 
For some reason known to the Foreign Office, but understood and appreciated by no one else, Salvador is incorporated with Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras in its representation by a Minister-Resident and Consul-General combined. Other nations in Europe of less importance, and the United States of America, are represented by separate Ministers and Consuls-General, and in some instances by both. The niggardly Foreign Office, however, when it has contributed the munificent sum of £2,000 for the Minister-Resident's salary, and a further £300 as office allowance as well as £200 for the Consul's office expenses, has done all that it thinks necessary to sustain the dignity of Great Britain in a foreign country whose people are peculiarly susceptible to compliments of this kind, and leaves Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras—separated from one another not alone by hundreds of miles in actual distance, but by many days' travel on horseback or by steamship—to make the best they can of the arrangement. The inconvenience alike to the particular Minister, to the British subjects living in The British Minister to Salvador is Mr. Lionel Edward Gresley Carden, a man of altogether exceptional ability and culture, a born diplomat, and one of the most attractive personalities that one could meet with. He was born in 1851, and is a son of the Rev. Lionel Carden, of Barnane, Co. Tipperary, his mother being the beautiful Miss Lucy Lawrence Ottley; and from her Mr. Carden has doubtless inherited much of his physical attractiveness. Educated at Eton, he was at the age of twenty-six given his first Government appointment, namely, that of Vice-Consul at Havana, Cuba, in 1877. A few years afterwards—namely, in 1883—Mr. Carden was attached to Sir S. St. John's Special Mission to Mexico, and two years later he was appointed H.B.M.'s Consul at Mexico City. It was then that his valuable services as the British Commissioner at the Mexican Mixed Claims Court were rendered, the Commission sitting on and off between 1885 and 1889. While in Mexico Mr. Carden upon two occasions took entire charge of the Legation, and in 1898 he went back to Cuba, this time as Consul-General, remaining there until 1902. Mr. Carden created a profoundly friendly feeling for the British during these four years, and he is still spoken of with the greatest esteem, not only by members of the British community, but by the Cubans themselves, with whom he was always persona grata. In 1902 he was created Minister at Havana, and he remained there until 1905, when he took up his present post as H.B.M. Minister-Resident and Consul-General to Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Mr. Carden married Miss Anne Eliza Lefferts, a daughter of Mr. John Lefferts, of "Flatbush," New York, U.S.A., a gracious and talented lady who, by her kindness of heart and refined hospitality, has endeared herself to all foreigners resident or travelling in Guatemala. The British Legation, one of the handsomest residences in Guatemala City, is the centre of much friendly and cultured intercourse, not only among the British and American colonies, but with many of the Guatemalan notabilities and families. The only recognition that has been paid by the British Government to Mr. Carden so far, in connection with his long and valuable services in Latin America, has been the bestowal of the Coronation Medal in 1902. Beyond relieving him in 1908 of the burden of representing the Government in Costa Rica in addition to Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, the King's advisers have done nothing to show that they appreciate Mr. Carden or recognize the onerous and responsible mission which he has had to fulfil. And yet he is both by education and temperament essentially one of the most useful and reliable diplomats that the Government can call upon. His proper sphere would be at one of the European Courts, or, better still, at Washington, where his valuable and unique knowledge of Latin-American countries and Governments would enable him to more adequately and advantageously represent and protect British commercial interests than does the present complacent Minister, who suggests the idea of being more of an American in his sympathies than a Britisher. Mr. Lionel Edward Gresley Carden, C.M.G. It will be scarcely credible, but it is none the less a fact, that the British Government has issued no Consular Trade Report upon the Republic of Salvador
