That the extent and the rising power of these United States, entitle them to a place among the great potentates of Europe, while our political and commercial interests point out the propriety of cultivating with them a friendly correspondence and connexion;
That to render such an intercourse advantageous, the necessity of a competent knowledge of the interests, views, relations, and systems of those potentates, is obvious;
That a knowledge, in its nature so comprehensive, is only to be acquired by a constant attention to the state of Europe, and an unremitted application to the means of acquiring well grounded information;
That Congress are moreover called upon to maintain with our Ministers at foreign Courts a regular correspondence, and to keep them fully informed of every circumstance and event, which regards the public honor, interest and safety;
That to answer those essential purposes, the committee are of opinion, that a fixed and permanent office for the Department of Foreign Affairs ought forthwith to be established, as a remedy against the fluctuations, the delay and indecision to which the present mode of managing our foreign affairs must be exposed; whereupon,
Resolved, That an office be forthwith established for the Department of Foreign Affairs, to be kept always in the place where Congress shall reside;
That there shall be a Secretary for the despatch of business of the said office, to be styled "Secretary of Foreign Affairs;"
That it shall be the duty of the said Secretary to keep and preserve all the books and papers belonging to the Department of Foreign Affairs; to receive and report the applications of all foreigners; to correspond with the Ministers of the United States at foreign Courts, and with the Ministers of foreign powers and other persons, for the purpose of obtaining the most extensive and useful information relative to foreign affairs, to be laid before Congress when required; also to transmit such communications, as Congress shall direct, to the Ministers of the United States and others at foreign Courts, and in foreign countries; the said Secretary shall have liberty to attend Congress, that he may be better informed of the affairs of the United States, and have an opportunity of explaining his reports respecting his Department; he shall also be authorised to employ one, or, if necessary, more clerks to assist him in the business of his office; and the Secretary, as well as such clerks, shall, before the President of Congress, take an oath of fidelity to the United States, and an oath for the faithful execution of their respective trusts.
APPOINTMENT OF A SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
In Congress, August 10th, 1781.