ISAS Special Reports

The practice of the art of being a diplomat has always been fraught with great circumspection. It is one of the hallmarks, indeed mainstays of the profession. Anecdotes on this score abound. For instance there is this story of Talleyrand, the Grand Old Man of French diplomacy in the nineteenth century. As a retired person, but still very involved in domestic and foreign issues, he was entertaining guests one evening in his Paris apartment. The year was 1830, the month was February, and the second French Revolution was breaking out. There was noise of fighting, emanating from the streets below. Talleyrand walked the steps to the window, with some effort as he had a game foot, and looked down to see. "It seems we are winning!" he observed. "But who are WE, Excellence?" his visitors asked, somewhat puzzled. "Hush!" replied Talleyrand: "I shall tell you tomorrow!!"