New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-23
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AMERICAN CONSULAR SERVICE.
! ITS EFFICIENCY HIGHLY APPRECIATED
ABROAD.

ABROAD.
Washington Dec % (SpeciaD.-~It is the fashion In
certain quarters 10 at the personnel OF the
consular service Of the United States and for some
superior persons TO say that II is wholly incompe-
tent and altogether bad The places il is asserted
are bestowed solely rewards for partisan ser
vices and almost without exception on men VINO are
destitute OF the necessary qualifications and who
have proper conception OF the nature OF their
duties and responsibilities. Time was when such
criticisms were largely. but by no means un'Ver-
sally. Jus; true. for the United States has always
had some capable and efficient men IN its consular
service
At the present time the efficiency OF the consular
service OF the United States 70 be more high
" appreciated abroad than II Is at home except ny
manufacturers producers and exporters VINO are
striving 10 gain a stronger foothod IN foreign mar
kets In England for example. students OF eco
nom,c subjects who keenly alive TO trade condi
lions aud foreign competition have discovered hat
the Yankee consul is no mean factor; that WINE ne
may lack some OF the official dignity ana dehoera-
zion Of the British consul. he Is an active CON"
:mercial missionary. whose labors often iedu W '
gble results and some OF them compare Ms WI"
with that OF the British consul to the dlsau'""'"e0
OF the latter.
One OF these is Robert P Yates. formerly CHAIR
man OF the Birmingham Chamber OF Commerce
Who has lately been devoting much attention 70 inc
American consular service in England as We. ~
10 the work that the Philadelphia commercial W
scum Is doing 10 aid American manufacturers p'0-
ducers and exporters in efforts 10 exiend the' io
eign trade In recent interview. cop! OF winch
has been transmitted TO the State Department ~
Consul Hastead OF Birmingham and when Is 100
long 10 be reproduced here. Mr.. Yates as the 'esu'
q, his persona, observation and Investigations a'e
some suggestive statements. Among o'her th'hss
he said:
The American consul rule: Is the sor, o, na "a,
20 cultivate the acquaintance OF business men ~. M
district and OF course know that tne cl'1e.,s
Of The stars and Stripes champions az me senie
ar, % questioning and their questions are usua'l,
very much 10 the point II a man IN iarge va! "a
business ia willing 10 open out al an the an
lean consul will stick him until he mas got az Ire
essential facts likely 10 be usetul 70 we lIauci
supplying the particular description or soots ~.
Then again when he gets anything ne tNllhSS I'M, A.
Importance he does not walt for a monlh 70 lcIuue
~ information in a comparatively Lengthy report.
promptly perhaps even the same night-as Mds une
Ease in one instance that came under my h0.Ict
he catches the next mail II is published IN
ineon in two three weeks, and Is cllcuIdteu az
over the United States with no longer hterNal
The time the Information was acquired IMAM "ouIu
he taken by many Of consuls IN preparing tne
report I quite admit that the English reports ma
he more strictly correct In some respects WHICH !.
only 10 be expected as the result or much create,
elaboration but in these days OF telephones a',u
,eIAcraphs and steam and scramDe. prOinptItuIo 10
almost everything and an ideal consul snouiu ue
almost smart es Journalist.