The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-07-29
SYSTEM
IS DISCUSSED
Diplomatic Appointments in United
States Are Not Made
Because Of Es
perienee.
NOT so IN EUROPE
NOT so IN EUROPE
Every Ambassador Is Trained Man,
Who Has Had Years Of
Schooling for
Position.

lIBy Henry Wood. Rome Correspond
/ emit of the United Press.l
Il ROME, July 29-The unusual num-
her Of foreign complications arising
under PTesiden. Wilson's administra.
ton has caused a widespread discus
/ sion In the European press on the
American 'spoils" system OF diplo-
matte appointments.
In Europe there is no other pro-es-
sion SO generally regarded as requir-
| ing LIES special training and edu-
cation as that of diplomacy. Italy,
for example. requires that every can
ididate for the diplomatic career must
/ POSSESS tile of nobility, two uni
yersity degrees and be master of at
least two modern foreign languages.
Even with all these accomplishments
however, the candidate must begin at
the lowest rung of the ladder. He
then passes through every phase OF
the diplomatic career, serving in var
ious foreign capitals, as chancellor.
attache, second secretary, first secre-
tary and finally as minister and pIen-
iipotentiary before becoming a full
dedged ambassador. In addition he
usually serves for several years at the
ministry of foreign affairs at Rome IN
capacities which place him in toucl
with thu political relations Of the en-
tire world.
| With this required preparation for
/ diplomat in Italy, 1taE.ns naturally
ilcok a trifle askarce at the American
system of appointing almost any man.
regardless of his special qualifications,
who has happened to place the sue
lcessful political PARTY sufficiently in
! his debt Uncle Sans failure to find
"a quicker settlement OF the Mexican
situation, of the Japanese trouble, OF
1 the Panama canal dispute with Eng
land, as wen az its failure to inouce
more European powers to participate
in the San Francisco exposition, Is
Icredited largely by the italian press to
the failure OF the United States to
have trained diplomats for the hand
/ ling of those questions On the Amer
lean system OF diplomatic appoint
ments -LaTribune' the official organ
of the Italian government, has this to
say:
| rs Diplomatic corps necessary?
4 To Europeans, respectful of tradition.
accustomed to think along the lines
laid down by the wise ones OF the
past, perfected through the centuries
and adapted to the present with the
Infinite care. this demand not only
seems irreverent but almost incom-
prehensible.
! I'm America. however. the debate
on the subiec. has become lmpasston-
ed owing to the fact that the advent
/ to power OF the democratic party after
nearly twenty years of republican ad-
ministration has developed the fact
that American diplomacy. considered
since many years like the army, navy
and federal magistrates, as being
above the party, is instead merely a
part of the party spoils-
/ Thus in less than year practical
; " the entire American diplomatic
corps has been radically renovated.
Ambassadors and ministers who had
risen TO these positions after twenty
years OF successful diplomatic service
under the republican administration.
have at one blow re-entered .he OBJ
security OF their former professions.
and have been relieved by men who
have never been inside of an embassy,
who know little II anything OF inter
national Law and who have had no ex-
perience whatever with a single prac-
teal phase of diplomatic work
However. in the debate now being
wagsd in America, there has just in
teryened with the authority which ne
derives from many years OF perman-
ency as ambassaGc- to Berlin DR..
David Jayne Hill He has assumed
the task OF demonstrating to his coun-
/ trymen that although the United
States may be separated from Europe
or Japan by many thousands OF miles
and does not have a either the north
or south counter currents with which
/ it must occupy itself. it Is not however
in another planet and complications
are always possible.
! Whoever has lived in America
knows that al the bottom OF the amer
lean psychology there il sincere.
unlimited confidence in the excellence
Of America over every other country
IN fact e senator arriving recently at
/ Washington from the prairies of the
west replied 20 Or. Hill By demanding:
! DO you think that we would allow
cur ambassador sent TO Washington
ito influence Us. We know what our
interests are and we propose TO defend
them Once we have decided to do
thing we VIII do II without taking
count Of what the others think about
Il. In these days OF wireless and
cables, DIPLOMATS are not necessary
and the heads Of governments can
communicate directly with each other
However while the average Amer