Norwich bulletin., 1912-12-04

viousI, gover. "l from 'iE [ tina ~.uy empha~iAe M 'ts nr.tx.. relations one or another policy, now American interests ill every quarter ot the globe are being cultivated with equal assduity.
 This principal of poIirico- -Geograph ical division possesses also the good feature of making possible rotation between the officers of the department tai. the diplomatic and the consular branches of the foreign service, and thus keeps the whole diplomatic and consular establishments under the de- lartment of state in close touch and pqually inspired with the aims and policy of the government. Through the newly created division of inf0rma- ton the foreign service is kept fully informed of what transpires from day to day ill the international relations of the country. and contemporary foreign comment affecting American interests is promptly brought to the attention of the department.
 The law offices of the department were greatly strengthened. There were added foreign trade advisers to coop crate with the diplomatic and consular bureaus and the politico-geograph divisions in the nnumerabIe matters where commercial diplomacy or con sular work calls for such special knowledge. The same officers. together with the rest of the new organization, are able at ai! times to give to Ameri- can citizens accurate information as to conditions in foreign countries with which they have business and likewise to cooperate uore effectively with the congress and also with the other ex- ecutive departments.
 Merit System In Consular and Diple-
 matc Corps.
 Expert knowledge and professional training must evidently be the essence of this reorganization. Without train ed foreign service there would not be men available for the work in the reor. ganlZed department of state. President Cleveland had taken the first step to- ward introducing the merit system in the foreign service. That had been fol- lowed by the application of the merit principle, with excellent results, to the entire consular branch Almost noth- hoI fv1 {e rection with regard to the diplomatic service. In this age of commercial di- plomacy 1t was evidently of the first importance to train an adequate person nel fin that branch of the service.
 Therefore. on Nov. 2G. 1909, by an executive order placed the diplomatic service up to the grade of secretary of embassy. inclusive. upon exactly the same strict nonpartisan basis of the merit system. rigid examination for ap- pointment and promotion only for efi- ctency. as had been maintained with out exception in the consular service. Merit and Nonpartisan Character of
 Appointments.
 How faithful to the merit system and how nonpartisan has been the conduct of tie diplomatic and con sular services in the last four years may be judged from the following: Three ambassadors now serving held their present rank at the beginning of my administration. Of the ten ambassadors whom 1 have appointed. five were by promotion from the rank of minister. Nine ministers now Serv- ing held their present rank at the be- ginning of the administration. Of the thirty ministers whom have ap- pointed, eleven were promoted from the lower grades of the foreign Serv- ice or from the department of state. Of the nineteen missions in Latin America, where our relations are close and our interest is great. fifteen chiefs or mission are service men. three hay ing entered the service during this ad- ministration.
 The thirtysevep secretaries of en- bassy or legation who have received their initial appointments after pass ing successfully the required exami- nation were chosen for ascertained it. ness without regard to political af- filiati0ns. 4 dearth of candidates from southern and western states has alone made it Impossible thus far completely to equaliZe all the states 
 representations in the foreign service. In the effort to equalize the representa- ton of the various states in the cos. sular service have made sixteen of the twenty-nine new appointments as consul which have occurred during my administration from the southern states. This is 55 per cent Every other consular appointment made. in cluding the proaoiion of eleven young men from the consular assistant and student interpreter corps. has been by promotion or transfer. based solely upon etiirisury shown in the snrYire \ In order tn assure to the business and other interests of the Unitel States .a iifnanre of the resutiii2 benefits of this reform. earnestly re new BY previous recommendations ti legislation making il permanent along