Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1962-03-27

EHEs3S COMMENT Y
2& T-TT@ Charles MAC" Matthias
~ q 1-L&[N Congressman.
Charles "Mdc" Matthias
9Th District. Maryland

During first year and half of his administration
President Kennedy has quite rightly emphasized that the for
eign relations of the United important
problem facing the Nation and indeed the whole free world
He is reported to spend of his time foreign
affairs than any other single field of problems
ingy deeply concerned that the President shall have
the best help available to him he faces these serious
responsibilities which his The country fortunately
of nesmabe value the
in dealing with the daytoday professionals who
promise the Foreign Service of the United States These
and their families coming from every State in the Ma
ton and from every background imaginable in every
country of the world providing the President and the Secre
tary of State detailed and upohe minute information
all the economic and political developments their
of assignment told that morale in the Foreign
Service has been lower and that if drastic improve
ments in the administration of the Foreign Service not
made the effective operation of the Foreign Service will
be endangered
1t is hard find out upon inquiry why even men
of the stouest heart wonder how long they go
ing the Government the United Foreign
ice am told that than 200 Foreign Service officers
In the middle grades presently without assignments
They have been told that prospects
assignment cannot believe that there problem
in the world which could the sks of these experienced
officers ask whether this is effective manpower uliza-
ton?
The efficient operation Foreign Service depends
above all having the right the right place
right time 1t is enormously difficult management job
requiring the utmost skill to have available at the right time
officers who have the language slls necessary
hHoWeuge OF ponucdl and economic conditions the
areas Moreover each officer who is reassigned requires
replacement and that replacement requires replacement
and that is impossible interrupt the orderly
reassgnment of officers without bringing chaos the
ice at of the posts Department spu
lates this danger in the travel curament
that announcement the Department realization
te potential impact of this step stating in terms
OF double ncumbences ando long vacancies per-
Sonal plans :"
In addition to the needs of the service efficient
assignment consider closely the effect foreign service
families involved Many have served in hardship posts
long periods of time without recreation nearly
have children who be from one school to
aoher when they change posts have deferred
lca attention which be gotten the United States
plans are made to attend service which
the officers Skill perhaps him new languages needed
at ms next post and plans must be advance
mouse the families while they here United States
All the careful planning all reassgnments which
were scheduled to take place between January 31st
new fiscal year beginning July 31st now have to be
strapped
am sure that the Congress last year appropriated
enough money to operate foreign service in the normal
way There seems question however that these funds
which were appropriated the legitimate travel
needs oil the career foreign service spent without anv
thought for the morrow Can it be that the Department
takes 1t Tor granted that shall always bear the burden
Tor an effective Foreign Service Corps through supplemental
appropriations If to make such appropriations to
cover unantclpated expenseshat is thng-but if we
are to make them to recfy msdrecon and careless plan
hg OF appropriated funds that is quite matter
In these times of constant international crisis the Amer
cah people have right to an efficient
Foreign Service and the Foreign Service has right to e
pect no less and asks than the tools TO do it's diff
cult task.