AMERICAN DIPLOMACY

Ever since "Poor Richard," first commissioner from the thirteen Colonies to the Court at Versailles, attained notoriety because of his threadbare clothes and shabby overcoat, the position of American Ambassador has been most difficult to hold. Utterly inadequate financial support and political dabbling at home have made our diplomatic corps the laughing stock of Europe. Affairs have reached such a pass that only a man with a private fortune can undertake to represent worthily the Government of the United States.

Added to the indignity of insufficient credit, the American minister abroad sees hurled at him the insult of party domination and political interference. It has come about that nearly every overturn at Washington must be followed by the recall or resignation of the greater part of our Ambassadors. Statistics have been compiled showing that, with one exception, none of the diplomatic representatives from this country to important posts in Europe at the outbreak of the war had had the slightest diplomatic experience previous to their appointments. In sharp contrast to this state of affairs, the consuls and ministers from Great Britain and France filling similar positions had back of them an average record of twenty years, diplomatic experience.

Feeling that in the past this country has neglected this most important branch of the Government, and that improvement is necessary to bring the service into accord with the dignity of our position in international affairs, the American Manufacturers' Export Association recently passed a resolution urging upon Congress the necessity for reorganization in our consular service. Not the least important among the provisions in the resolution is one calling for the establishment upon a sounder basis of the junior service and a general increase in salaries, to attract to a diplomatic career University-trained men of the highest type and greatest ability.

After years of "shirtsleeve diplomacy" and ambassadorial mediocrity, such improvements as are indicated by the exporters must make a strong appeal to the reason of every college man and every American who holds at heart the prestige of his country among the nations of the world.