Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-03
TRAINING CONSUlS
Special instruction for Ameri-
can Representatives.
CONSULAR SERVICE NEEDS
George Washington University's
Fund for New College.
TO EXPAND EXPORT TRADE
Merit and Efficiency Should Be Only
Grounds for Appointments and
Promotion.
DR. Richard n Harlan OF George Washington
University. in American Industries

DR.. Richard n. Harlan OF George Washington
University. in American Industries
The subscription OF $1,000 by the
South Carolina Cotton Manufactures
Association toward the sustentation
fund of s12J.O0O now being raised by
the George Washington University for
its new college of the political sciences
emplla ashes most strikingly the practi-
cal and national possibilities Of that col
Jege as a training school for the public
service, both at home and abroad, es-
pecially for consular positions.
The appeal on behalf Of such special
training school for the consular service
rests upon four fundamental propositions
l. Somewhere in the United States
there ought to be at least one such
special training school
On this point Secretary Root says:
1.-THE experience of other countries
shows that to secure q properly trained
service a special provision for training
must be made. The ordinary curriculum
of the colleges and academies in the
United States is not adapted to prepa-
ration for such service.
The general. postgraduate courses In
international law and diplomacy, eco
nomics. modern history and modern
languages. such as are offered in our
best universities-while invaluable as
laying broad general foundation for
consular career. will not fully meet
the demands of the present situation:
America has become exporting
rather than an importing nation, and
We are now fairly entered upon fierce
struggle for our share of trade in the
great markets of the world. In that
peaceful commercial invasion of South
America. Europe and the once far, but
now near. east. which II IL the purpose
of the National Association OF Manufac-
turers to promote the Increase. the vast
business interests Of the United States
now require "a consular corps of we'll
disciplined American soldiers of COM
merce, scattered throughout the foreign
trade centers and on the outskirts Of
civilization. who, under the lead of able
consuls general and guided by wise in
structions from the home government,
will be able to shield American inter-
ests. protect the customs revenue from
LIBERALIZATION and help to capture the
ner as to satisfy both Congress and the
country that every dollar appropriated
for the service is bringing back hun
dredfold return
Trade Scouts.
If our consuls are to be efficient scouts
or forerunners of our national export
trade the consular service must be made
as definite career as the army and
navy. To bring this about the service
must, of course. be divorced absolutely
and forever from partisan politics and
put upon a business or "civil-service"
basis. in which merit and proved eff
cheney are the only grounds for ap-
pointment and promotion: there must
be good salaries and a sure tenure of
office, dependent only upon good work
and never upon political pull; and
there must also be q proper system of
pensions for men who nave grown old
Con small salaries) in the service Of
their country in foreign lands; But we
need something more than a thorough
going and permanent reform as to the
appointment and promotion Of consuls.
The effectiveness of the men who are
expected to be ambassadors Of trade"
as well as the dignity and attractive
ness of the consular service. depend
upon something which not only ante
dates their appointment as consuls but
has vital bearing upon their chances
of promotion for good work done in the
service-and that is the thoroughness
and def1niteness and practical character
of the training they are given before
their appointment.
We train men for the army and the
navy. Just so, the time is now ripe
when-for the benefit of men seeking
consular positions and for the sake Of
the vast commercial interests which
they are to represent and promote while
abroad there ought to be at least
one special college or training
school, providing a highly special
lied, technical and intensely practical
course of instruction as to the
duties or consuls. the history and pres
ent-day condition of our Industrial life.
the resources of our own country. the
trade relations now existing with other
lands and the possibilities of increasing
that trade.
As the editor Of the American Ex-
porter puts 1t Gin the course of a sug-
gestiVe letter this subject recently
received from him), our prospective con-
yeyl
commercial knowledge of their own
country: they must be given "a good
grounding not only in practical business
ideas but in knowledge Of the various
important branches of American manu
facturers, TO which foreign markets Of
fer so great an opportunity" they must
be taught, mot only what to do. but
how to do it,
But such program calls for the de-
Nelopment of a special consular training
school A regular college or university
can only lay the broad foundations of
the education of our future consuls. After
these institutions have done their best
there remains much TO be learned that
is of highly specialized and technical
character. 1t is quite true that most O.
that special knowledge must be acquired
gradually In the school of experience
after the consul has entered upon the du-
lies or his ONCE; but much time can be
saved, both for the consul and for the
business interests of the country, and his
effectiveness can be raised indefinitely. If.
before entering upon his duties. he can
be put wise as to certain practical prob
lens and methods and can acquire in
advance kind of knowledge which can
best be impaired in a properly managed
special training school for the consular
service.
= For obvious reasons the National
capital is the strategic location for such
Il school.
The statistical resources of the various
governmental bureaus and libraries are SO
rich and the possibility and Importance
or working out some plan of unofficial CO.
operation between the State Department
and such special training school are so
obvious that there can be no question
that. all things considered, such a train
ing school ought to be located at the Ma