It may be asked why the Foreign Office grants an office allowance of £200 to the Consul at San Salvador if the services of that gentleman do not include the supply of at least an occasional report upon the trade conditions of that important country? In view of the fact that the share of the Republic's trade with Great Britain is still of some moment, even if it has shrunk considerably in magnitude from what it formerly was, it seems astonishing that not a word concerning the conditions prevailing, nor of the opportunities which exist for promoting trade in that country, should have emanated from a Department of State which presumably exists to protect the interests of the nation's trade and commerce abroad. Assuredly, never at any time were the stinging sarcasms uttered by Burke, concerning Government services of this kind, in 1780, more deserved than to-day. In his memorable speech on "Economical It is to be observed that certain among the Latin-American States have a much clearer idea of the proper qualifications for, and the functions of, a Consul and a Vice-Consul than our own Foreign Office, which has challenged criticism and earned condemnation on account of the ridiculous appointments which it has made, and continues to make, to such offices. Quite recently the Government of Salvador published a very important Regulation relative to Consular appointments, and this contains so much good sense, and offers so many points which might be adopted with advantage by our own "Circumlocution Office," that I make no apology for reproducing the gist of it here. According to Article I., Clause (b), of this Regulation, the Consular career "has for its aim above all to promote and increase the commerce of the country, and also to insure for it social and political representation." Then this official Regulation gives a general review of the obligations imposed upon members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, and adds: "Certainly, in order to fulfil these, special knowledge is needed, which can only be acquired by patient and careful study. Diplomats and Consuls, who go to represent Salvador in foreign lands, must especially be presentable and must possess individuality. If any unfortunate circumstance makes them appear ridiculous, "Travellers have been heard to say that they have sometimes found the Salvador coat of arms lying in a dark, dirty hovel, or in close proximity to a pawnshop; whilst some diplomatists have been rendered conspicuous by their ignorance of the language and customs of the country to which they have been sent, and, above all, by their absolute lack of patriotism. A Professor of International Law has related of an Envoy Extraordinary of the Republic of Salvador, that he once had to be arrested by the police in the centre of the City of Mexico for drunkenness." I have heard of at least one British diplomatic representative in South America who ought to have been arrested for a similar offence, but who escaped the indignity by reason of the wholesome respect which the Government had for the country which he represented, even if it had none for the representative. "Consuls and diplomatists," goes on this document, "must not only possess special knowledge, but must be cultured persons, honourable, tactful, and sympathetic." In a word, they must possess the difficult gift of knowing "how to please." The Regulation does not actually detail these latter qualities, but gives it to be understood that they are indispensable. It, however, emphasizes the necessity of "facility of expression" as an attribute of the aspirant to the Consular and Diplomatic Service, at the same time, without requiring him to be an orator. He must be capable of "getting out of a difficulty decently, without making himself ridiculous." It would be advisable, the Regulation points out, that youths who possess the desired qualifications "It must also be remembered," this practical Regulation continues, "that those who fulfil the required conditions are losers from the point of view of any financial advantages, since for some time their remuneration will not equal that which might have been gained by entering commerce or professional work. At the same time, youths who dedicate themselves to this career must have sufficient patriotism and ambition to figure in the posts of honour. No time must be lost in the task of training up Consuls, and as the perfection of human work has resulted in the evolution of specialists, so the Government must not too seriously consider the question of economy, but must allow these young men to be sent to other countries, and to remain in the same post long enough to specialize in their profession." According to the new laws affecting the appointment of Consuls, the regulations call for a division into two distinct ranks—consuls-general and consuls de carriÈre (irregular); and consuls ad honorem (honorary). The first-named are appointed to: Hamburg (Germany), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), San Francisco (U.S.A.), Mexico City (Mexico), Paris (France), London (Great Britain), Genoa (Italy), Guatemala City (Guatemala), Tegucigalpa (Honduras), The honorary consuls are at PanamÁ City, PanamÁ; New York City, U.S.A.; Liverpool, England; Bordeaux, France; Berlin, Germany; and New Orleans, U.S.A. The first-named officials must be Salvadoreans and citizens of the Republic; while the second may be of any nationality. These latter may deduct from the fees collected by them such amounts as may be necessary to cover office expenses, and the remuneration allowed them under Article 186 of the organic law of the consular service. The Government of Salvador considers that "those States which maintain permanent Legations should keep themselves regularly informed of all the antecedents and course of the questions that are to be discussed. They should have a perfect knowledge of the circumstances that may contribute to a solution favourable to their interests; their diplomatic Ministers should have had an opportunity