached to the diplomatic es- tablishment is still considered useful by some gov- ernments. It is, however, certainly very doubt- ful whether the results thus obtained in the nature of accurate information, are at all commensurate to the expense and to the constant danger of being