Nor did President Davis himself ever fully grasp the importance to the South of a well-considered and energetic foreign policy.

At first, indeed, home controversy compelled anxious attention to the exclusion of other matters.

Until war cemented Southern patriotism, Davis, himself regarded as an extremist, felt it necessary in denial of an asserted unreasonableness of personal attitude, to appoint to office men known for their earlier moderate opinions on both slavery and secession[130].

"The single exception to this general policy[131]" was the appointment as agents to Europe of Yancey, Rost and Mann, all of them extreme pro-slavery men and eager secessionists.

Of these Mann was the only one with any previous diplomatic experience.
Yancey's choice was particularly inappropriate, for he at least was known abroad as the extreme fire-eating Southern orator, demanding for ten years past, that Southern action in defence of states rights and Southern "interests," which now, at last, the South was attempting[132].
Yancey and Rost, starting on their journey on March 16, reached London on April 29[133].