New-York tribune., 1905-11-01
OUR CONSULAR SERVICE.
Suggestions by Congressman Watey
for Adding to It's Efficiency.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

70 the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Every American who has been in foreign
countries and observed commercial matters must
have been impressed with the attention the con-
suls Of other nations give to questions affecting
their interests and also IL he in personal
contact with them. how carefully they seem to
have been trained for their work If he investi-
gates further he will find many of them have
been for years holding various positions In the
consular service and have been promoted for
! merit. If he pursues the same investigation In
the case of our own representatives he Will ma
in most that the reverse is true. 1t is for
the purpose of calling attention TO these matters
which of such grave import to our nation
this article is written. in the hope of agitating
the question and thus leading to some remedy
adequate to change these conditions. and add to
the efficiency of our consular service
The writer has been to Europe frequently, and
this last year visited some eight foreign coun
tries. the consuls and talked with several
American Ambassadors. One instance will suf-
flee to show the above statements to consuis
not simply personal opinions. Two OF us
being anxious to obtain some statistics as to the
consumption of ferromanganese went to an
American consul general and were told without
a blush the face of informant that he had
not these statistics but we could get them at
the German consul's; and had to conceal our
bushes and ask favor of that gentleman. VINO
gave us the desired information quite cheerfuuy
The writer has thought much the remedy
for this evil, and it is a growing one. and while
he has some ideas the subject, does not claim
he solve the problem. but hopes the various
boards of trade and chambers of commerce will
take the discussion up and arouse public sentl-
| ment which will make itself heard and felt at
the national capital. It is not partisan mat
ter but one in which the whole country is vitality
interested.
1t would seem that our consuls should be
trained especially for their duties and should at
| least have the command OF more than one Ian
guage They should also be familiar with inter-
national law. with questions of political economy
| and thoroughly equipped for their work This is
really matter of several years training, and
demands college of diplomacy on lines similar
| to those of the war college No one should be
appointed to subordinate position until he
has either the degree from this institution has
passed its examination. Then he should be pro-
NOTED he shows capacity and fidelity In
other words. should go to the consular
vice because they are fit for such work, and not
receive appointment reward for political
services, because Of any influence their friends
may possess.
l. The consular pay should be such as to enable
the recipient to live properly and respectfully
At present this service is most inadequately
paid. and the result is competent refuse to
take the place very often, and we ma rlch men
sons, tfer poor relatives, occupying positions
demanding great ability.
Now. this article must not be construed as a
wholesale condemnation of our consullr service.
We have in many places most competent men,
and some who have been in the service for years.
The writer stayed ten days with one of these.
He has been in the consular service fourteen
years and speaks four languages 1uently, but
this is case, and in his very district
sub-consul who could hardly talk English. In
one instance the consular agent, who was found
after two hours hard work. could neither speak
nor understand English, and only spoke his
native tongue l am glad to say we are better
represented there since my visit.
Our consuls. in addition to obtaining informa-
tion of use to business men Of this nation. not
fnfreQuently represent 1t official occasions,
and our country is Judged by the impression they
produce on the foreigner; and this brings up
another question. Our consuls should all wear
a uniform, varying with the grade they repre-
sent. 1t should be unostentatious. but should be
distinctive, and worn diplomatic occasions.
Even our distinguished Ambassadors have been
taken for attendants because OF black
dress suits Republican simplicity sounds well.
but, ''in Rome do the Romans do and
other nations prescribe a consular dress, we
should certainly range ourselves alongside of
them if we to compete with them.
The President and the State Department
should have absolute control over the appoint
ment removal of all consuls and over their
promotion. AS we'll expect army to be Off
cered by politicians and it's affairs conducted by
them have this great army Of diplomats
where tact and diplomacy may prevent the need
of invoking the army or navy. The nation ap-
piled the political methods to the army of e 81"
and learned most costly lesson, and one never
to be forgotten, enforced by defeats and
necessary loss of valua BILE lives due the COM
mand being given to political soldiers. But,
always. this nation finds effective remedy, as
it did in the latter part of Civil War,
placing incompetent officers either by veterans
trained in the service, or by men who had shown
fitness for their commands
AS the question of An1ba sSadors, they
must, of necessity be appointed by the Presi-
dent, on the lines In which he selects his
Cabinet; but when it comes to the question OF
their residences abroad 1t is q burning shame
that the United States does not own In every
country where there is Minister its own resi-
dence which he should occupy Other nations
Go this and the result of the matter is that
their Ambassadors housed in manner
worthy of the nation and the effect produced on
the nation TO which the Ambassador is
credited is correspondingly impressive Within
q few years a residence was offered to the United
States for its Minister at very important
point at the price of $4,000 and declined The
French government took this for it's Minister
this last year at 100000. One of the finest
residences In a comparatively unimportant place
which / visited was the house of the consul from
Ecuador
The foregoing. stated. simply mans
views fortified by conversations with con-
suls and by the writer's own observation He
invites criticism and suggestions. indeed.
totally different plan. If some one VIII suggest a
better one, for the whole aim of this is simply
to achieve a result. viz: the betterment of our
consular service and the means that will best
conduce 10 this end the to be COM
mended. WILLIAM H. WILEY,
Member OF Congress- Sth y. ]. District.
New-Torls, October p, 1905
NOT ON GFRh IN PdpFR