The Washington times., 1928-09-13
j. s. SERVICE
ABROAD T ULL
Of GOOD JOBS
BY THOMAS H. HEALY, PHI. ID.
School OF Foreign Service
Georgetown University

more attractions than foreign
service.
Today the United States is
the leading nation Of the world.
economically, politically a d
financially. Today we are the
richest nation that the world
has ever known, with assets
estimated at more than $500, 000,-
O00.O0O.
We have the greatest export
trade of any nation and with
a total import and export trade
annually OF almost $4,000, 0o0,-
zoe. We have private invest.
ments abroad estimated at $13,-
O00, geo, 900, plus Government OBJ.
legations of Sill .00O, 900 900. or a
total of $4,000. 600 900. The bill
for carrying American foreign
commerce runs up to $500, 000,-
600 a year.
POWER is ENORMOUS
Because Of this economic and
financial strength, few nations
in history have ever had as
much political influence as the
United States exercises today
in. every corner OF the globe.
The time is past when any ma.
jor international affair can be
carried on without getting at
least the consent If not the CO.
operation Of the United States.
Practically no big world matter
can be settled without affecting
us directly or indirectly.
Our traditional isolation has
become a thing of the past and
with our increasing investments,
commercial and political influ-
ence, the United States must,
and does, take an active part in
world affairs no matter where
they occur. Americans are found
today in every corner of the
globe. They have business, So
cial and political interests in
every part of the world. The
prosperity and safety of the
United States is linked intimate.
ly with the international field
under competent auspices. A few
years ego we were more or less
self sufficient and busily occu-
pied with our own domestic de-
velopment; but our prosperity
and tremendous industrial pro.
duction have placed us in the
front line of international, eco,
nnmic and political battles,
whether we will it or not.
The extraordinary increase in
the use of efficient machinery
In this country is resulting in
overproduction in many lines
which will be q grave danger
to the country unless We can
dispose Of it in foreign markets.
The 100 million people in the
United States are no longer con-
tent with the necessities Of life,
but desire the Injuries and this
desire cannot be filled without
selling our surplus production
abroad and buying in turn ar
ticles thGt are needed in this
country.
All sound thinking economists
realize that foreign trade has
become vital to us, and that, IL
for any reason 1t was cut off
or decreased, millions Of people
an this country would become
idle and many OF the articles
that are considered no longer
as Injuries but necessities would
not be available to us.
Automobiles would lie useless
unless we imported rubber from
abroad; a simple act like tele-
phoning our friends is not pos.
RibIe without calling on raw
materials from many foreign
countries. Assuming that auto.
mobiles were not available. we
would not be able to furnish
even walking equipment. that is,
shoes, without relying on for
eigL countries. because nearly
half of the raw products that
we need for leather working is
imported. We could not even
have our national morning
drink, coffee, without calling on
foreign countries.
MUCH TO LEARN
Our vast economic, financial
and political interests abroad, run.
ming into stupendous proportions.
cannot be carried on satisfactorily
unless we have men especially
trained for this work. We must
have men to handle our export
and import trade. our interna.
tional banking and investments.
our international shipping. and
our political and commercial pro-
lection afforded to Americans and
American interests by the diplo.
matte, consular and trade COM
missioner services.
Because of it's worldwide rami-
fication. foreign service probably
requires more extensive knowl-
edge than any other profession.
1t must be knowledge that is both
theoretically and practically accu.