Smyrna times., 1963-02-14
Mcdowell
Introduces
Education
Bill This Wk.

Congressman Harris B. Nc
Dowell, Jr., D-Del.) this week
introduced a bill creating a
United States Academy of For
eign Affairs.
Mcdowell, a senior member
of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, called the measure
"an important step toward the
improvement of the formulation
and conduct of US. foreign
policy"
The bill established a wo-
year senior college program of
foreign affairs training and
graduate school.
Selection to the college would
be similar to procedures used
by the military academies. Each
congressman and senator would
nominated three persons, En-
trance, however, would be on
the basis of rigid competitive
examination.
Students at the co-educational
college would receive their edu-
cation free and be paid allow
ances similar to those received
by West Point cadets. In return
they would promise to remain In
government service TWO years
after their graduation, working
In an agency engaged in foreign
affairs functions.
''The college will provide the
Executive Branch with reser-
voir of new talent for service
in foreign affairs, INC Dowell
said. sit will graduate soldiers
of diplomacy"
Mcdowell said:
''The graduate school will
provide professional education
In foreign affairs to qualified
Federal employees and grad
yates of the College. 1t is to
be:
''l. A recognized center for
professional instruction pro-
grams geared to the needs of
foreign service officers.
''2. An institution In which
the officers of various agencies
dealing with foreign affairs can
meet In conferences and panels
to explore common problems.
"3. A research center into |
foreign affairs and diplomacy
matters.
"A. A teacher of teachers"
by assisting and directing the
training staffs of foreign af-
fairs agencies, including those
connected with training pro-
grams conducted overseas.
"5. A liaison point for con-
facts with other educational in
stitutions in the foreign affairs
field, with businesses dealing
internationally, and other or
ganizations."
"The graduate school would |
provide advanced training for
foreign service officers in the
same category as similar train
ing is provided for military
officers in the War College con-
Quoted by the Department of
Defense.
"The Foreign Service Acad-
emy would be administered by a
Board of Regents headed by
Chancellor and would be in
dependent of any other educa-
tional or governmental instit-
ution."
Mcdowell said 81 have in
troduced this bill because | be-
lieve that the exercise of United
States responsibilities as lead
er of the free world, and the
advancement of our interests
abroad, require expertly train
ed. professional personnel"
"The formulation and conduct
of our foreign policy is no
longer solely the responsibility
of the State Department. 1t re-
quires teamwork among various
agencies engaged in foreign OPP
erations."
Mcdowell said the personnel
of these agencies face difficult
tasks and need training which
transcends that of traditional
diplomacy.
There is, moreover" Nc
Dowell said, ''the Communist
threat to remind US that If we
fail to mount a successful for
eign policy, or lack the skills
TO carry one out, trained
Russian bear waits In the wings
of the world stage, ready to take
our place."
To meet modern challenges,
a new institution with more ad-
equate facilities for training
US. personnel in foreign af-
fairs is essential, Mcdowell as
serted. The Academy would be
located in or near Washington.
Mcdowell further stated:
sit is my hope that this leg
islation will receive favorable
consideration by the Congress
this year, particularly In the
light of the reports of the Com
mittee of Foreign Affairs Per-
sonnel, headed by former Sec
retary of State Christian
Herter, and the Presidents Ad-
yisory Panel, chaired by James
Perkins of the Carnegie Corp.
of New York.
"Both reports called for the
establishment of a national aca-
denny of foreign affairs" Nc
Dowell pointed out. He added
that he had revised his bill TO