Page:Paul Samuel Reinsch - Secret Diplomacy, How Far Can It Be Eliminated? - 1922.djvu/218



and Lord Robert Cecil. The Times characterized this denial as "an example of verbal quibbling which inferior intelligences mistake for diplo- macy," and maintained that "though it may be verbally true, it conveys and is designed to con- vey what is untrue"; and the Daily Mail stated that the country owed a debt of gratitude to Lord Grey for his activities in the matter. This all illustrates on how insecure a foundation, and with what chances of confusion, public opinion has to work in matters of foreign affairs where the prac- tices of the old diplomacy are followed.

The American people at this time very nearly lost patience with the entire business, and turned away from European affairs with complete dis- gust. This is the most outstanding effect pro- duced by the secret diplomacy of Europe as far as the American people are concerned. The dan- ger now is that their feeling of disgust and con- fusion, and their impatience with the selfish and shortsighted manipulations of European diplo- macy, will over-emphasize the desire of America to live by and for herself alone. If such a mood and temper should prevail, it would be a great loss to America and to the world. At no time has the world needed America more than at present, not so much from the point of view of direct eco-