The Foreign Service Journal, April 1971
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Real and rich and good In the Super King size. © 1971 R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO CO.. WINSTON-SALEM. N. C. 20 mg. "tar". 1.4 mg. nicotine av. per cigarette, FTC Report NOV. 70. FOREIGN SERVICEjQIIUIjll APRIL, 1971, Volume 48, No. 4 AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION THEODORE L. ELIOT, JR., President 17 Germany Between East and West JOHN E. REINHARDT, First Vice President C. WILLIAM KONTOS, Second Vice President James A. Ramsey BOARD OF DIRECTORS 21 On Negotiating with Communist Powers WILLIAM HARROP, Chairman Fred Charles Ikle F. ALLEN HARRIS, Vice Chairman ERLAND HEGINBOTHAM, Secretary-Treasurer BARBARA GOOD, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer DONALD EASUM 26 On the Education of Diplomats: A Comment GEORGE B. LAMBRAKIS Paul Kattenburg PRINCETON LYMAN ROBERT NEVITT MICHAEL PISTOR THOMAS M. TRACY 35 Education in Diplomacy JAMES D. WILSON Peter F. Krogh STAFF JAMES K. PALMER, Executive Director 39 When the Americans Came MARGARET S. TURKEL. Executive Secretary Nguyen Tan Bi CLARKE SLADE, Educational Considtant JOURNAL EDITORIAL BOARD 42 Inspection and the CORDS Programs ARCHIE BOLSTER, Chairman James D. Phillips AMBLER MOSS, Vice Chairman CUNT E. SMITH M. TERESITA CURRIE 45 On Being Relevant and Effective JOHN F. LIPPMANN John D. Stempei JAMES D. PHILLIPS JOHN D. STEMPEI. MICHAEL P. CANNING OTHER FEATURES: Middle East Perspective, by Parker T. Hart, JOURNAL page 4. SHIRLEY R. NEWHALL, Editor DONALD DRESDEN, Associate Editor MCIVER ART & PUBLICATIONS, INC., Art Direction DEPARTMENTS ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES JAMES C. SASMOR, 295 Madison Ave., New York, 2 Editorials N.Y. 10017 (212) 532-6230 ALBERT D. SHONK CO., 681 Market St.. San Francisco. 29 AFSA News Calif. 94105 (415) 392-7144 JOSHUA B. POWERS, LTD., 5 Winsley Street. London 47 The Bookshelf W.l. 01-580 6594/8. International Representatives. 60 Letters to the Editor ©American Foreign Service Association, 1971. The Foreign Service Journal is published twelve times a year by the American Foreign Service Association, 2101 E Street. N.W., Washington, D. C. 20037. PHOTOGRAPHS AND ILLUSTRATIONS: Earl Wilson, “The Running Second-class postage paid at Washington, D. C of the Bulls,” cover; S. I. Nadler, “Life and Love in the Foreign Printed by Monumental Printing Co., Baltimore Service,” page 62. THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL is the journal of professionals In foreign affairs, published twelve times a year by the American Foreign Service Association, a non-profit organization. Material appearing herein represents the opinions of the writers and is not intended to indicate the official views of the Department of State, the United States Information Agency, the Agency for International Development or the United States Government as a whole. Membership in the AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION is open to the professionals in foreign affairs serving overseas or in Washington, as well as to persons having an active interest in, or close association with, foreign affairs. Dues are $30 annually for members earning over $15,000; for those earning less, dues are $15.00. For subscription to the JOURNAL, one year (12 issues); $6.00; two years, $10.00, For subscriptions going abroad, except Canada, add $1.00 annually for overseas postage. EDITORIALS Open Letter to Secretary Macomber from the Chairman of AFSA’s Board As the Department advances further into the implementa¬ Career Alternatives tion stage of reform the AFSA Board believes it is increas¬ Outside the Government ingly important that the people affected continue to share in the process of modernization they themselves have set in motion. Advance publication in draft form of contemplated changes in the regulations should become standard practice. The participation of the Foreign Service as a whole in the reform process is the very essence of “Toward a Modem IIIM ANY of us in the Foreign Service were jolted by the Diplomacy” and “Diplomacy for the 70’s.” FSO attrition figures appearing in the articles by Malcolm This is indeed reform from within the system—the de¬ Churchill in the December 1970 FOREIGN SERVICE JOUR¬ mand of the men and women of the Foreign Service that NAL and by Samuel Lewis in the February Department their organization be modernized to help them take charge of State NEWSLETTER. Voluntary and involuntary FSO and carry out their mandate of leadership in American for¬ departures during the past decade, Department figures eign affairs. show, reached 2348. The Association, through its committee sessions, its regu¬ Many current developments suggest a growing degree lar conferences with management planners, its red border commentaries, its FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL forum, and its of career mobility in the broader foreign affairs profes¬ series of open meetings is working to support the widest de¬ sion. Several Reform Task Force reports discussed the bate and participation. I know that you agree with this ap¬ desirability of more in-and-outing in the professional