New-York tribune., 1900-01-07

sular posts in Switzerland and in Finland as
well nine-tenths of the consular and vice
consular positions in Italy, Germany. Holland,
Austria. Spain and Scandinavia, filled at the
present moment in the same manner. The United
l,ates, though it does not carry this penny wise
ind pound foolish policy in connection with it's
consular service to the same length as England,
has nevertheless an army of unpaid consuls
vice-consuls and consular agents who are not
american citizens
The only purpose for which these so-called
mercantile cCnsuls and consular agents are ap-
pointed is that of saving money, and it will
scarcely he believed that. although England's
power and greatness are primarily based on her
industry and foreign commerce, the whole of
her annual consular vote does not exceed one
third of the cost of first class battIeship.
have not within reach the consular vote of the
United States. But l venture to doubt whether
ii is very much larger than that of Great Brit
ain, if indeed it is as large.
COMMERCIAL ATTACHES.
Another reform which the German Govern
ment is adopting is the creation of a number
of commercial atJacheshps, not to its embassies,
but its conSulates. The German consulates
at Chicago. BuenOs Ayres and ConstantinOple
have already been provided with commercial at
tach6s, and the system is to be extended to all
German consuates in the principal centres of
Government realizes that in big city such as
Chicago, which has a large trade with Germany,
both the consul and his vice-cOnsuls likely
! have their time to a great extent taken up by
mere office work, ana that they have, therefore,
not much leisure opportunity to make them
selves acquainted with the industrial and COM
mercial developments OF their consular districts.
1t is to relieve them of this particular branch
of their work that the commercial attaches
devoted TO the acquisition of exhaustive infor-
hatOn calculated to foster all branches of Ger
trade and to open up markets for
German produce, we'll sources for
N4rmany's import trade.
Naturally the collection of this information
entails considerable expense. Neither England
this country makes any allowance to cOnsuls
this account Germany however, has ar
ranged that there shall be interference with
the efficiency of her cOnsuls and consular at
taches on the score of money, and has author
lied the most liberal expenditure in this direc-
ton; that henceforth the consular officials
will not only be able to travel about much
as is necessary for the purpose of acquiring in
formation and of getting into personal contact
with merchants and manufacturers, but will
likewise be in a position to pay for services
dered, instead of being entirely dependent upon
the good nature and kindness of the local au-
thOrites How absolutely necessary it is that
consular officials should have other sources of in
formation than these latter is shown by the fact
that the present Minister of the Interior in Ger
many while Governor of the Rhine Province
issued the most peremptory orders to the Off
cials OF the district not to furnish any informa-
ton to American consuls if there any
likelihood possibility of its being used to the
advantage of American trade and industry at
the expense of those of Germany.
Among the other reforms inaugurated by the
Kaiser is the provision that henceforth consuIs
\ to make their reports direct Berlin in
Eon. from the jurisdiction and control of which
>hey are now to all intents and purposes re-
heved. Until now even veteran consul generals
have been practically subordinated to the orders
of the youngest secretary attache of lega-
tion. if he happened to be intrusted with the
duties of Charge d d'Affaires in the absence of the
chief of the mission.
Arrangements are being made for the publ
cation of the consular reports Immediately on
their receipt at Berlin, and for their speedy
especially interested. Hitherto they have been
issued only at stated intervals, sometimes many
months after they have been written.
Less attention is to be paid the legal at
dustrial acquaintances of those who join the !