The Washington times., 1922-08-07
CIVIL SERVICE
LEAGUE PRAISES
c. D. ?. POLICY
Harding Has Progressed in
Eliminating Unnecessary For
eign Posts, Committee Says.
by International News Service.

by InternhtlOnhl news BcfNCr'
Definite progress was made dur
ing the first year of the present
Administration toward the elimina-
tion of diplomatic and consular
posts from that class of Federal
offices which in the past nave
been considered political pap"
This is the conclusion drawn by
the Committee on Foreign Service
Of the National Civil Service Re
form League, in a report issued to-
day, from an examination OF the
record of President Harding's ap-
pointments to offices in the dlplo-
matte service.
President Harding's record seems
70 indicate, according to the re-
port, that "an earnest effort has
been made to retain the services OF
men of experience and to appoint
10 diplomatic posts persons with
Qualifications in diplomacy.
The committee found, for exam
pie, that five out of nine ambassa-
doris appointed during the present
Administration were men of pre-
vious experience in diplomacy.
They We're: Henry P. Fletcher, ap-
pointed ambassador to Belgium
formerly ambassador to Mexico;
William NJ Collier. ambassador to
Chile, formerly minister to Spain;
Cyrus T.. Woods, ambassador to
Spain, formerly minister to Portu-
gal; John w. Riddle. ambassador
to Argentina, formerly ambassador
to Russia. and Myron 7. Herrick,
reappointed ambassador to France.
Morgan Is Retained.
Edwin V, Morgan, appionted am.
bassador to Brazil in 1912, was re-
tanned in office by President Hard
ing.
Six of the thirty ministers now
serving in the diplomatic corps, the
report points out, are men trained
In diplomacy prior to their appoint.
mcnt. Eight were men appointed
under previous Administrations and
retained by the present Administra-
ton.
In it's survey of appointments in
the Consular Service. the Civil Serv-
ice Leagues committee that
President Harding has "an
unequaled record of adherence TO
the merit system" There has been
mot a single exception to the rules
requiring appointments through eX-
alninatiOns in the Consular Service
during the first fifteen months OF
the present Administration, the re-
port states.
Four ambassadors. sixteen minis
ters, two agents and COnsuls general
and one minister resident and con.
sui general given appointment by
President Harding were men without
previous diplomatic training.
while many of the twentythree
appointments made Of persons with.
out previous diplomatic experience
operated as a recognition of political
Obligations the evil of such appoint
ments is largely abated by the pres
cnt Administration and contrasts IA
VOrably with the records of the first
year of other administrations" the
report asserts.
COmmends Harding.
For this record President Hard
ing and Secretary Hughes are to
be commended. President Harding
is furthermore deserving of COM
mendation in that he has selected tor
Secretary of State a man of the
highest qualifications and one de-
voted to the merit principle"
Special attention is called by the
report to the fact that the present
Administration has surrounded the
Secretary of State with men trained
in foreign service. Henry p.
Fletcher. who served during the first
year of the Administration as Under
Secretary of State, entered the Diplo-
matte Service in 1902. William
Phillips, who succeeded him, came
into the service in 1903.
Fred Morris Dearing, who served
cs Assistant Secretary during the
first year, entered the Diplomatic
Service in 1904. He was succeeded
as Assistant Secretary by Leland
Harrison, who came into the service
il 1907.