The herald., 1897-11-28
OUR DIPLOMATIC AND consul
LAR SERVICE

men for foreign service by giving them
continuous employment. 1t has been
otherwise in this country, for changes
in our foreign service of ministers or
consuls have been nearly as frequent as
changes in administrations, and ap-
pointments have been made quite as
much to reward political services. or in
obedience to political influence as to pro-
mote the public interests.
1t is perhaps more necessary in Europe
TO have trained and skillful men for
diplomatic work than in this country,
for the reason that over there are COM
plications and complexities which do
not exist on this side of the Atlantic.
Here diplomacy is direct and frank, but
over there it is devious and subtle.
The dominant idea in some of the
European countries, and particularly
in Great Britain, is that men should be
appointed to the consular service who
have the capacity to promote the COM
mercial interests of the country they
represent. Until recently not much
thought was given to the idea of promot-
ing our commercial interests through
the appointment of suitable men to con-
sulships. Every British consul is a sort
of advance agent for his countrymen
who have anything to sell. They gather
manufacturers and traders, and it is not
Objectionable if they are interested in
trade, while it is an almost universal
rule that men are selected for the mora
important consulships who are familiar
with commercial affairs. In this coun-
try, however the reverse policy has gen.
orally been followed.
OF late there has been some improve
suls were required for the first time to
investigate conditions Of the countries
in which they were located, and to make
full reports. The information thus fur
nished has enabled our producers and
exporters to understand what each
foreign country needs and with what
tllcy iuN { ~ COIllpSte. lHOSe COUSulS WHO
perform their duties we'll should be re-
tanned. If there were more permanency
in tenure the service would undoubtedly
be better. AS it has been, by the time
men became familiar with their duties
they have had to give place to those who
are new and inexperienced.
A consul has no political functions to
perform. His duties are to give protec-
tion to American citizens and guard
American interests. Why one should be
selected for political reasons is not ap-
parent, for his duties are entirely of
business nature. The people of the
United States need purchasers of their
surplus products, and it is proper for
consuls to aid them to the best of their
ability in that respect. Were perma-
nency of tenure assured, there would be
plenty of men who would aspire to make
the consular service life business.
By reason Of our recognized power as
nation, and the growth of our external
Commerce, our relations with foreign
idtioiio el DeCOTllnS more
extended and complicated. and hence it
is more and more necessary that we
should have trained, experienced and
able men at foreign courts as ambas-
sadors and ministers. These qualities
will not be possessed if the service is
undertaken merely as an episode in life
The art Of diplomacy cannot be acquired
without experience, and when the SER
vice is entered as a profession as it Is
in European countries, our foreign rep
resentatives will both acquire higher
status and do better work for the coun-
try. The office Of ambassador or minis
ter is not political and there is no good
reason why it should be given to a parti-
san, and especially as reward for parti-
san services. Retention of able and tried
men in foreign service is the very es-
sence of civil service reform.
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