If that had been done, I should have suggested a courteous short Note saying that we are obliged to set forth such and such views about marine law and the rights of neutrals, to His Majesty's Government; and that the contention of the United States Government was herewith sent--etc., etc .-- Then this identical Note (with certain court-house, strong, shirt-sleeve adjectives left out) could have come without arousing any feeling whatsoever.

Of course I have no personal vanity in saying this to you.

I am sure I outgrew that foible many years ago.

But such a use of an ambassador--of any ambassador--is obviously one of the best and most natural uses he could be put to; and all governments but ours do put their ambassadors to such a use: that's what they have 'em for.
_Per contra_: a telegram has just come in saying that a certain Lichtenstein in New York had a lot of goods stopped by the British Government, which (by an arrangement made with their attorney here) agreed to buy them at a certain price: will I go and find out why the Government hasn't yet paid Lichtenstein and when he may expect his money?
Is it an ambassadorial duty to collect a private bill for Lichtenstein, in a bargain with which our Government has had nothing to do?
I have telegraphed the Department, quite calmly, that I don't think it is.

I venture to say no ambassador ever had such a request as that before from his Government.
My dear House, I often wonder if my years of work here--the kind of high good work I've tried to do--have not been thrown away.