of quietly studying the weaknesses of those persons with whom they have to negotiate. The State that does not maintain permanent representatives will experience difficulties of all kinds in the most insignificant negotiation. If its Government conducts affairs by means of a Foreign Office, by the post or telegraph, it will be exposed to evasive replies and delays, which will be to the advantage of the other State; and if a Special Mission is sent, whatever may be the personal capacity of its chief, he will be in unknown territory, and will lose precious time whilst he is studying men and things sufficiently to master the situation, and to be able to These are all very sensible and apt observations, which I respectfully bring to the attention of Sir Edward Grey, our present Foreign Secretary, and the many "Official Barnacles" who surround him and advise him in regard to the appointments to the Consular Service. The last British Consular Report from Salvador is dated "June 30, 1893," and relates to what took place during the previous year, namely, "1892." It is from the pen of Mr. C. S. Campbell, then Consul-General, and is addressed to the Foreign Minister of that day, the Earl of Rosebery. It is apparent from this document, which consists of exactly six pages, that Great Britain stood second on the list of Imports, and third on the list of Exports, the figures being as follows:
It is clear from these figures that British trade with Salvador was something considerable and well worth maintaining, having at that time approached near that of the United States of America, in spite of the great IMPORTS AND EXPORTS BY COUNTRIES, IN GOLD DOLLARS ($4.85 = £1).
It will be observed that Great Britain in 1904 actually led in the Republic's trade with foreign countries; but nevertheless the Foreign Office deems this fact so unimportant that it will not trouble to publish a syllable concerning the commerce of that Republic, for the information of the industrial and trading world. The average total of the foreign trade of the Republic of Salvador may be taken as $10,600,000 (gold), or, say, £2,120,000, with a balance of $2,250,000 (gold), or, say, £450,000, in favour of the Republic. And it is when we come to analyze the imports from foreign countries that we recognize how closely Great Britain and the United States run together, and how
—or, say, £18,859. Our principal trade was in cotton, both manufactured and yarn; while the United States took premier place in flour, hardware, drugs and medicines, boots, shoes, machinery, and agricultural implements. In these latter goods no country can touch the United States for cheapness and general novelty; but it is only fair to add that the goods are "made to sell," or, in other words, they are "cheap and nasty"—a fact which the purchasers are finding out for themselves. Until British manufacturers export something considerably cheaper than the implements and farm machinery that they supply at present, the Americans will continue to hold this market. The Germans barely as yet have made much impression with their agricultural implements. Although upon some of the fincas which I visited—mostly owned or managed by Germans—I came across some ploughs and reaping machines from the Fatherland, I was frankly informed that they were entirely unsatisfactory, and were about to be discarded in favour of some United States machines which had been offered "at one-half the price paid for the German inventions." STATEMENT OF EXPORT TRADE TO JUNE 30, 1910.
These figures are remarkable for the fact that they show inter alia that Germany had in the course of twelve months ousted France from first place on the export list, and had supplanted her by an extraordinary amount of advance. To prove this I give the official figures for the first half of 1909, and which are as follows:
It would therefore appear that, while Germany increased her trade with Salvador from $837,040 in 1909 (six months) to $1,410,693 in 1909-10 (twelve months), France showed a decrease over the same period of from $1,062,674 to $1,043,402. Great Britain's position is so inferior as to need no comment whatever. It will be noticeable that Germany was in 1910 the best customer to the Republic, and took fully four times as much of her produce as Great Britain. The greatest amount was represented by coffee, as will be seen from the subjoined particulars of the class of articles which were exported, as well as from the values which I add:
school Front of Sergeants' School, San Salvador. Sargeants That the Germans mean to thoroughly exploit the Republic of Salvador, moreover, and if they cannot secure a holding in one branch of trade they intend to try in another, or in a dozen others, is abundantly clear. In the month of September, 1909, a Treaty of Commerce between the Republic and Germany was celebrated, and so far the results have been very encouraging. Out of 463 steamers and 89 sailing vessels which visited the different Salvadorean ports last year (1909-10), during the first nine months there were 153 German, as against 245 United States, 79 Salvadorean, 74 Honduranean, and not one British bottom. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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