The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-04-11
Foreign Praise Of
American C0nSuIS.
SUPERIORITY OF our SERVICE GEN
tRALLY ACKNOWLEDGED
Conspicuous Illustrations of Eaterprise on
the Part OF United States Agents


consular service, " La Revue Diploma
tique (which comments on the United
States consular service in highly
complimentary. way \ translation Of
the interesting article follows:
The Americans are practical men. ani
there instinct for business Is marvel
Gus. Nothing is more characteristic IN
this respect than the organization ct
their consular corps The consular sery-
ice Of the United Statesis ramnkable
instrument of expansion. IL II unique
and resembles none other. lts duty Is
that Of sort Of bureau Of information
at the expense Of the State 1t Is re
cruited principally from journalists
who carry into their official career the
trained instinct Of observation, the
quick grasp OF passing events which
belong TO their former profession. They
remain in close and sympathetic touch
with their former readers Their let
ters. which their colleagues reprint
have the familiarity Of All interview.
They describe how their family enjoy
their new residence, whether their
house has an exotic character. aud the
following Sunday supplement- repro
duces it with photographs They ad-
dress their reports 10 the Government
but they know that as soon as they are
received the press will reprint them and
that the whole country will derive ad.
vantage from them.
In some countries, the official print
ing office leisurely prepares the proofs
of consular reports. These are returned
for correction by the consuls. aud when
they finally appear they are no longer
Of interest. The are Of historic rather
than business character But the
American knows that his notes Will 90
without delay Immediately fo the put
lsc, and he gives in them, like 80 d
reporter information down to the latest
hour.
The American consul does not under
stand that he has a commercial situa-
tion TO maintain, but always a COM
mercial situation TO conquer. His in
genuity is exercised to invent and find
new markets, and in his study of ways
and means, he descends to the most
minute details
For instance, the Americans have
wheat TO sell. The consul at Annoy
proposes TO import it into China But
the Chinese do not eat wheat. They
must then be taught to eat it. 1t Is
noticed that the Chinese "gargoutiers
cooks form associations in which they
readily copy or initiate each other The
consul suggests that some dozens OF
these be selected. wheat given them
gratis, and they be taught to make q
few cheap, simple dishes. The fashion
would spread rapidly among the restau-
rants, and from there to the families
Here is an instance Of Imagination,
and, at the same time of practical gooC
sense. The Americans do not lack {
certain sentimentality in business
Last year at Caracas they offered to tht
President a banquet where were served
only dishes prepared from products o.
American origin. Enterprising anC
ingenious in the new countries it il
above all in Europe that the consuls Of
the United States are active and az
gressive. Despite their cOl0nia. con
quests, the Americans have compre
hended that the real struggle remain
in the old markets that there are grea
fields to be cultivated that there espe
cially is the hard school which viii
force them to manufacture and sell bet
ter than all others.
They have commenced their indus
trial expansion by striking at the hear
Of the old industry, in conquering th'
English firms in the Birmingham
market Their principles and rules ar
those Of sport. The record must b.
beaten. Their consuls have won tn
admiration Of the English.
These consuls interest themselves i'm
mediately after they reach their post
in all that surrounds them, just as the,
did before as journalists That which
they do not know. they learn. ON
sees by this that the Americans hav
the art of putting life and initiativr
into a career where other people res
upon routine and immobility.
In line with this fattering commen
on the sufficiency and activity of tn
American Consul is the report received
from Consul Monaghan, Of Ohemnitz
who sends atranslation Of an article tina
appeared in the leading paper Of tina
city, praising the efforts OF the Unite'
States Oonsuls in Italy to extern
American trade to those markets. Mr.
Monaghan adds that DR.. Reckow,
writer of European reputation, in hi
book on the reform Of the German con
sular service, says that United State
Oonsuls give their Government bette
service and better information than an
On earth.
Consul Mcfarland sends from Mott
ingham. under date Of February Ia
1899, clipping from a London journa
reporting q discussion In the House
Commons on the British consular re
ports. One Of the members, in sub
sequent intcrview, compared the worl
OF the British consular officers wit