New-York tribune., 1900-05-06
CONSULAR SERVICE Reform.
AMERICANS IN ORIENT PRESS IT UPON
CONGRESS-
PECULIAR NEED FOR IT SET FORTH BY
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CHINA.


A letter received in this COUNT from Shang-
hal, signed by V. G. Lyman. secretary, on behalf
of the American Association of China under
date of April , last, shows that the associa-
tion takes lively interest in the consular
form movement, and recently adopted resolu-
tiOns urging Congress to pass the Bill to Re
model the Consular Service" which has been
presented in both the Senate and House. The
members of this association have had ample op-
portunity to with their own eyes the faults
in the present consular system of this Govern
ment and to form conclusions at first hand as
to the improvements needed to place it on a
level with those of other countries The posi-
tion of foreigners in China. as the letter says
makes them especially dependent upon their
consular representatives for protection both
as to their lives and property, and in respect
of their commercial and ether interests under
the rights and privileges secured to them by
treaty with the Government of this country AS
1t may not be always remembered by their
friends at home. they subject TO the jurisdic-
ton of their respective nationaIitfes and it is
therefore essential that their representatives
should be men of character and capacity and
thoroughly conversant with The laws which they
are called upon to administer"
POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH
A clause of the proposed bin which wins the
particular approval of the association requires
that consular officers appointed to countries
"here' as in China, extra aterrtorialitv is Dro
Vded for by treaty shall have passed an OK
ANIMATION In the principles of common law the
rules OF evidence and the trial of civil and
criminal cases. This qualification will NOT ba
thought unreasonable perhaps when il is con
Sioered that American consuls have almost nm
III limited power extending even to captaI casas
Ihe oniheSe language presents so MANY dim
culues to beginner that the association makes
the Following suggestion:
A further provision of peculiar appIic.rir+,. o.
see Incorporated in the regulations on "
appointment OF student interpreters i'm order ,o
Jul service on with that Of Craat
- anu me continental nations. At present
pur coilsulS labor under a great -
naVlns no personal acquaintance with AZ
language. while their duties entail constant ntor
course with the native officials he ba,rirn
judicial cases to which natives are n marty
Would he OF great assistance in rOnnectiCr9
tle t frequent cases arising from our missionary,
IHteItSlS IN interior stations, remote from, ~,
treaty ports which consuls are called mo-, ~,
years OF study. and with this comes a InovrIad,SS,
oI hallNe character that only heightened axnar-
tclloe can SieId 10 induce young o ability
10 enter TINS branch service i: ,,o1IId
heedfuI thai II he made not only uermanent durinf,
good behavior. but that the incumbents shouId j,3
III III tHe regular line of promotion. and that uro-
nclthcy IN the language should rank high
the QdallHcatlOnS such promotion In Tho
lsh service all the consular officers have nnternd
as student interpreters and risen thence throrcI
the various grades to the highest nests ana j.,
some they have been transferred the dipIonatit
service. i''i'