The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-23
The state D.partment-An EyoIu.
ton,

tion.
The history of any Department. of the
United States Government must neces-
sarly be a story of evolution and
progress. but Of none is this more con-
spiCuously true than Of the state De-
pertinent. 1t typihes in its marvellous
growth the development Of the country
in magnitude. power and influence. II
has been divided and subdivided again
and again and yet 1t has expanded ont
Of all resemblance to its Cramped be-
ginnings, and there Is as yet no limit
In sight to its extension.
II Is odd that until now no history
has been written OF this department
Some slight sketches there have been,
one prepared for the Chicago world
fair In 1898 and pamphlets for the
Omaha exhibition in 1898 and the Buff
falo one In 1901. Between October
1907. and October. 1912. a series Of
articles ran in the American Journal Of
international Loto. But all were in
adequate. The last names papers, how
ever, revised. rearranged and brought
up To date are now put forward in an
octave volume as a comprehensive and
authentic outline. The state Depart
p,ent OF the United States. It's History
and Functions, by GAILLARD HuNr,
Lift. D., LII. d. yale University
Press). Or. Hunt was chief of
the bureau Of citizenship in the De
partment in l90s-09 He has written
other works on administrative history.
Altogether he comes well equipped to
his present task. and while much Of the
matter is of necessity dry and formal,
he has succeeded In producing a book
which offers surprising amount Of
! interest to the general reader. n by nc
means aims to be history Of American
| diplomacy nor is IT in the least a
biogra phical series with the Secretaries
| of State as it's heroes. II is what II
purports to be. a history " the Depalt-
ment. it's origin and growth. with IN
account of what It does and how ut
does It.
! Before the thirteen Colonies had
| actually resolved on separation from
/ England tho Continental Congress took
charge of their foreign affairs. Article
| v of the Articles Of Confederation sub
mitted by Franklin, July 81, l77b, pro-
vided that the power and duty Of Con-
/ gress should include the sending and
receiving Of Ambassadors and entering
into alliances" In the articles Of Con-
| federation and Perpetual Union drawn
by John Dickinson Of New Jersey and
proposed July ~. 1875, the phrase read,
Sending and receiving Ambassadors
, under any character and entering into
| treaties and alliances" II was finally
ratified in this form March l. 1891, But
in the meantime an effort had been
made NJ less cumbersome way Of
transacting foreign business. and on
| November % l775, Committee on
secret Correspondence was created. with
| Mr. Harrison, DR.. Franklin, Mr.. Dick
inson. Mr.. johnson and Mr.. Jay as mem
hers. In this, perhaps. was the first
| germ of the state Department. Under
the Craftsmanship of Franklin 1t CORE
suondcd with the friends of the Colonies
abroad and sent Slas Deane of Con-
necticut disguised as a merchant. to
sound France on the subject of aid to
he Colonies In September, 1875 a
regular commission 10 France was
ordered, with Deane, Franklin and
Thomas jefferson as members, Arthur
Lee later taking Jefferson's place on his
refusal to serve In January. 1777, on
ers were sent to Spain with power to
orm treaty of friendship. William
Lee was sent AS commissioner TO Ger
many and Prussia and Ralph lizard to
Tuscany, but these appointees never
'rformed any diplomatic duties.
| After its first activity the CorNmlttee
~ Secret Correspondence dropped into
!nutility. Congress itself drew up al
the instructions tn its emissaries ahroat
with the aid Of special committees. on
! April II, 1177, the Committee on For,
eign Relations WAS substituted for II
with BENJAMIN Harrison, Robert Morris
Thomas Hayward, Jr.. and James Love-
| as members, Thomas Paine was made
| its secretary with $40 a month pay
Paine assumed that he was to he sor
of foreign secretary; perhaps Congress
had so intended, but the arrangement
, | did not last. Paine was dismissed OF
January l6, 1874, for making an officla
matter public. Indeed the functions o
tho committee were kept down to
; ~ riinum II was allowed to fur
, nish reports Of cure nj events in Amer
| lea TO the commissioners abroad. hu
Il that Is about all Communications iron
: abroad were referred by Congress Il
( | special commit ices and committee wa
| appointed to prepare report on neu
; ! trality, especially as bearing on tn
) | actions of the King of Portugal in re
, fusing to allow American vessels I
2 enter his ports. Such letters as tn
| committee sent out were usually signe
! | hy all the members, but often onl
, | James Lovell, It's most active member
a man Of strange eccentrlcities VIII
a espoused the cause Of Gen. Gate