Foreign Relations Series

The "Foreign Relations of the United States" (FRUS) is a book series published by the Office of the Historian in United States Department of State. Begun during the administration of United States President Abraham Lincoln, the series constitute the published collection of diplomatic papers of the United States in an on going process to the present day. They offer a historical record of major foreign policy decisions, as well as periods of key diplomatic activity. Coverage generally lags about 30 years after the events covered, and the various official sources are carefully reviewed and as necessary material that is judged still too sensitive for release is excluded. Currently volumes on the Richard Nixon administration are being researched, annotated, and prepared for publication. With this Presidency electronic only supplements (dubbed E-1, E-2, etc.) are being posted on the State Dept. website. [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/frus/nixon/]

Prior to 1870, the series was published under various names. From 1870 to 1947, the uniform title "Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States" was used. From 1947 to 1969, the name was changed to "Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers". After that date, the current name was adopted.

It has had numerous subseries, appendices, microfiche supplements, etc. over the years as warranted. Indexes were issued covering the years 1861-1899 and 1900-1918.

Citation information

The "Foreign Relations of the United States" is commonly abbreviated as FRUS in citations and the volume number written as a roman numeral. The series is categorized by year and region, such as 1936, Volume II, Europe.

Criticisms

N. Richard Kinsman has cited "serious, cumulative, and long-term deleterious effects on the Agency as a result of specific citations by name to CIA in the FRUS" and that "Explicit FRUS citations of CIA activities in specific countries constitute de facto admission of a CIA presence abroad, a direct contradiction of current policy to deny an official CIA presence abroad." [ [https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/winter_spring01/article07.pdf Openness and the Future of the Clandestine Service] "Studies in Intelligence" Winter-Spring 2001] Warren F. Kimball in rebuttal cited the unlikelyhood of documents 30+ years old after being properly vetted prior to publication posing any risk. [ [https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/winter_spring01/article08.pdf Openness and the CIA] "Studies in Intelligence" Winter-Spring 2001]

References

External links

* [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/frus/ Main State Department site about FRUS.]
* [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/frus/c4035.htm Complete List of FRUS Volumes.]
* [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/frus/69387.htm Search online FRUS Volumes]
* [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/frus/c10996.htm status of the series]
* [http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/FRUS/ FRUS available and searchable on-line via the University of Wisconsin]