Secrecy and Diplomacy

In re: Scott Shane and Andrew W. Lehren, Leaked Cables Offer Raw Look at U.S. Diplomacy, New York Times, Nov. 29, 2010, at A1; Daniel Halper, Obama to Russia: ‘After My Election I Have More Flexibility’, Weekly Standard, Mar. 26, 2012.

"The nature of foreign negotiations requires caution, and their success must often depend on secrecy; and even when brought to a conclusion a full disclosure of all the measures, demands, or eventual concessions which may have been proposed or contemplated would be extremely impolitic; for this might have a pernicious influence on future negotiations, or produce immediate inconveniences, perhaps danger and mischief, in relation to other powers."

George Washington, quoted in United States v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corp., 299 U.S. 304, 320-21 (1936).