Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-17
COMMERCIAL SCHOOLS
Preparing Candidates for the
Consular Service.
COURSES IN UNIVERSITIES
Teaching Diplomacy at George
Washington.
FIFTY-TWO BEING INSTRUCTED
Attention Given to the Subject by
Higher Educational Institutions
Throughout the Country.
FIFTY-TWO BEING INSTRUCTED
BY WILLIAM z. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM z. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
Since the consular service was taken out
of politics and placed on a merit basis
several of our colleges and universities
have provided courses of instruction to
qualify their students to pass the exam
nations necessary for appointment. and
since a plan to vote government subsi-
dies to institutions that will maintain
courses of instruction on foreign COM
merce has been suggested a lively inter-
est is being taken. Several. which have
given no attention to that branch of edu-
cation heretofore. are preparing to In
troduce it in their curriculums. while 9TH
ers which have been doing a little are
planning to do more.
The George Washington University OF
this city. being closely in touch with the
executive branches of the government
and particularly the Department of State.
has had a flourishng school of diplo-
macy for several years. and I believe 1t
is the only one in the United States
Among its instructors and lecturers have
been several experienced and eminent
diplomatists. and quite a number OF Its
graduates are now occupying positions
in the consular and diplomatic service. 1t
is proposed to enlarge that department
and extend its usefulness upon plan
that has the Endorsement of Secretary
Root and other officials Of the Depart
ment of State and members Of the
United States Senate and House of Rep
resentatives and others who take an i'm
mediate interest in such matters.
The School Of Diplomacy.
There are now fifty-two students in this
school of diplomacy. Their average age
is twenty six years. which indicates that
they have serious purposes. About half
Of them are graduates of other colleges
and universities and represent fourteen
different institutions in the United States.
Several are foreigners. Twelve have
selected those studies which will best
prepare them for the examinations re-
quired of applicants for consulates by
the Department of State under the new
regulations. Fourteen are taking the
course in diplomacy with the expectat ton
or hope OF obtaining appointments to the
diplomatic corps. The remainder are pre-
pairing themselves for commercial careers
in connection with our foreign trade. The
estimation Of the value OF special prepara-
ton Is rising among the commercial COM
munity, and these young gentlemen are
expected to demonstrate the advantages
Of professional training in buying and
selling the products of other countries
anu III shipping our manufacturer mcJ-
chandise to foreign markets.
1t Is generally conceded that education
improves a merchant as we'll as a lawyer
or doctor, and that a technical knowl-
edge OF any trade, or Of transportation. or
Of agriculture, or Of commerce is a valua-
BILE equipment for young man, no mat
ter what business he engages in. The
college man In politics has been familiar
subject OF analysis and discussion for
many years; the college man in business
in Anna11v mt nd orta ~
member Of the community. The number
OF college graduates who are going into
business is growing larger every year. A
few years ago 1t was not considered nee
essary to furnish a higher education to a
young man unless he were intending to
enter a profession; but the number of
bachelors OF arts and bachelors of science
In the banks, factories, mercantile houses
transportation lines and the other great
industries is now very large.
The George Washington University has
a faculty Of about twelve professors in its
school Of diplomacy and foreign COM
merce. Among them are DR.. James Brown
Scott. solicitor Of the Department of
State: Mr.. w. c. Dennis. his assistant
and Mr.. John Ball Osborne, chief Of the
bureau of trade relations.
The consular course requires special at
tention to be given to the modern Ian
guages to commercial and Industrial
geography. commercial and internat ional
| law. the history Of commerce in Europe
and the United States, the consular regu-
lations. and the duties required Of the
members OF that corps.
The course in diplomacy includes SUBJ
stantially the same studies, although
less OF economics is required. and more
OF International law ana the practice Of
diplomacy.
University Of Illinois.
The University Of Illinois is also doing
good work and seems to pay more at
tention to this particular subject than
any other institution outside Of the Ma
tional capital. Prof George .Myxatt
Fiske, head Of the department OF foreign
| commerce and the consular service. not
only devotes his entire attention to 1t,
but has the advantage OF practical expe-
rience as secretary Of embassy In Berlin
and familiar knowledge of similsC
courses Of instruction in the German
universities and gymnasiums. Mr. Fiske
| Is author OF the only text book on this
, subject. entitled International CONNER
cial Policies" which was recently pub
lished by the Macmillan Company
The course In commerce and the con-
sular service in the University of H.
linois runs through four years. the first
two being devoted to a general business
training and foreign languages and the
history of commerce and trade in the
United States and other countries. The
third year Is devoted to the study Of
consular regulations and duties. the his
tory OF the commercial policy of the
United States and the domestic and for
eign markets of the United States, and
the fourth year to international law
commercial law. history Of the consular
and diplomatic service. and to a final
course in foreign languages.
University Of Chicago.
The University. OF Chicago has courses
in the diplomatic history Of the United
States. In the history of commerce. COM
mercial geography. study of various
foreign countries and their chief prod
ucts. the effect Of soil. climate. transporta-
ton lines and geogra phical situation upon
international trade, and similar SUBJ
jects. and Is now preparing special
group of courses to AT capdidates for
consular positions.
The university authorities recently is
sued the following circular:
For the purpose of preparing young
men for the public service of the United
States especially the consular service. or
for eQuipping them az commercial agents
in the employ Of great American. bust
ness concerns having relations abroad the
University of Chicago has provided a
series OF special courses. These courses
in the main deal with the subjects Of
political economy. political science, ele-
mentary and commercial law. the history
OF the United States and the history Of
modern Europe. both in it's continental
and colonial bearings. together with a
thOrm19h training in the modern lam