10 MARCH 1917, Page 2

How many Foreign Secretaries all over the world must be

sighing for such diplomatic agents!! We ourselves have always been strongly, in favour of professional diplomatists, trained from their youth to deal with foreign nations and foreign affairs .and possessing the cosmopolitan mind. We are, however, fain to confess that Mr. Page's career tends to mike our theory " a wash-out." A publisher in middle life, who had not even had 'experience of his own politicat system, was suddenly pitched into a diplomatic post which is stymy* a difficult one, and which within a year became the maelstrom of international politics. And yet in spite of his want of training, he has never made a false step or even an amateur's bungle. Longs may he continue to servo his country !