REFORMS IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE 359 



have distinguished themselves as ministers plenipoten 

 tiary, and the remaining posts filled, as at present, from 

 those who, in public life or in other important fields, have 

 won recognition at home as men fit to maintain the char 

 acter and represent the interests of their country abroad. 



II. As regards the second grade in the service, 

 namely, that of ministers plenipotentiary, I would ob 

 serve the same rule as in appointing ambassadors, hav 

 ing at least a majority of these at the leading capitals 

 appointed from such as shall have especially distin 

 guished themselves at the less important capitals, and a 

 majority of the ministers plenipotentiary at these less 

 important capitals appointed from those who shall have 

 distinguished themselves as ministers resident, or as sec 

 retaries of embassy or of legation. 



III. As to the third grade in our service, that of min 

 isters resident, I would observe the general rule above 

 suggested for the appointment of ambassadors and min 

 isters plenipotentiary ; that is, I would appoint a majority] 

 of them from among those who shall have rendered most 

 distinguished service as first secretaries of embassy or 

 of legation. When once appointed I would have them 

 advanced, for distinguished service, from the less to the 

 more important capitals, and, so far as possible, from the 

 ranks of ministers resident to those of ministers pleni 

 potentiary. 



IV. As to the lower or special or temporary grades, 

 whether that of diplomatic agent or special charge d af 

 faires or commissioner, I would have appointments made 

 from the diplomatic or consular service, or from public 

 life in general, or from fitting men in private life, as the 

 President or the Secretary of State might think the most 

 conducive to the public interest. 



V. I would have two grades of secretaries of legation, 

 and three grades of secretaries of embassy. I would have 

 the lowest grade of secretaries appointed on the recom 

 mendation of the Secretary of State from those who 

 have shown themselves, on due examination, best quali- 



