540 IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE-V 



the foreign office and with various members of the im- 

 perial cabinet. 



In looking after commercial relations, a general over- 

 sight of the consuls throughout the empire was no small 

 part of the minister's duty. The consular body was good 

 remarkably good when one considers the radically 

 vicious policy which prevails in the selection and reten- 

 tion of its members. But the more I saw of it, the stronger 

 became my conviction that the first thing needed is that, 

 when our government secures a thoroughly good man in 

 a consular position, it should keep him there ; and, more- 

 over, that it should establish a full system of promotions 

 for merit. Under the present system the rule is that, as 

 soon as a man is fit for the duties, he is rotated out of office 

 and supplanted by a man who has all his duties to learn. 

 I am glad to say that of late years there have been many 

 excellent exceptions to this rule ; and one of my most ear- 

 nest hopes, as a man loving my country and desirous of its 

 high standing abroad, is that, more and more, the ten- 

 dency, both as regards the consular and diplomatic service, 

 may be in the direction of sending men carefully fitted for 

 positions, and of retaining them without regard to changes 

 in the home administration. 



Still another part of the minister 's duty was the careful 

 collection of facts regarding important subjects, and the 

 transmission of them to the State department. These were 

 embodied in despatches. Such subjects as railway man- 

 agement, the organization and administration of city gov- 

 ernments, the growth of various industries, the creation 

 of new schools of instruction, the development of public 

 libraries, and the like, as well as a multitude of other 

 practical matters, were thus dwelt upon. 



It was also a duty of the minister to keep a general over- 

 sight of the interests of Americans within his jurisdic- 

 tion. There are always a certain number of Americans 

 in distress, real, pretended, or imaginary, and these 

 must be looked after ; then there are American statesmen 

 seeking introductions or information, American scholars 



