Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11
FOREIGN SERVICE OF u. S.
PRAISED BY LAWMAKERS
Members of Congress Laud Representa-
tives of State Department Abroad
Following Callivan Attack.

a rule il the State Department letters
do not open all doors TO them.
Representative Gallivan harped sa'
tirically upon the alleged toadying to
foreigners and foreign countries which
American diplomatic and consular OFF,
Gals habitually practice. He makes
the point that they are more bent
upon currying favor with the nations
in whose midst they are stationed
than in the promotion of American in
terests.
The Massachusetts, Congressman
overlooks the important fact that the
Americans sent abroad are 'accred-
tied" TO the foreign governments and
countries where they are. respectively,
on duty. 1t is a very vital part of
their job TO cultivate" the people
among whom they are at work. They
are required to utilize every reason
able opportunity to acquaint them
selves with all classes of those people.
They are supposed to inform them
selves thoroughly as to the customs.
policies and life of the countries i'm
question. To do all this means spend
ing a vast amount of time and energy.
1t leaves relatively little time or en-
ergy for the entertainment of tourists
from back home" congressional or
otherwise.
Evidence i'm Washington.
Members of Congress have, right
here in Washington, the best sort of
evidence of how the foreign service
officers of other countries work in be-
half of their own countries. Every
time a European, Latin American or
Far Eastern diplomat gives a dinner
or a reception in Washington he is es-
tablishing or maintaining contacts"
of priceless value to his own govern
ment and people. There's hardly a
diplomatic function in Washington at
this season which is not graced by the
presence of numerous members of
Congress- 1t is considered useful by
foreign ENJOYS to know our political
leaders and to exchange condolences
with them about American affairs of
interest to the outside world. There
is probably more of this sort of ''cul-
tivation" going on in Washington than
in any other capital of the world. The
reason is our predominant influence
in international relations, especially
as q money power.
Representative Stephen G.. Porter.
Republican, of Pennsylvania, chairman
of the House foreign affairs commit
tee, spent part of his recent congress
sional vacation on an official visit to
Central America. He was particularly
concerned with housing accommoda
tions for American foreign service Off
GERS and their families. In many cases
he found these accommodations to be
almost indescribably bad Mr. Porter
frequently ran across ministers, Sec
retaries and consuls WIN, together
with their households, were required
to put up with living conditions not
10 be found in anything but the back
woods towns of the United States, and
worse. Here and there climatic condi-
tons and food facilities are barely
sndurable.
Rich Men Are Few.
Even in countries far remote from
this hemisphere American foreign
service people are working and exist
ing under anything but luxurious cir
cumstances.
Representative Gallivan asserts that
dollars are the essential passport to
the American foreign service. The
service contains some rich men, but
they are relatively few and far be-
tween compared to the hundreds of Of
ficials, especially the younger element,
who have adopted the foreign service
career as a livelihood and are pursu-
ing it Loyalty and industriously at
moderate salaries. When they enter
tain visitors from home they have to
do so out of their own pockets.
downright. 1927