Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-02
rprise. asn ha. been expected for

no surprise. al 1t has been expected for
some time.
to Berlin is highly approved. as I'm the ten
years Mr. Thackara has been In the con-
suiar corps he has demonstrated his entire
fitness for the service. and this important
post comes to him deservedly.
The departure of Consul General H. Clay
Evans from London. where he has In an
unusually short time achieved an enviable
position personally and officially, Is regret
ted, but great satisfaction is expressed at
the importance evidently given to the posi-
ton by President Roosevelt in sending to
succeed MIR. Evans Mr., r. ]. Wynne. so
recently a member of the cabinet and man
whose previous training as a journalist and
government official qualities him most ad-
mrably for the office
Interest in Changes.
The transfer of Consul c. r. Slocum from
Warsaw to weimar is unauestionably In
the line of promotion for meritorious sery-
ice So far only few of the changes and
appointments to be made are known in
Europe and considerable interest and curios-
ity is shown In all the principal countries
as to the outcome of the policy recently
announced by President Roosevelt. Among
the appointments which have been pub
lished are several which have aroused
considerable conjecture. To those having
only superficial knowledge of American az
fairs they appear to be possible exceptions
to policy which has dictated such
changes are being made in Paris, Ber-
lin. Havre and London.
The coming of ]. s Gaffney as Ameri-
can consul general to Dresden has given
use to mild curiosity to how this Irish
agitator, whose fame as an anglophobe Is
not confined to the United States. will lit
into the duties OF a German consulate.
The appointment of Mr.. Griffith. an In
annapolis lawyer. to the important and
profitable position of American consul gem
eral at Liverpool is also a matter OF some
speculation. for the very large commercial
interests represented at that point are deep
ly concerned with the effective conduct of
the American consulate.
Good consuls are born and not made out
OF such miscellaneous material as is gen.
orally offered to the appointing power.
man may be a very good merchant an ex-
cellent lawyer a skillful physician or IN
fact. may excel I'm many things and yet
prove an utter failure as an American con-
sui. On the other hand a man may have
failed in the profession or occupation to
which he has given a good part OF his life.
and with scanty training prove himself "A
most efficient and successful consul. The
once calls for honesty, tact and industry.
The good consul must have a nose for
news of the commercial and Industrial
variety equal to that OF the newspaper
man. He must have those personal quail
ncatons which Will make II possible for
him not only to frequent good society but
to be welcome therein. He must make
friends and secure the confidence OF the
best men in the community In which he
Is supposed to uphold and guard the Inter
ests of the United States.
There is one requirement which should he
ironclad and without exceptions: A man
who Is sent to foreign country to assume
the duties of consular position should
speak the language of the people to whom
he Is accredited. Without this equipment he
will be practically useless, for at the age
most men are appointed to the consular
corps it is difficult If not impossible for
them to quickly acquire skill in the use of
foreign tongue