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that there is no guarantee of employment to them； even if they
fit themselves admirably； no security in their tenure of office；
even if they were appointed； and little； if any； probability of
their promotion； however excellent their record。 Moreover； I have
felt obliged to tell them that the service； such as it is；
especially as regards ambassadors and ministers； is a service
with a property qualification； that it is not a democratic
service resting upon merit； but an aristocratic service resting
largely upon wealth；a very importantindeed；
essentialqualification for it being that any American who
serves as ambassador must； as a rule； be able to expend； in
addition to his salary； at least from twelve to twenty thousand
dollars a year； and that the demands upon ministers
plenipotentiary are but little less。
And yet； if Congress would seriously give attention to the
matter； calling before a proper committee those of its own
members； and others； who are well acquainted with the necessities
of the service； and would take common…sense advice； it could
easily be made one of the best； and quite possibly the best； in
the world。 The most essential and desirable improvements which I
would present are as follows：
I。 As regards the first and highest grade in the diplomatic
service； that of ambassadors； I would have at least one half
their whole number appointed from those who have distinguished
themselves as ministers plenipotentiary； 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 character and represent the interests of their
country abroad。
II。 As regards the second grade in the service；namely； that of
ministers plenipotentiary；I would observe the same rule as in
appointing ambassadors； having at least a majority of these at
the leading capitals appointed from such as shall have especially
distinguished 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 secretaries of embassy or
of legation。
III。 As to the third grade in our service； that of ministers
resident； I would observe the general rule above suggested for
the appointment of ambassadors and ministers 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
plenipotentiary。
IV。 As to the lower or special or temporary grades； whether that
of diplomatic agent or special charge d'affaires 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 recommendation of the Secretary
of State from those who have shown themselves； on due
examination； best qualified in certain leading subjects； such as
international law； the common law； the civil law； the history of
treaties； and general modern history； political economy； a
speaking knowledge of French； and a reading knowledge of at least
one other foreign language。 I would make the examination in all
the above subjects strict； and would oblige the Secretary of
State to make his selection of secretaries of legation from the
men thus presented。 But； in view of the importance of various
personal qualifications which fit men to influence their
fellow…men； and which cannot be ascertained wholly by
examination； I would leave the Secretary of State full liberty of
choice among those who have honorably passed the examinations
above required。 The men thus selected and approved I would have
appointed as secretaries of lower grades；that is； third
secretaries of embassy and second secretaries of legation；and
these； when once appointed； should be promoted； for good service；
to the higher secretaryships of embassy and legation； and from
the less to the more important capitals； under such rules as the
State Department might find most conducive to the efficiency of
the service。 No secretaries of any grade should thereafter be
appointed who had not passed the examinations required for the
lowest grade of secretaries as above provided； but all who had
already been in the service during two years should be eligible
for promotion； without any further examination； from whatever
post they might be occupying。
VI。 I would attach to every embassy three secretaries； to every
legation two； and to every post of minister resident at least
one。
One of the thoroughly wise arrangements of every British embassy
or legationan arrangement which has gone for much in Great
Britain's remarkable series of diplomatic successes throughout
the worldis to be seen in her maintaining at every capital a
full number of secretaries and attaches； who serve not only in
keeping the current office work in the highest efficiency； but
who become； as it were； the ANTENNAE of the ambassador or
ministeradditional eyes and ears to ascertain what is going on
among those most influential in public affairs。 Every embassy or
legation thus equipped serves also as an actual and practical
training…school for the service。
VII。 I would appoint each attache from the ranks of those
especially recommended； and certified to in writing by leading
authorities in the department to which he is expected to supply
information： as； for example； for military attaches； the War
Department； for naval attaches； the Navy Department； for
financial attaches； the Treasury Department； for commercial
attaches； the Department of Commerce； for agricultural attaches；
the Department of Agriculture； but always subject to the approval
of the Secretary of State as regards sundry qualifications hinted
at above； which can better be ascertained by an interview than by
an examination。
I would have a goodly number of attaches of these various sorts；
and； in our more important embassies； one representing each of
the departments above named。 Every attache； if fit for his place；
would be worth far more than his cost to our government； for he
would not only add to the influence of the embassy or legation；
but decidedly to its efficiency。 As a rule； all of them could
also be made of real use after the conclusion of their foreign
careers： some by returning to the army or navy and bringing their
knowledge to bear on those branches of the service； some by
taking duty in the various departments at Washington； and aiding
to keep our government abreast of the best practice in other
countries； some by becoming professors in universities and
colleges； and thus aiding to disseminate useful information； some
by becoming writers for the press； thus giving us； instead of
loose guesses and haphazard notions； information and suggestions
based upon close knowledge of important problems and of th