The Foreign Service Journal, April 2018

50 APRIL 2018 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FSJ March 1919 American Consular Association News: Foreword This, the first printed bulletin of the American Consular Association, is the result of a feeling on the part of many consular officers that there should be some organ by which information of interest to the Service might be dis- seminated—an organ which would provide a medium for the exchange of ideas looking to the improvement of the service as well as news of the activities of particular officers. –Unsigned FSJ June 1921 The Rogers Act … Immediately upon the meeting of Congress in special session, April 11th, Representative John Jacob Rogers of Massachusetts introduced a bill (H.R.17) “for the reorgani- zation and improvement of the Foreign Service of the United States, and for other purposes.” The chief features of the bill … are these: Diplomatic and Consular Services combined in a “Foreign Service of the United States.”Appointment of Ministers to grades and classes, and not to posts. Appoint- ment of “Foreign Service pupils.” Cumulative leave and payment of travel expenses on home leave under certain conditions. “Representation allowances” for Ambassadors and Ministers. Post allowances for Foreign Service officers of all grades. Age and disability retirement; contributory pension system. All representatives or agents of the United States Government abroad to be under the Department of State and merged with the diplomatic mission in the coun- try of their functioning. –Unsigned FSJ September 1921 The Way In: A Recent Recruit in the Consular Ranks Tells of the Rough and Rugged Road to Entry “Twelve-twenty, can you tell me any of the changes wrought in Italy by the Treaty of Versailles?” …We all sat very rigid until the candidate addressed piped up. “I don’t think I can say, sir”—this in a very small voice. “Can’t you tell me some- thing about the northern boundary?”Another heartbreak- ing silence. “No, sir; I’m afraid I can’t.” “Twelve-twenty-one, what do you understand the War Finance Corporation to be?”And so on. …The questions were matters of national and international interest … and above all were designed to show the general ability of a man to say a few words about any subject under the sun. …Each one of us was asked but one question. –Unsigned 1919 ~ 1930 THE JOURNAL THROUGH TIME DEFINING DIPLOMACY for YEARS Above inSILVERFOILonCover These FSJ excerpts were compiled by Publications Coordinator Dmitry Filipoff and Managing Editor Susan B. Maitra.