The Ambassador Prepares for War

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

   PDF

2. Introduction: The War of 1672-Masterpiece of Diplomacy?

   • Herbert H. Rowen

   Pages 1-3

3. Pomponne, Man and Statesman

   • Herbert H. Rowen

   Pages 4-17

4. The Triple Alliance

   • Herbert H. Rowen

   Pages 18-29

5. Purposes and Plans

   • Herbert H. Rowen

   Pages 30-40

6. Dutchmen and Their Politics

   • Herbert H. Rowen

   Pages 41-57

7. Positions Explored and Defined

   • Herbert H. Rowen

   Pages 58-75

8. “Cantonment”—De Witt’s Solution

   • Herbert H. Rowen

   Pages 76-93

9. Spain, Sweden and Subsidies

   • Herbert H. Rowen

   Pages 94-106

10. Allies to the East?

    • Herbert H. Rowen

    Pages 107-121

11. The Dover Treaty

    • Herbert H. Rowen

    Pages 122-132

12. Uneasy Calm

    • Herbert H. Rowen

    Pages 133-142

13. Storm Over Lorraine

    • Herbert H. Rowen

    Pages 143-157

14. Who Will Bell the Cat?

    • Herbert H. Rowen

    Pages 158-176

15. Mission Completed

    • Herbert H. Rowen

    Pages 177-184

16. Tariffs-The Lesser “War”

    • Herbert H. Rowen

    Pages 185-196

17. Conclusion: Pomponne, Lionne and Louis XIV

    • Herbert H. Rowen

    Pages 197-203

18. Back Matter

    Pages 204-210

    PDF

The scope of this study is narrow-the activities of a single ambas­ sador for little more than two years. The problem it treats is wide and universal-the origins of a great war. There can be no adequate history of the relations between states whieh does not take into account the knowledge, judgment and deci­ sions of individual statesmen. Diplomatie history, though only a part, is a necessary part of the history of international relations. Within a more or less c10sely circumscribed range of possibilities, men in power choose between alternative policies, with results they may or may not have anticipated. The historian therefore can and should describe the past, present and future, as it were, of the historical persons whom he studies: the past whieh provides them with oppor­ tunities and limitations, both objective and subjective; the present in whieh they act; the future in whieh the consequences of their actions appear, for the most part beyond their control. This is a study of the part played by a great diplomat-the perfect ambassador, his own age called hirn-in the formation of policy. My task has been a dual one. First, I have observed Arnauld de Pomponne at work. Second, I have attempted to evaluate the French plans for war against the Dutch republic, with particular attention to Pom­ ponne's contribution to them.

• Action
• Diplomacy
• Policy
• attention
• international relations
• knowledge
• state

• Department of History, State University of Iowa, USA

  Herbert H. Rowen

Policies and ethics