Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-29
HOOVER EXPECTED
TO HEAL BREACH
Long.SmoIdering Rivalry Be-
tween Departments Caused
by Trade AttaChe System.

One of the earliest interdepartmental
reorganizations Herbert Hoover is ex-
pected to undertake after March con-
Germs the long smoldering rivalry be-
tween the State Department and the
Department of Commerce It affects
their respective methods of foreign
trade promotion. 1t touches in par
ticular upon the activities of the State
Departments consular officers and the
Commerce Departments commercial
attaches.
The commercial attache system was
the personal creation Of Mr.. Hoover
soon after he became Secretary of
Commerce. 1t was based on the theory
that American business abroad can be
more effectively drummed up and in
creased by specialists in various indus
tries rather than by consular officials
burdened with a variety of purely gov
ernmental work
Attaches Given Diplomatic Status.
Mainly at Secretary Hoover's insti-
CATION, the office of foreign trade ad-
WISER in the State Department was
abolished in June, 1921. Soon after
ward Hoover persuaded Congress to
give his commercial attaches diplomat
ic status. They are now full-fledged
members of our embassies and legations
in foreign capitals. For the past seven
years the business end of Uncle Sans
activities abroad has been centered in
the Commerce Departments Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce. To
it there now report no fewer than So
odd commercial attaches scattered all
over the world. New attaches are be-
ing sent over seas periodically. Offices
in Budapest and Oslo have just been
established. In London IL of Hoover's
trade sleuths are on duty. Eight are
stationed in Paris and 5 in Berlin
The record achieved by his foreign
trade organization since 1921 is consid-
cred by the President-elect as one OF
the brightest feathers in his whole adj
ministrative cap at Washington. He
laid stress upon 1t repeatedly during
the recent campaign.
Tracy Hollingsworth Lay, a. former
United States consul general. IN ms
book, Foreign Service Of the United
States" summarizes graphically the
situation which enSued after Hoovers
commercial attaches began clearing for
action.
"These officials" Mr.. Lay says, "were
sent abroad with duties indistingu1sh-
able from those of consular officers with
respect to trade matters. In every
phase of the commercial work OF the
two services there appeared to be dupli-
cation of effort and Of material, and
an overlapping of functions. The one
reported directly to the Department Of
State, and the other directly to the
Department of Commerce. The COM
mercial attaches set up separate ofdceS
and travelled about. But as an indie
pendent agent Of this Government has
no official status in any foreign country.
except as a part Of the recognized
establishment for the conduct of for
eign relations, the facilities of the COM
mercial attache were found to be
greatly restricted Thereupon his office
was moved to the American embassy
or legation.
I'm this position there naturally
developed a form of direct contact be-
tween foreign governments and these
agents of a domestic department not
concerned with the conduct of foreign
relations. This seemed to cross the
wires of diplomacy. 1t appeared to
bring into the diplomatic machinery
an extraneous element in the form OF
representative WHO UO1C I1O ACoPOAAc1~
bility in matters Of international poll
cies and yet was free to work through
its official channels in direct relations
with foreign governments"
Friction Still Persists.
Secretary Hoover and Secretary
Hughes had many discussions and made
numerous attempts to find a solution
of difficulties that were at one time
exceedingly bitter. The traditional dis
regard of the professional diplomat for
the mere business person played a GER
! tain role. One peace proposal was that
the entire consular service should be
taken over by the Department of Com
merce, a project which Signally failed
to arouse enthusiasm in the State De-
partment. Equally unpopular at the
Commerce Department was scheme to
annex Hoover's commercial attaches to
the State Department. Matters today
are less acrimonious than they once
were, but friction persists. Hoover, his
intimates are convinced, will probably
seek to eradicate it once for all.
lCopyright, 1920