Page:Paul Samuel Reinsch - Secret Diplomacy, How Far Can It Be Eliminated? - 1922.djvu/169



ments rather complain of our Blue Books, and to a cer- tain extent they may curtail some of the communications that are made to our foreign Ministers, but I should be extremely sorry to see our system of publication of diplo- matic papers in any way curtailed, or different from what it is; of course, there must always be care taken not to compromise individuals for the information they have given, but I believe it is an immense advantage to this country that our despatches and diplomatic transac- tions should be known, because if they have the appro- bation of Parliament and of the country, the Government then has the whole weight of public opinion in its favor, and it is that which gives such strength to our policy and to our opinions in foreign countries."

That is a very statesmanlike presentation of the advantages of constant public knowledge of for- eign policy in giving the government a secure base of intelligent support.

When dissatisfaction or doubt was felt by large numbers concerning the foreign policy of the gov- ernment, as in 1857 and again in 1878 after the concealment of the Schuvalof agreement, com- plaint was frequently made in Parliament and in the press to the effect that Parliament on the one hand was not given a chance to acquire a com- plete knowledge of foreign policy, and on the other it was not sufficiently alert and active in using its opportunities for control. In 1886 the follow- ing resolution was moved: