The purpose for the establishment of this corps was to give the younger officers thorough grounding in all phases of consular work and by assignment to the larger and more important offices and contact with the broader problems which confront the Service. In this way they are exceptionally well trained for the grades which they are later to receive. The examinations for Consular Assistants and Student Interpreters, however, are less exacting.
Provision is made for forty Consular Assistants who are appointed by the President and hold office during good behavior. Their duties are similar to those of Vice Consul de carriere and they are eligible for promotion based upon the efficiency which they show in consular work to the grade of Consul or Vice Consul de carriere without further examination.
I wish in particular to place stress upon the system now in force of training language students at Government expense for service in the Diplomatic and Consular branches of the Foreign Service in China and Japan. About fifteen years ago, the Government provided for the establishment of an interpreter corps in China, Japan and Turkey in order that it might have available for its own service men trained in the knowledge of the languages, institutions and conditions of these countries.
An effort has been made to obtain for this branch of the Service young men, preferably university graduates who desire to specialize and make a career for themselves in the Oriental branches of the Consular Service. The Department is unable to allow candidates a choice as between service in China and Japan but in practice allows each successful candidate to state his preference and, as far as the exigencies of the Service permit, gives these preferences due consideration.
The candidates, after qualifying by the prescribed examination, are assigned theoretically for a period of two years either to the American Legation at Peking or the American Embassy at Tokyo, as the case may be. During their assignment it is their primary duty to learn thoroughly the language of the country, its government, history and institutions as well as the general practice of international law and consular practice. An effort is also made to give them such actual experience in, office routine as is compatible with their studies and, upon the completion of their two-year course, they are promoted after examination to the grade of Interpreter and assigned for duty as Vice Consuls in one or another of the Consulates in the respective countries in which they are serving.
As Interpreters they are still expected for a number of years to continue with their language studies in preparation for a final language examination which qualifies them for appointment as principal officers in the Japanese or Chinese services. Those who prove most proficient are usually selected for service either in the Embassy at Tokyo or the Legation at Peking as Japanese or Chinese Secretaries.
It is the aim of the Department to reserve as far as possible the posts in these countries for the language trained officers of each service so that those who enter a particular field enjoy the prospect of a definitely assured consular career in the country to which they are assigned as soon as they have qualified by study and experience.
Besides the opportunity to advance to the highest consular position maintained by the Government, the language trained officer is brought in contact with work of absorbing interest and can be a real influence in the tremendous new problems of contact between the civilizations of the East and West.
As regards China it is believed that when the possibilities are more widely known by the student of Harvard University of entering this field in a government capacity a considerable number will desire to prepare themselves especially to enter that field of endeavor and to strengthen the bond of expanding sympathy and hopefulness which is being created between the East and the West.
Opportunity to Serve Country
Although the compensation for the various grades of consular officers is not lucrative, it is hoped that this may be shortly remedied by Congressional action. It is essential, therefore, that those entering the Service must realize that the greatest satisfaction is to be gained through service and that their aim should be to serve their country because of the opportunities offered for individual initiative and responsibility and the advantages of education and travel in foreign countries. There is, perhaps, no other government career which offers more possibilities for responsible activities and real achievement in matters affecting the welfare of our country than the Foreign Service to young men who desire to give their best moral and mental efforts for this high purpose.
Should anyone desire more definite, concrete information, a letter of inquiry addressed to the Department of State will not only be welcomed but will receive the Department's attentive consideration. If I can in any way be of assistance it will afford me the greatest pleasure to be called upon.