The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-14
STATE DEPARTMENT INDEX

The most complete index to diplo-
matte transactions in the world is now
being made at the state department
in Washington, 1t will represent the
most thorough application OF modern
methods TO the transaction of govern
mental business that IL to be found
1t has kept pace with current events
since 1t was started in 1906, and
gradually all OF the archives of the
department back of that year VIII be
classified and indexed In the same
way, so that when the whole work
is completed. the entire diplomatic
history of the world. as IL has affected
the United States, Will be placed at
the finger tips of him who has access
to the cards.
Roughly speaking. the matters with
which the state department has TO
do are of two ktuds-ttrose which arr
of permanent Importance and those
which are ephemeral. The latter.
probably cease 20 he OF value after
a wear or So, yet under the law may
not be destroyed. Eul a greater pro-
portion of the correspondence and IN
I formation OF the state department Is
j of permanent value than IN the case
/ OF any other department The small
est item of to-day may affect the di-
/ plomacy or the world dozen years
! hence. 1t is important that these
/ things be filed away. and equally i'm
! portant that they may be readily ac-
I cessibIe when they are needed. They
would be needless In the haystack vi
voluminaus record were 1t not for
the card index.
That the volume of correspondence
of the. department is large is shown
/ by the fact that II has required near
/ ly half million cards to index the
accumulated matter of less than loar
wears That II covers wide range
Is shown by the fact that II may re-
! late TO an international situation al
! fecting all the powers or to the reg
istration of the marriage OF Jonh
/ Smith and Susie Brown In Paris
with the American consul as witness
It's services are in requisition In nun
! dreds OF ways. Its consular service
I gathers business information. general
and specific, from all parts OF the
4 world. thus bringing foreign CONNER
i cial opportunity within reaeh w
! American enterprise
The negotiations that led to tbs
execution of the Argentine snip con
tract whereby American ship bun'd
ers have secured judgments whicf
will give employment TO tnousahn'
! of laborers, liz but one or the nun
1 areds of eases where the consu!al
service has been the American look
I ont on the watch towers or lnterha
tional trade. So complete mas INN
service been made that Its principa
4 features have been copied by all tnt
I other commercial nations Al th'
! the American manufactures does no
I receive as great benefit from II al
/ tfa or receives
I from the German service, 1t Is sisl
\ plv because he overlooks his trad,
I opportunities. me herman any
Enghshman eagerly enter every doo'
of foreign trade opportunity opens p'
their consular representatives,.
( All matters pertaining to th'
! American end of international CON
ferences and congresses are arranged
/ through the State Department. Va
rions institutions, including mission.
ary societies. have their protection
acsured through its labors, as In the
4 ease OF the establishment OF schools
I HOSPITALS and the like. IL maintains
a record OF the marriage OF all Amer,
can citizens abroad, when performed
/ in the presence OF American cohsos'
! and certified by them, and OF amer
cans res!ding in foreign ahus. "a
eardiug TO consular districts. ihaul'
rios are made relative to the wnere'
abouts or fate of American citzen'
! who drop out of sight. For INSANE
| an electrical engineer goes 20 r-sui
\ dor, and his friends lose track OIL hiiu
The department endeavors to locate
4 him. s,a -,
I When Americans are deprived o'
their treaty lights abroad. or those
\ of aliens infringed In the Unite
I states. the department conducts Me
resulting international torrespond-
enee II collects information Tor CON
| gross "a i'm the case Of postal savings
| banks and inland waterways abroad
Information about treaties gives In.
| formatior, 70 foreign governments
concerning marriage and divorce laws
in. the states, and many other mat
| ters; looks after the United States
lcourts IN sxtxA-tsTrttorial regions