Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-03-28
TUE AMERICAN CONSUL.
A BRITISH view OF the uu.slinE Aetly-
~ aihH ER. trSss.e ThSf

l should say they take great deal
more trouble over getting information
and go 10 work iu different fashion
The American con sui. as {. rule is tic
sort Of man TO cultivate he acquaint
ance Of busnes IS men in hi> district. AMI
u: course. we know that he citizens Gi
tEe slurs and stripes are champions of
the Siniie art Of questioning and Their
questions are usually very much 10 tn
point. If man in largt way of bust
MSS is willing TO open cut" at al.
the American consul will stick TO hiiu
until he has got all the essential facts
likely 10 be useful o the traders supply
ing the particular dissertation OF goods
used. Then again, when lie gets any
thing he thinks OF Importance he does
not wait for Il month to include the
information in "a compare hely lengthy
report. He writes out he statement
concerning the matter prL mptly. per
haps even the same nigh:--as was Tia
case in. one instance that came und 90.
my notice-he catchss the next ma:
il il published in Washington in wv
or three weeks. and il is circulated Il"
over the United States with no -Iongrt
interval from the l:me the informatiU
was acquired than would be taken L.
many of our conSuis in preparing /:
report. | quite admit tha; The Engl:-.
reports may be more stri, t.y correct i!
some respects, which is lilly 10 be g
pected us the result Of much greaterdr
liberation. but in these days of tel
phones and ieiegraphs. and steam an"
scramb Bile. Erompt:tude is almost every
thing and an ideal cGnsu! should be a
most as smart as Il journalist.
Then there is this about it: In order
to supply the sort OF information Ia
merchants which is rurni~ hi d by Amer.
lean consuls. il is necessary to aGor'
more or less aggressive tactics. az
nit that. and of course. mp to now tn
British consul has never considered
himself in the lighr Of a commercial
traveller, but the American consul takt<
himself that way with III" utmost good
will. Now. whether it would be wise
for the British foreign Office TO encour-
age our consuls to throw aside THEW
traditions in this respect *. perhaps a
mooted point. bui | certainly think
that where the other and imperative
duties of consul proven linn from CIV
ing large amount of his time to pure
ly commercial matters an assistant con-
sui should be appointed. who coul
make that department his special care
And there is room for great deal moIr
usefu! activity. Probably no British
consul would adopt American method,
without feeling that he was losing dig
nifty. But. depend upon 4. the time for
the old-fashioned notions prevalent r.
British consulates has cone by. Even
supposing that the consuIs go on work
ing upon the same lines -. heretofore.
their reports might certainly be sent in
more promptly, and they should be pull
lished within few days Of heir arriva,
in London. The custom e elaborateiy
editing and revising them. involving
often delay of several weeks. is alto
gethcr mistake and could be easily
amended. AT Washington the consula:
reports are, | believe. issued daily. a..G
the advantage of this prompt publica-
ton is highly ciateG.-Robert p
Yates, in London Commerce.