Page:Paul Samuel Reinsch - Secret Diplomacy, How Far Can It Be Eliminated? - 1922.djvu/182

 ot responsible. That is not the way to get business properly done." He therefore rejects the idea of a par- liamentary committee of control in the matter of foreign relations. He agrees, however, that the existence of secret treaties is an evil, although he thinks that it may be at certain times necessary, because the associated treaty power may desire it. He is mildly deprecatory, at best.

Count Czernin, speaking to the Austrian dele- gations on June 24, 1918, concerning President Wilson's fourteen points, stated that he has no ob- jection to the introduction of the principle of "open covenants," although he confesses that he does not know by what means effective adherence thereto can be assured. Concerning diplomatic negotiations, which he treats simply as a matter of business, he points out the advantages of se- crecy from the point of view of trading. More- over, if there were full publicity, the general pub- lic might passionately oppose every action involv- ing any concession as a defeat. This would not be conducive to peaceable relations.

There are those who believe that the chief evils of secret diplomacy would be avoided if ample opportunity were given for discussion in repre- sentative assemblies, if there were a parliamen- tary committee keeping constantly in touch with