Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-27
Mr.. and Mrs. Feely
Sail for Bolivia on
Interesting Mission
Woman Trade Commission
ers Find Favor Abroad.
Feminine Ambassadors OF
Future Are Not Unlikely.

when Mr.. and Mrs. Edward r. Feely
sailed recently, the former to take up
his duties as envoy from this Republic
at La Paz, Bolivia, an important cnap.
ter was opened in the development OF
the new diplomacy versus the old. Mr..
Feely is the first member OF the COM
nnercial foreign service to win his spurs
In the domain of diplomacy proper. A
native of Rochester, N. Y, and alumnus
of its well known university, the MIN
lister to Bolivia came to washington
soon after graduation to study prob
iems Of trade and commerce at the very
source. He was among the first to re.
sporld to the call Of Secretary Redfield
Ii 1915, when the Bureau OF Foreign
and Domestic Commerce was estab-
lished He took up various duties in
this country and abroad and soon
reached the rank of trade commissioner
and served at crucial period IN Mex
leo City, in Buenos Aires, and other
cities where the problems growing out
Of the World War had become acute.
More Promotions Expected.
The President as Secretary of Com
merce took a particular pride In the
personnel Of the Bureau OF Foreign ana
Domestic Relations, and now that MI.
Feely has made the opening wedge, IL
is anticipated that more promotions
from the commercial ranks into the
higher grades will be- noted. The State
Department has not hitherto listed IN
the diplomatic list used in foreign capi-
tails. commercial attaches or trade COM
missioners, although the nations hold
ing friendly relations with this Gov
eminent do include them, as they do
any special attache, military, naval or
technical.
Although the Bureau Of Foreign Com
merce was established July !, 1878
after Mr.. Redfield became Secretary, he
did not remain in office sufficiently long
to promote its growth, and it was Sec
rotary Joshua w. Alexander who saw
the opening chapter Of this now I'M
portant division of international rela-
lions which was created during the adj
ministration of Charles Maggie. Two
women were appointed under Mr.. AL
exander and they continue In ONCE,
and in a few months they will reach
the first decade in their interesting
tasks. Miss A. Viola Smith Of Cali
fornia passed all the gruelling tests
Smith being Of the Pacific Coast, nat
urally studied Eastern problems, domi-
nant theme In California and at the
University at Berkeley, where she took
her degree. She was sent to Shanghai,
China, soon after passing her examina-
ton, and through 10 years Of civil war
and incessant dangers she has faithfully
fulfilled her duties.
In November, 1920, Miss Elizabeth
Humes of Louisiana won her way into
the circle and for five years past she
has been trade commissioner in Rome.
Three years ago she came to Wash
A. tel Aa1@& vxyaO
much feted by various feminine or
CARNATIONS, among these being the
Woman's National Press Club, where
she gave q most inspiring and fasci-
mating account of her work and the
possibilities such field opens for
women.
A third woman trade commissioner,
Miss Gudrun Carlson of Minnesota,
entered the service a year ago and
was at once sent to Oslo, Norway,
where she is doing very good work.
Unlike the foreign service proper or
that in the State Department, the
commerce division has not lured so
many women. Since Secretary Lamont
took the helm about a year and seven
months ago about 500 or 600 applica-
tons for appointment in the Bureau
Of Foreign Commerce have been re-
ceived, but few have been of the
feminine order.
Clerks May Take Examination.
There are scores Of clerks in the for
eign division who are familiarizing
themselves with the requirements and
at any time they feel prepared they
may take the examinations, which are
oral and very difhcult In the near
future the women trade commissioners
will probably be more numerous and II
they prove of such substantial value
TO the service as Mr.. Feely has, In the
estimation of the President, under