The evolution of France under the third republic . fdemocratic ideas have modified the conditions in whichit works, yet diplomatic action, such as is practised inEurope, remains a question of persons. The choiceof an ambassador, his social position, his tact, his quali-ties of mind, settle the reception which is accorded tohim, and also the person of the sovereign whose envoyhe is, of the minister whose ideas he represents. Swit-zerland and the United States form the exception, nodoubt; but can they be compared with France, whichhas so long a monarchical past, such extensive fron-tiers, and so
The evolution of France under the third republic . fdemocratic ideas have modified the conditions in whichit works, yet diplomatic action, such as is practised inEurope, remains a question of persons. The choiceof an ambassador, his social position, his tact, his quali-ties of mind, settle the reception which is accorded tohim, and also the person of the sovereign whose envoyhe is, of the minister whose ideas he represents. Swit-zerland and the United States form the exception, nodoubt; but can they be compared with France, whichhas so long a monarchical past, such extensive fron-tiers, and so many points of contact with the Stateswhich surround her ?^ The diplomats of the other coun-tries all represent men, not institutions. How couldGermany, Russia, Austria, be forced to admit that ob-literation of the man in favor of the institution whichis the fundamental dogma of the Republic, withouthampering the action of our ambassadors ? As for the Roman Catholic inheritance, it complicatedthe task of the representatives of France in the same. AD. THIERS, FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC. THE CONGRESS OF BERLIN, 83 degree as the monarchical inheritance. No one dreamedof repudiating it; but could any one accept it in its en-tirety ? On the very day after it was accomplished byforce, and with all the appearances of a violation ofright, the fall of the temporal power of the Popesaroused the wrath of the Roman Catholic alone could assuage the ill-will by proving thatthe spiritual power of the Holy See had been strength-ened by that fall. Until that time should arrive, gre^tcircumspection was imperatively necessary. Our agentswould have no influence as defenders of Roman Catholicinterests at a distance, except in so far as France andthe Holy See should maintain friendly relations, and pre-cisely the hostility of the clergy and the clericals againstthe Republic seemed destined to bring about a tension— perhaps a momentary rupture between the Vaticanand the Cabinet
Size: 1346px × 1858px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidevolutionoff, bookyear1897
