Appointments

Ambassadors and envoys to the more important posts are generally personally selected by the President, upon his own knowledge of the qualifications of the individuals. It is essential that they should be in sympathy with his policy. For the less important posts, it is customary for the candidates to secure the endorsement of the Senators and Representatives from their states, and of other influential persons, and to present applications, which are filed in the Appointment Bureau of the Department of State. These papers are laid before the President when he calls up the matter of appointments, and frequently the friends of the applicants urge the appointments in personal interviews with the Secretary of State and the President. In these appointments some regard is usually had to geographical distribution. The Senate shares with the President the power of appointing diplomatic. officers and may reject his nominations for political or personal reasons, but the rejection of a person who has been named by the President occurs only rarely. Upon confirmation by the Senate, the commission is made out and the envoy takes the oath of office.

While our representatives at the more important diplomatic posts have always been carefully selected, diplomatic offices have sometimes been bestowed without special regard for the fitness of the individual for the place. A story is told of a man in Buffalo more noted for his political zeal than for his knowledge of geography, who, during the administration of President Grant, was appointed Minister to Ecuador. He read the despatch announcing his appointment in the morning paper, and when his friends called to congratulate him, said: "I appreciate your kindness very much, but what I would like to know more than anything else is where the — is Ecuador?"

A Congressional delegation once importuned President Lincoln to appoint a certain man as Minister to Hawaii, urging among other reasons for his appointment his ill health and the probability that his health would be benefited by the Hawaiian climate. Mr. Lincoln replied: "Gentlemen, you're too late. There are nine candidates for the place ahead of you, and every one of them is sicker than yours."

There is a well-authenticated story that Secretary Seward, when remonstrated with for permitting to remain in the diplomatic service a minister who was discrediting his country, said: "Sir, some persons are sent abroad because they are needed abroad, and some are sent because they are not wanted at home."

Referring to the custom of appointing to foreign missions members of Congress who had been defeated for re-election, the late Secretary Hay remarked: "A quiet legation is the stuffed mattress which the political acrobat wants always to see ready under him in case of a slip."

Secretaries

In addition to an ambassador, or minister, there are three secretaries each at London, Paris, Berlin, St. Petersburg, and Mexico, and two each at Vienna, Pekin, Rio, Rome, Habana, Tokyo and Constantinople. Each of our other Legations has one secretary, except at Port au Prince. These secretaries receive salaries varying from $1,200 to $3,000 a year, and during the absence of the principal diplomatic officer the first secretary acts as chargé d' affaires ad interim, and while so doing receives an allowance equal to one-half the salary of the principal officer. These places are much sought after because of their social position, and the opportunities afforded for advancement. They make excellent training schools for diplomats.

Under an Executive Order issued by President Roosevelt on November 10, 1905, vacancies in the office of Secretary of Embassy or Legation can only be filled by transfer or promotion from some branch of the foreign service, or by the appointment of a person who, having furnished satisfactory evidence of character, responsibility and capacity, and being thereupon selected by the President for examination, is found upon such examination to be qualified for the position.

Efficient secretaries are useful officials. Moser says: "An ambassador is often like the hands of a clock while his secretaries resemble the works." And Andrew D. White calls efficient secretaries and attachés "antennae

of the ambassador or minister,-additional eyes and ears to ascertain what is going on among the most influential in public affairs."

In addition to performing the usual duties attaching to the office of secretary, our Secretaries of Embassy and Legation are authorized by law to administer oaths, take depositions, and generally, to perform notarial

acts.

Three of our ambassadors,-Henry White, now representing the United States at Paris, John W. Riddle, our ambassador at St. Petersburg, and Lloyd C. Griscom, ambassador at Rome,-began their diplomatic service as secretaries of legation. Mr. White has been for more than twenty years in our diplomatic service and Mr. Riddle has served upwards of fifteen years.

There are two Chinese Secretaries attached to the Legation at Peking, and two Japanese Secretaries at our Embassy at Tokyo.

Interpreters

There are Interpreters at the Legations in Oriental countries; and at our Embassy in Japan there are four Student Interpreters, and at the Legation in China there are seven Student Interpreters.

Military and Naval Attachés

At the most important foreign capitals this government has military and naval attachés, experts in their professions, charged with the duty of keeping in touch FOR. SERV.-5 65

with the progress made by the other countries of the world in military and naval matters. These attachés are commissioned by the Secretary of State, but are named by the Secretaries of War and Navy and act under the instructions of the latter.

Clerks

Provision is made by law for the employment of clerks at the various embassies and legations. All appointed since the Act of April 5, 1906, went into effect, must be citizens of the United States.

The personnel of our entire Diplomatic establishment, exclusive of clerks, at present numbers one hundred and fifty-seven. The last annual appropriation for salaries was $780,075.

Qualifications

The profession of diplomacy is one of the most important an individual can engage in and demands men of the highest ability and attainments and the broadest experience. The peace and prosperity of a state depend in large degree on the men selected to represent it in foreign countries. As has been well said by a recent writer on the subject: "There is no position among mankind which requires a clearer and sounder mind than that of a diplomatist. The most unexpected events are constantly arising, even at the smallest courts, which require delicate handling; while occasions which a keen observer might turn to precious ac