Evening star., 1947-07-06

policy and technical problems be-
fore they are sent out into the worle
as fiedgling diplomats.
Before they have chance at work
Of much responsibility in relations
with other nations they have te
come back for a more extended ses.
sion of advanced training. BY the
time they are old-timers qualified
for top posts they will have third
or fourth training period behind
them.
Marshall Ordered Training
The difference between this sys-
tenn and the old-time practice might
be likened to the difference between
giving a child specialized training
in music and counting on him to
learn to be a skilled musician on his
own hook, picking UP tunes "by
ear"
DR.. William P. Maddox, director
OF the new Foreign Service Insti-
tute, put it this way:
'It is far cry from those days
prior to reorganization of the con-
sular service in 1906 when, it was
said, new consuls went abroad with
no other advice than to take snuff
often and slowly, sit with your back
to the light, speak the truth and the
rest you will learn by observing your
colleagues.
The institute was set up March IL
under orders from Secretary OF
State Marshall to provide train
ing program designed to improve
the skins, broaden the understand
ing and develop the abilities of For
eign Service and State Department
personnel and other Federal en-
ployes requiring instruction in the
field of foreign relations"
1t represents the elimination Of
efforts largely half-hearted, extend
ing over 40 years to furnish some
measure of training for American
Government personnel serving
abroad. The first instruction fol
new consuls began in 1907. This
was followed in 1909 by so-callec
school for diplomats" which didn't
amount to much. In 1924 another
training school was established fol
new appointees to the Foreign Serv.
ice. But five years later a practice
of sending new officers abroad i'm
mediately and returning them 9
year later for training in the State
Department was adopted. The first
extensive provision for any ad'
vanced training came in 1945 with
the setting up of Division Of
Training Services in the State De.
partment.
Four Schools Set Up
The new Foreign Service Institute
is a direct outgrowth and expansion
of the two-year-old training divi
sions. Four schools" are set up un.
der the institute. These are basit
officer training, advanced Officer
training, management and admin
lstrative training and language
training.
So far the institute is concentrat.
ing mostly on breaking in newcom.
ers to the Foreign Service. Plan!
are to get the advanced otficel
training school into operation dur
ing the next fiscal year. 1t ha!
been set back some by the lack O.
funds to build up the institutes IA
cilities all at once, as well as b!
pressure to fill jobs abroad making
it difficult to free experienced mel
for further schooling until some per
sonnel cushion" is built up through
current expansion of the Foreign
Service.
During this calendar year, abou
ITS new Foreign Service officer
are being appointed to the begin
ming Glass 6, where they will be OF
probation for three years. Another
125 older war-service men, expert
enced in specialized fields. are be-
ing brought into higher classifica
tions under the special so-callee
"Manpower Act" Then there arr
several hundred new staff officers
and clerks, making total of aroune
1000 potential freshman students
for the institute this year.
Newcomers generally are assigned
to the institute Immediately aftel
their. appointment. The genera
aim of this basic training is to giv'
q clear idea of American foreign
policies and just how the State De
partment and the Foreign Service
operate.
Two Kinds of Lectures
Much time is taken up with lee
lures of two types. One is on tn
technical working Of the State De
partment and how q routine jol
abroad fits into the whole patterl
of conducting foreign relations. tn
other is aimed at helping employe
going abroad for the first time t.
adjust themselves to living in foreigl
countries and at developing tech
niques for ready and sympatheti
communication with foreign peoples
Near the end Of the period, eacl
student is put in touch with spe
cialists on the area to which he 1
assigned for. more specific instruc
ton.
During the afternoons, there ar
conference discussions and practica
exercises in actusl jobs to be dom
abroad. This means practice on sucl
things as preparing comprehensive
political and economic reports TO
the officers, filing procedures ant
coding kilograms for the clerks.
In addition, there is basic trainin,
in the language of the country t.