All who have served as consular officers should be proud of the significant role that they have played in promoting our foreign polIcy goals and in promoting the highest ideals of the United States here and abroad. Consular and passport officers are truly Importeant links In maintaining and expanding world freedom. Their assistance to travelers permits the free exchange of Ideas. which enables people throughout the world to meet and forge the strong and lasting alliances essential to maintain open and free societies. Last year consular and passport officers Issued over 3 million passports and 6 million visas. They visited over 6.000 Americans jailed overseas. helped resolve over 100.000 welfare and whereabouts cases and assisted with over 7.000 foreign adoptions. They provide a vital link between American travelers In trouble overseas and families here at home.