Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-25
SINGLE CORPS Of
FOREIGN SERVICE
by new LAW

Washington, Sept. - ca. P.)-The
United States foreign service, include
ing consular and diplomatic officials
in a single. interchangeable corps. Is
now functioning, State Department
machinery having been completely
overhauled and reorganixed to put
into effect the reorganization law
passed at the last session of Con-
gress.
A vast amount of detail work has
been required. but now only one step
remains-inaugurati of the For
eign Service Training School within
the department. authorized by the
law-to ensure that future American
diplomatic secretaries and consular
officers are we'll equipped for the jobs
to which they are assigned.
The first step in the reorganization,
effected by executive order. was the
creation of the Foreign Service Per-
sonnet Board to examine and report
on the character, ability, efficiency
and general availability of all secre-
suls- general, consuls, vice consuls of
| career. consular assistants, interpre-
tiers and student interpreters" The
report was completed by July l and
the actual Interviewing of the con-
sular and diplomatic services has
been In progress on that basis.
A primary object of the reorganiza-
ton, as explained during debates in
Congress on the bill, was to take the
foreign service out of politics SO far
as possible. The personnel board
| machinery was designed to relieve
the White House of the task of Sc
! Letting for appointment any. foreign
service official, excerpts those ambas-
sailors and ministers who are not
| taken from the career groups in the
State Department..
There are indications already that
the White House has taken immed-
late advantage of the relief thus at
forded. So far as known, selections
| Tor appointment to embassies, lega-
tions and consulates are being left
entirely to the State Department.
The Personnel Board also regulates
retirement under the 65-year age
limit, pensions being drawn from a
fund built up by retaining s per cent
| from the salaries of all State Depart
ment personnel. One member of the
diplomatic corps and 81 from the
| consular service already have been
retired.
The work of the Personnel Board
has by no means ended. Records of
| all officials have to be continually
overhauled and kept up to date; in
diVidual performances studied to de-
termine in what particular field each
| individual is most proficient; special
| qualifications and limitations record
ed for future reference. The board
| has also the power to recommend
dismissal of officials whose efficiency
rating is low. SO far no dismissals
have occurred, but some offenders
have been denoted and warned that
| unless Improvement Is shown they
will be dropped.
The Foreign Service School will
come into full effect after the fall
diplomatic examinations. Successful
| candidates will attend courses of lee
lures on all aspects OF consular and
diplomatic work, including also it's
| subtler> sides such as the trickeries
| most prevalent abroad for evading
! American regulations and obtaining
passports under false pretenses. Ac-
tual work in the divisions Of the
State Department will be intermixed
with the lectures. After one year of
| schooling, department officials be-
! lieVe, the students talents will have
shown themselves clearly enough to
determine their qualifications for the
diplomatic or consular branches.
Under the bill, transfer from one
/ bfanch OF the service to the other is
allowed, but that practice will not
be usual OF frequent. department OFF,
Gals say. The interchange was made
possible mainly because occasions
arise where the relations of the
! United States with certain countries
might make the presene of u diplo-
mat, rather than consul advisable,
though no ambassador or minister is
formally accredited to protect Amer
lean interests in that particular
! place.
| Expense allowances for ambassa =
doris and ministers are contemplated
in the bill and to estimate these ex-
penses the State Department is COM
piling data as to the minimum with
which each mission abroad can keep
up in proper style. The results will
be submitted to Congress next ses-
sion.
! Department officials describe the
new plan as already having had a
stimulating influence on the person.
mel.
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