The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-12-03
CAREER MEN
MAY NOT we'd
ALIEN WOMEN
Ruling for Diplomats Not
Ito Affect Political
Apprentices
nj GARRETT D. HoRNER

WASHINGTON. Lee. 3. 'Cf)
The state department yesterday
banned further marriages oil
American career" diplomats to
foreign women because they migh,
have IN adverse effect upon eli
ficienGy of the foreign service.
Marriages OF this sort have been
"open to question Cor : long
time. the department said, ana
now because of the present con
dition Of world affairs must DC
regarded with concern.
Officials explained That an aheN
wife might d;SQuallfy a 'ore,EA
service, officer of outstanding aell-
ity for duty in a country where ms
wife'scnatiOnalitv would make ms
unacceptable. The government;
needs a diplomatic corps Of "troG-
BILE shooters able 10 20 queSlE
anywhere their services would be
most useful. it was said.
In the diplomatic language oil
the state department. its circular
order 20 all diplomatic and conSu-
lar Officers noted that:
"A failure To recognize the mn
portance attached 20 Il marriage
with ofie not or American nation
atty Has already operated unia-
yorably in the case Of soNNc whose
assignments 70 particular inter-
esting duty have had to he given
IN because il was considered nm
practicable and inadviSable, u not
even impossible. 20 make the as
signmentS, Notwithstanding the
ability of the officers concerned.
Thecalien marriage ban applies
10 career" officers Of the foreign
service and does not affect p0-
litical appointeeS who head most
of the embassies and legations.
Present marriages are not involv-
ed.
The executive order signed by
President Roosevelt StipulatcS That
sny foreign service officer VINO IN
the future might marry = foreign
or without first obtaining special
perniSsion from the secretary OF
State "shall be deemed guilty OF
characterization and shall be sep
arated from the service. Requests
fo, permission for such marriages
must be accompanied by the Of
ficer's resignation "for such nc
ton as may be deemed appropr-
ate"
A recent state department sur
vey showed l27 of the 6Sl foreign
service officers and 2O2 OF the
724 service clerks married To alt
ems. This state of affairs cannot
be regarded with appreciation,
the DEPARTMENTS order said.
Officials declined 70 make pub
lie the names Of those already
married 20 foreigners and said Il
general concern rather than any
particular incidents had prompted
the new policy. The recent mar
rage of Minister 20 Denmark
Ruth Bryan Owen to 4 captain OF
the Danish Kings guard was not
involved because she was not m
the career" service, Il was said.
She since has resigned.
: The departments order remind
ed members Of the foreign service
that il, Golfers advantages Sufti-
s;;ent TO expect OF them sacrifices
when the good of; the service il
considered and that anything
which detraetS from the available
ity of individual officers has an
adverse effect upon their useful
ness and upon the efficiency Of
the service"
The state department. has been
sympathetic with the problems of
diplomats who have lived in for
eigns countries so long they find
American marriage difficult, IL
said, and has felt loath TO take
drastic steps but 'the situation
has tat least reached such proper
tions that definite action cannoe
longer be delayed" b. .''.
IL pointed out that many other
nations already have acted SINH
larly. Among these are Italy and
Brazil which forbid foreign mar
riageS Tor their diplomats and
France Which requires official per-
fnissiont '''ts' ''.s>. ;.'H'