New-York tribune., 1905-07-11
PROMOTION IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE.


In the last issue of The Tribune's Sunday
Magazine the Hon. Chauncey NJ. Depew made
an urgent plea for the improvement of this
country's diplomatic and consular service.
Much of his argument sound and many
of his suggestions were helpful. But in EN-
phaSiZng the need of reform the junior Sen
ator from New-York, in our opinion somewhat
oyerdrew his picture of the conditions which
he seeks to reform. He laid too much stress
on defects which have been to some extent
corrected and on working theories which are
being rapidly abandoned. The methods of ap-
pointment which he ridiculed were tolerated
In our diplomacy for over century. But they
are passing What true of conditions ten
years ago is not true Of conditions now Under
the administrations of President Mckinley and
President Roosevelt material progress has been
made toward putting our foreign service on a
sounder footing and it can no longer be said
that the only rule which governs in appoint
ments and promotions is the rule of "spois."
In his article, after describing the British
system of life tenure and gradual promotion,
Mr.. Depew said:
The contrasting conditions in our service
hardly need pointing out. There is no prelim-
mary preparation of any kind exacted of our
Ambassadors, Ministers and secretaries. Their
appointments are the political patronage Of
United States Senators and Representatives.
The career of diplomat, so called. is generally
cOntemporaneous with that of his sponsor and
patron the former follows the latter into prt-
vate life.
This statement is likely to leave the impress
sion that in our diplomatic service, constituted
and regulated as it is to-day, experience counts
for nothing and promotion for fitness is practi
cally unknown. Such ideas are current in this
country, and even a trained historian like Pro-
fessor Albert B. Hart was led to say in re-
cent work-"Actual Government'-that there is
little or no promotion in the diplomatic SER
vice" But any study of the diplomatic regis
ter will show that this is far from being the
case. We have at present eight diplomats with
the rank of Ambassador. OF these Whitelaw
Reid at London, was formerly Minister to
France and was a member of the commission
which negotiated the treaty of peace with
Spain; Edwin H. Conger, at Mexico, was for
merly Minister TO China; Bellamy Storer, at
Vienna, was formerly Minister to Belgium and
to Spain; Henry White, at Rome, was former
ly secretary of embassy at London. Charlie
magne Tower, at Berlin; Robert S. Mccormick,
at Paris and George Won L. Meyer, at ST.
Petersburg, have all served as Ambassadors at
other posts, and David E. Thompson at Rio
Janeiro, was recently promoted from the grade
of Minister.
With the Ministers IN service promotion has
been even more conspicuousy the rule. Said
Mr.. Depew: In most cases the consul general
"Or minor Minister has never been outside this
| country and knows nothing Of the manners
land customs of the people among whom fate
land the Administration have placed him." Is
this a fact to-day? Ou Ministers TO China,
| Japan, Cuba, Greece, the Argentine Republic
Rumanla and Servia, Venezuela, Santo Domingo,
Corea, Persia and Morocco have had previous
| service as secretaries or cOnsuls. Herbert w.
| Bowen, recently Minister to Venezuela, was
/ also promoted from the consular ranks. Our
! Ministers to Turkey, Belgium, Portugal and
| The Netherlands have served previously as Min
listers at other posts. OF the thirty officers OF
| this grade therefore, fifteen have received
| prOmotions-a record which should refute the
| charge that there is no such thing as advance
ment for fitness under our present system. In
| both the diplomatic and consular services the
| theory Of permanent tenure and gradual pro
| motion is being introduced, and we secur-
! ing a body of trained workers IN both branches.
| This revolution in method is not complete. But
| in advocating further reforms in this direction
| due credit should certainly be given for the
substantial progress already made.