SECRET DIPLOMACY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 205, 18 May 1918, Page 13

SECRET DIPLOMACY

MR. BALFOUR'S DEFENCE. ■" Mr. Balfour, British Foreign Minister, recently made a. resolutu defence of "secret diplomacy.'" Tho debate aroso on a pacifist demand for a Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs, "as a regular channel of communication between tbo Foreign Secretary and tho House." Mr. Balfour could not see how tho present system is undemocratic or how tho proposal hoforo the llouso would mako it moro democratic. "Why should Mr. I'onsonby (who wanted tho appointment of tho Committee) be a lietter representative of democracy than I am? A Committeo takes us no nearor to it.", Ho thought Mr. I'onsonby had been embittered becauso when ho wished to speak on Russia upon the Foreign Offico vote somelxxly else persisted in discussing gaslighting at Bangkok. (Laughter.) Tho Foreign Office and the Diplomatic Services were great instruments for proventing friction between States which ought to bo friendly. Their mnm task was that of peacemaker, but how could tlicy pursue tlicir task if they wcro to shout theiV grievances from tho housetops wheneVer thoy disagreed? A member: In Allied negotiations had not tho French Government a Committee?

"It did not help tho negotiations," Mr. Balfour replied. What ho had heard of tho French Committco did not mako him specially desirous to havo Buoh a Committee.

It would bo insane to insist that topics wliero international sentiment, international pride, and international interests wcro profoundly concerned should bo discussed in public. He agreed with President Wilson that for any country to find itself hampered by treaties of which it knew nothing was an evil. Secrot treaties were sometimes a necessary evil, but their reduction to the narrowest possiblo limits. should bo tho object of every responsible statesman.