Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-04-01
THE AMERICAN CONSUL.
a British View OF the Hustlinx Activ-
ity and EnI erprlse OF That
Official.

should say they take a great deal
more trouble over getting information
and go TO work iu different fashion.
The American con sui. as {. rule. is the
sort OF man TO cultivate he acuuaint
ance Of BUSINESS men in hi district. AM
OF course. We know that he citizens oI
The stars and stripes ure champions of
Inc gentle art Of questioning and Their
questions are usually very much 10 III
point. II man in Il larst way Of bust
ness is willing TO open cut" at al.
The American consul will stick 10 him
until he has got all the essential fuc:s
likely TO be useful 10 the Traders supply
Ing the part:cuar description OF gonds
used. Then again, whcr he gets any
thing he thinks Of importance he does
tot wait Tor month TO include the
information in u compare hely lengthy
report. lie writes out 'hI statement
2Inctrning the matter promptly. per.
laps even the same nigh:--as was th.
:a~e in one instance that came und'-
my roiice-he catches the next mai
4 i. published in Washington in wv.
~ three weeks. and il is circulated uu
over the United States with no longer
was acquired than would be taken L>
many OF our consuls in preparing I! ,
report. quite admit tia; The ErgI:>l
reports may he more strictly correct in
some respects. which is City 10 be eN.
pected as The result Of nurf greatprde-
liberation. but in these GAYS of tel
phones and teiegrarhs. md steam and
scramble. promEt:1ute is almost every
Thing and an IDEAL consul: should be a.
most as smart as journalist.
Then there is this about il: In order
10 supply the sort OF Information 10
merchants which is furnish, d by Amer
lcan copsuls. II is necessary TO aGop:
more or less aggressive tactics. adj
init that. and of course. mp to now. III.
British consul has never considered
himself in the ligh, of commercia!
traveller, but the American consul take.
himself that way with tn" utmost gouC
will. Now. whether il would be wise
for the British foreign Office TO pncorr.
age our consuls 10 throw aside ihe;-
traditions in this respect is. perhaps a
nooted point, but ! certainly think
That where the other and imperative
duties of n consul proven i:m from CIV
ing large amount Of his time 10 pure
~ commercial matters an assistant cor.
aul should be appointed. who coul
make that department his special care.
And there is room for great deal more
usefu! activity. Probably no British
consul would adopt American methods
without feeling that he was losing dig
nifty. But. depend upon i. the time for
the old-fashioned notions prevalent in
British consulates has cone by. Even
surprising that the consuls go on work
Ing upon the same lines IS heretofore.
their reports might certainly be sent in
more promptly. and they should be pub
lished within few days of their arrival
in London. The custom cf elaborateiv
editing and revising them. involving
often delay Of several weeks. is alto.
gether mistake and could be easily
amended. AT Washington the consula:
reports are, believe. issued daily. AID
the advantage Of this prompt publicn-
ton is highly pprecIateG.-Robert =
Yates. IN London Commerce.