Messersmith, G.S.
Date
2011-06-15
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Distinguishes between tradition and legend; tradition is a treasured possession of countries, peoples, families, and individuals, created through great effort, sacrifice, courage and perseverance, usually over a lifetime or generations; once established it is almost indestructible; legend is created by selfish propagandists through spreading an idea or story, often without any basis; legend is fragile and dissipates in the cold light of facts; U.S. possesses many fine traditions which have survived throughout its history; some men have become traditions; Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt are traditions, not legends; so is Churchill in England; tradition which lies in achievement, understanding, perseverance will survive; legends which have been created around the near-great or those with pretentions to greatness will not outlive their subjects; one legend which has done much harm is the reference to career diplomats and consular officers as "cookie pushers," useless ornaments who live a soft life at government expense, going from one party to another; facts are entirely to the contrary; there was a period when men were sent as Chiefs of Mission for purely political reasons -- either to reward them or get them out of the country; with expanding interests of U.S. it became recognized that foreign representation must be put on firmer basis; through efforts of Secretary of State Elihu Root and succeeding Secretaries; U.S. slowly developed the career diplomatic and consular service into the best and most effective foreign representation of any country; on advice of John Bassett Moore, then Counselor of Department of State, Messersmith in 1914 joined Consular rather than diplomatic service because need for consular officers was great, pay in lower ranks was better, and promotion more rapid; some men like Joseph Grew, Robert Bliss, Norman Armour, William Phillips, and Ray Atherton made their way from the bottom of the career diplomatic service to important ambassadorial posts, but the experience Messersmith gained in Consular Service served him well throughout his career; the tradition of continuous, unswerving, unselfish, loyal, and effective service of the Foreign Service has withstood the shocks of ill considered administration from which it has suffered since 1945; in 1955 it appears a new step forward has been taken to bring the administration of the Department and Foreign Service again into the hands of men who know the substance of the work; the legend of the "cookie pusher" has dissipated.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.