Evening star., 1928-12-17
DIPLOMATS SCHOOL
URGED BY SENATOR
Would Establish Training
Courses in State Depart
ment Under New Board.

Establishment of a foreign service
school in the State Department, IN
which the Government could train men
for the diplomatic and consular service,
was proposed to Congress few days
ago in a bill by Senator Thomas, Demo-
crat. of Oklahoma, which has been re-
ferred to the foreign relations commit
tee for consideration.
The operation of such an institution
would be one of the functions of pro-
posed board of foreign affairs, which
also would be set up in the State De-
partment under the terms of the bill.
The plan for founding the foreign
service school, as outlined in the meas
ure. Is similar in some respects to the
method by which Uncle Sam prepares
his future Army and Navy officers at
West Point and Annapolis.
Age Limit Is IL to 81.
Each Senator and member of the
House would have the right under the
bill to nominate one person for admlS-
sion to the foreign service school.
Nominees would be between the ages
of II and 81, and would be required TO
take physical and mental examinations.
Before beginning the period Of train
ing the nominees would be required 10
sign an agreement to enter the Gov
ernnent service and remain Tor a
definite length of time, provided their
services were requested within two years
after completing the course OF nstruc-
ton.
Among the powers the bill would
confer upon the board directing the
institution would be: To employ ana
Ak the salaries of professors and In
structors; to map out the curriculum;
to make necessary expenditures Tor
personal services and rent OF bunolng
space in the District Of Columbia and
elsewhere.
Two Branches of Study.
The bill calls for two branches of
instruction at the school, one cover
ing consular and diplomatic work, and
the other commercial. The measure
contemplates payment OF compensation
to nominees during the period OF IN
struction, the amount to be determined
later.
Each person successfully completing
the diplomatic and consular course
would be eligible for appointment as
foreign service officer, unclassifed, and
each successful graduate from the COM
mercial course would be eligible for the
position of foreign commerce ottcer,
class S.
There is a provision in the bill that,
whenever practicable, persons registered
at the Government school could, with
the approval of the board, avail them
selves of instruction given at existing
educational institutions in the District
of a similar character, all expenses in
cident to such instruction to be paid
by the United States.
Is Rc,s., .S,I.
the bill would set up in the State De-
partment, would be composed of several
officials of the executive branch of the
Government and several members of
Congress. The board would have other
duties to perform, in addition to direct
ing the proposed foreign service school,
namely:
Cd ITO provide for the collection Of
information in respect to matters per-
tanning to the relations between the
United States and foreign nations; (2)
at the request of the President and Of
the Secretary of State, to advise with
them in respect to such matters: CD
II not incompatiblewith the public in
gresS such infermatiou rs it considers
to be necessary, and (4) to exercise
supervision and control over the for
eign service school -"
Would Retain Procedure.
The board would be composed of the
Secretary of State, who would be chair
man ex-of1cio; the UnderSecretary of
State, who would be the executive head:
the solicitor Of the State Department,
the Secretary of Commerce, the direc-
tor Of the Bureau of Foreign and Do
meStic, and the chairman and ranking
minority members of the Senate and
House committees on foreign affairs.
In introducing the bill, Senator
Thomas said that under the Constitu-
ton foreign relations are carried on
by the President In the name of the
Secretary of State, and that it was
not the purpose of his measure to
change this procedure, but ito pro-
vide all possible information and assist
ance to the President and Secretary
of State in this work" He referred
to the creation of the Bureau of Foreign
and Domestic Commerce in the Depart
ment of Commerce and said that
agency has abundantly justified its
existence.
The Senator explained that the bill
is intended to create permanent bu-
reau of foreign affairs that would make
available to all administrations infor-
nation and advice in formulating poll
cies.
Chairman Borah of the Senate For
eign relations committee, said he has
not yet studied the bill and was not
ready, therefore, to comment upon its
TornviSinns