In these lectures given at the Associated Colleges at Claremont, California, the President Emeritus of Brown University develops the theme that "a sound professional diplomatic corps is neither impeded, on the one hand, nor guaranteed, on the other, by the fact of democracy." In his concise development of this thesis Dr. Wriston challenges a number of prevalent views on the workings of diplomacy in a democratic society. On the whole his findings are optimistic though certainly not complacent.