The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-07
TRAINED DIPLOMATS WANTED.

Our recent diplomatic complications III
various directions. coupled with the
knowledge that nearly all our representa-
tives abroad, as ministers or consuis, are
men without any special equipment or ex-
perIence for delicate diplomatic work.
have caused the suggestion TO be made and
extensively commented on that we should
establish and maintain government
school OF diplomacy, just as We maintain
military and naval schools
A writer In one OF the magazines cor
rectly observes that in the past the diplo-
matte service has been left too much IN
the control OF politicians and spoilsmen.
| Hencefor,h the foreign policy of the
United States will be closer and more
! technically watched by other nations
| than II has ever been in the past, and
/ the surest aud best way says this writer.
ITO obtain competent men to represent
this Nation abroad as ambassadors, min
listers and consuls. is to give them diplo-
matte education. This can be gained only
| in an institution founded expressly for
the purpose"
| Commenting on these observations, the
Omaha Bee has this to say:
/ Undoubtedly there s much 10 be said In
J favor OF school OF diplomacy and possibly
In the course OF time such school will be es-
{ tnblished with the couptenance. II not under
the control of the government. But II can
rot be said that as yet the United states mas
O. perienced any necessity for such an inshtu-
tlnn. II Is unquestiouable that men have peen
appointed to the diplomatic service VINO were
totally untitled for IL, and such men nave
brought more or less discredit TO the govern
pcpt They were merely politicians, who per
formed their duties pertunctorily knowing
that their tenure OF office would continue only
during the term Of the administration which
appointed them. Such diplomatic representa-
t,ves are admittedly a reproaoh TO the coun'
try, But they have not been very numerous
In our history and they did no very Setiou'
harm Very few such have been accredited u
Tie more important countries
The Bee suggests one OF the chief trou.
: bles in the premises when 1t intimate'
! that the knowledge OF the limited tenure
Of office has caused. too often, ineompeten
men only to enter the diplomatic service
and perform their duties in an indifferen
5 manner. II once the merit system wer'
! adopted for the diplomatic corps. applyini
s throughout all its branches, from tn
highest to the lowest. we should sooi
build up a sltillful and experienced diplo
a matte service that would obvlate the neces
e sity OF anything like a government ''schoo
I of diplomacy"
o When we take the diplomatic servic
i out Of party politics, as they have don
I In England. and instead of selecting war
d politicians for stations OF honor aud re
!, sponslbility abroad pursue a policy o
r promoting and transferring from post
L post, the men already In our foreign serv
6 ice who have had diplomatic experience
d and displayed special adaptability to theI
: work, we shall obtain, just as the Euro
pean governments have done under thi
n method such talent as we need.
lie 1t is especially important that we sha
% inaugurate such reform IL. as 1t Seems
ia we are to attempt TO play the role OF
ID world power" and become constantly In
D. volved in international complications.
he is q strong argument now against colon
TO cation and imperial policies by this cour
c. try that under our spells system we ar
nj less fitted than any hrst-class power I
W succeed in governing subject peoples an
$! holding our own In the big game OF In
ny ternationa diplomacy.