The Foreign Service Journal, May 2019

14 MAY 2019 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL P robably no other professional group in the United States has as strong and persistent an image of being closely tied to particular social and regional origins as the FSO corps. The idea that diplomatic careers are the preserve of the sons of the upper classes in the northeastern United States, mostly graduates of the Ivy League colleges, has its root, of course, in historical fact. Warren Ilchman states that before the Rogers Act of 1924 com- bined the Diplomatic and Consular Services, the diplomats had very definite feelings of “social superiority” over the consuls. “The man who entered the Diplomatic Service, with very few exceptions, had private means of support. Flowing from this were a host of social prejudices.” Since the wage scale was inadequate, private means were necessary. Doubtless an important attraction for men of private means to enter the Diplomatic Service was the cultural affinity of upper class Americans, particularly those on the eastern seaboard, for Europe. The profession of diplo- macy had been developed and established in Europe, and Europe was the world center of diplomacy. … The reality has changed substan- tially, but the image of the diplomat as the effete easterner has persisted, for several probable reasons. My purpose … is to examine the reality of the social origins and characteristics of FSOs in comparison, where comparable data is available, to other groups—graduating college seniors, military leaders, civilian federal executives, business leaders and the total U.S. population. —John E. Harr, in an article in the May 1969 FSJ based on a chapter from his book, The Professional Diplomat (Princeton University Press, 1969). 50 Years Ago Social Origins and Characteristics ans and others on issues and policies in traditionally nonpartisan areas, includ- ing public service, veterans’ issues and national security. On March 26 the caucus signed on to a March 10 letter delivered to Congress by a delegation of more than 140 retired three- and four-star generals and admirals urging Congress to protect the budget for diplomacy and foreign assistance. In a press release announcing the endorsement, For Country Caucus members wrote: “We have seen firsthand just how important these civilian tools of diplomacy and development are to protecting our country—and ultimately reducing the burden on our service mem- bers. With all of the threats that America faces overseas, it takes a comprehensive arsenal of national security tools to keep our country safe.” President Trump Orders Aid to Central America Cut O n March 29 President Donald Trump announced that the United States would cease all for- eign assistance funds to the “North- ern Triangle” governments of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras as punishment for failing to prevent their citizens frommigrating to the United States. A State Department spokesman told Reuters on March 30 that it was carrying out Trump’s directive, adding that it would “engage Con- gress in the process”— an apparent acknowledgement that it will need lawmakers’ approval to end funding that a congressional aide estimated would total about $700 million. The president ordered a halt to spend- ing underway under Fiscal Year 2017 funds (which had only reached the point of expenditure recently, due to multiple WIKIMEDIACOMMONS/CCBY-SA3.0 The “Northern Triangle” of Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.