Diplomatic Convention

The Foreign Service

Today, most nations staff their foreign services with career civil servants who are selected on the basis of competitive examinations. Until recent times, however, foreign service personnel were political appointees, often from noble families, who could afford the considerable expense that a life of a diplomatic activity entailed.

In the 1850s Great Britain and France instituted competitive examinations for posts in the diplomatic corps, but low salaries restricted the number of persons who could afford to enter the service. In Great Britain all candidates had to guarantee a personal income of 400 (pounds) for at least the first two years. The examinations employed by the European powers were extremely difficult, requiring fluency in at least two foreign languages. Since World War 2, salaries and allowances have been increased so that persons of all means might enter the diplomatic service.

The spoils system dominated the U.S. Foreign Service until 1924, when the Rogers Act combined the consular and diplomatic services, established difficult competitive examinations for entry into the Foreign Service, and instituted a system of promotion on merit. Each year approximately 25,000 people took the Foreign Service examination; about 1 percent, passed it and were accepted in the service. About 10.000 persons were in the Foreign Service; some 2000 worked in the U.S., and 8000 served in the foreign countries or international organizations.

Although career officers dominate the diplomatic corps, there is usually room for some non-career personnel.

Many nations appoint distinguished citizens who are not career officers to serve as ambassadors. American administrations have long used ambassadorship in leading countries as political rewards. Usually, however, ambassadors are distinguished men and women from business, law, politics, or academic life. Career officers predominate numerically; in the U.S. about two-thirds of all ambassadors are career diplomats.

Answer the questions:

1. Who do most nations staff their foreign missions with?

2. What was the situation like with the foreign service personnel until recent times?

3. What kind of systems did Great Britain and France institute for posts in the diplomatic corps?

4. When was a system of promotion into the foreign service on merit instituted?

5. Are there any non-career personnel in the diplomatic corps?

The modes and conventions of diplomacy are highly stylized and formal. Language always tends toward understatement, and emotion-charged words are taboo. The etiquette and manners of diplomatic meetings are carefully prescribed. The privileges and immunities of diplomats are found in conventions and treaties that have evolved over a long period. Whenever etiquette is breached, a diplomatic ’’rebuff” occurs. Although this formality and ceremony has an air of make-believe, it serves a practical purpose: it allows to deal with issues of war and peace in a calm and unemotional manner. In the tense hours of crises, a cool head, tact, and good manners are necessary.

Answer the questions:

1. What words are taboo in the language of diplomacy?

2. What happens whenever etiquette is breached?

3. What is necessary for diplomats in the tense hours of crises?

Дата добавления: 2014-12-27