proach; the way the Department has introduced an important ranks, of more openness in the movement of people as and controversial reform measure—the Foreign Affairs Spe¬ well as ideas. The concept of career thresholds at the cialist program—has been a good example of it. I must in FSO-5 and FSO-2 levels, at which some officers would frankness note that the institution of the centralized person¬ leave the service with honor, also underlines the signifi¬ nel system in a manner to emphasize assignments by grade cance of the availability of career alternatives. rather than by functional specialty was a quite different example. As you know, AFSA was not consulted in advance We live in a world of accelerating change and mobility, and believes that the stress upon horizontal rank rather than and the foreign affairs agencies cannot be insulated from vertical cone of specialization is inconsistent with the thrust this trend. In the case of USIA, for example, the rapidity of personnel reform and with the needs of the ’70s. of technological developments in communications and Various US agencies promulgate planned decisions and the fast evolution of media techniques suggests that more regulations in a tentative form to draw the reaction of those in-and-outing is of practical advantage to the Agency who will be affected. The Treasury Department, although and the nation as well as to individual professionals. The perhaps in a different context, frequently gives the public 60 massive reorganization of AID, which the President has days to review and comment upon proposed tax regulations. recommended to Congress, will inevitably create a period Such a process provides opportunity for unanticipated side of special career flux among AID officers. The unfortu¬ effects to be identified, for inadvertent oversights to be cor¬ rected and, most importantly, for the people affected to know nate absence of a real career system for AID profession¬ that they have been consulted and have had the chance to als over the past 25 years has led to considerable—per¬ state their views and to influence the final form of the deci¬ haps excessive—fluidity already. sion. The details of how a policy is implemented can deter¬ The Task Force did not spell out recommendations as mine whether it will be respected. to what should be done to assist officers in identifying Let me cite an example. CA-5901 very commendably pro¬ attractive career alternatives outside the government. vided that any recommendation that women or minority AFSA is disappointed that the foreign affairs agencies group representatives not be assigned to particular positions have done only rudimentary work in this field of such abroad for policy reasons must be submitted to a special review group. At an Open Forum Panel meeting on March great concern to individuals. 3, the Director of the Department’s Office of Equal Employ¬ AFSA urges the agencies to devote more attention to ment Opportunity indicated that no decision had been the subject. Meanwhile, the Association is itself preparing reached as to whether interested employees and groups could to assist its members with competent professional advice consult in advance on the regulations establishing the special about the availability of career alternatives in the private review group. AFSA believes that such advance consultation sector. A major American corporation, a pacesetter in should definitely be provided. the field, has agreed to assist AFSA in this initiative. We The AFSA Board urges the Department to issue as drafts will be making further announcements later in the spring. its Management Reform Bulletins and new regulations, specifically inviting reactions and suggestions from those af¬ The Association hopes to work in close collaboration fected. A period of 30 to 45 days should be provided for with the foreign affairs agencies. Clearly, we are not just comment before decisions are put into final implementing speaking of assisting officers who are voluntary or in¬ form. In some cases it may not be possible or necessary to voluntary “victims” of attrition. We believe that effective follow this procedure. But, assuming limited exceptions, we reform will be stimulated if State, AID and USIA feel believe that both the Department and its employees will bene¬ the breath of keener competition from other prospective fit from such an expression of confidence, cooperation and employers. The foreign affairs agencies must provide their enlightened self-interest. , In closing I wish to assure you of the continued firm sup¬ professionals with the sort of responsibility, authority port of the Board of Directors of the American Foreign and career scope which will retain ambitious, goal- Service Association for reform to improve the competence oriented men. If career satisfaction is not sufficient, offi¬ of the Foreign Service, to reinforce the effective leadership cers will want to move on and AFSA intends to assist of the Secretary of State and the Department which stands them to identify the career alternatives available. ■ behind him. ■ 2 FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL, April, 1071 These mineral deposits make it important to find new ones.