Evening star., 1963-01-05
Fluent Emissories

An item in The Star Of
December 20 reported that,
starting next July "all candi-
dates for the Foreign Serv-
ice must have both a read
ing and speaking fluency in
at least one foreign language
to be accepted" Notice Of the
new requirement was given
by Assistant Secretary of
State Harlan Cleveland.
The new rule will, I am
sure. be applauded by most
people. Conditioned by a flow
Of propaganda in recent
years, the man in the street
takes 1t for granted that,
under a properly managed
system, foreign service Of
ficers would know foreign
languages. How else could
they hope to do their work?
But all is not gold that
glitters, and a few words of
dissent may be in order.
In the first place, unless a
person we're reared in a for
eign-language environment,
or had studied that language
from an early age, it would
be virtually impossible for
him to master it without ex-
pending an inordinate amount
of time. But were he to do
that, his professional studies
would suffer.
Mr.. Cleveland's proposed
requirement, if carried out,
would in the end lower the
professional caliber of for
eign service appointees. Con-
sidering the fact that chances
of appointment for any one
applicant are so poor-only
about S per cent of the
candidates eventually make
it-many able men would
turn away from the foreign
service. What highly-quali-
fled man would want to in
vest a great deal of time in
learning a foreign language
to the point of speaking
fluency, when the chances of
eventual selection are so
small?
Second, the Importance
commonly attributed to
knowing a foreign language
is exaggerated. Many foreign
government officials speak
English fluently, having
studied 1t since childhood.
Some had English-speaking
nurses. These men prefer to
speak English with Ameri-
cans. 1t is more pleasant to
hear good English than, say
broken German. AS for for
eign officials who do not
speak English, interpreters
fill the gap.
The use Of interpreters is
no handicap. On the con-
trary. 1t can be helpful in
negotiations with foreign
officials. The time taken by
the translation affords a
pause that not only re-
freshes, but also gives the
negotiator time to straighten
out his thoughts. Whatever
the knowledge Of the foreign
language. precision Of ex-
preston can best be achieved
in ones own tongue.
Third, we delude ourselves
II we think that foreigners
resent Americans because we
stick to English. Americans
who do speak foreign Ian
guages often find that for
eigners prefer TO practice
their English on them. II re-
sentiment against Americans
prevails, the cause lies some-
where else.
The British have always
conducted their affairs with
foreigners in English. and,
II they are no longer a first
rate power, 1t isn't because
they preferred English.
Finally. no one would
question the fact that a
favorable impression is cre-
ated when, say. an Ameri-
can ambassador presents his
credentials TO a foreign chief
OF state In the latter's own
tongue. It flatters the chief
executive. and appeals 10 the
pride OF the native popula-
tion. We ourselves we're de-
lighted 10 hear Mrs. Kennedy
address the Cuban veterans
In Spanish. But we do not
think any the less OF Presi-
dent Kennedy because he
spoke In English.