Ulrich A. Straus

Straus was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study at Keio University in Japan to study for a PhD. During this time, he took the Foreign Service exam and passed in 1955. The following year he passed the oral examination. In 1957 he formally joined the State Department. Straus' first assignment within State was the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR).[2] He served on this desk from 1957-1959.[2] After his service at INR Straus was once again relocated to Japan serving in the political section as labor attaché from 1959 to 1964. His primary task was to act as liaison between Japanese labor groups, the Japanese government and the United States Embassy. In 1965 Straus was transferred to the United States Berlin Office. Here he acted as Labor Attaché and Berlin Access Officer. In 1967, Straus was transferred from his positions in Berlin to the Japan Desk within the State Department in Washington DC. He served as the Political and Military Officer in addition to dealing with internal Japanese affairs. In 1970 Straus was given a new assignment in the Arms Control department during the SALT I treaty talks. After this assignment he spent 6 months at the NATO Defense College in Rome before being placed in Bern, Switzerland. In Bern, Straus was the Political Counselor and the Public Affairs Officer. No major events occurred in U.S.-Swiss relations during this period. After his tenure in Switzerland, Straus became African Bureau Deputy Director of the Office of Inter-African Affairs. In this assignment he dealt primarily with the Horn of African Ethiopia and Somalia. In 1978, Straus obtained the rank of Counsel General when he was granted the Counsel General position of Okinawa.[3][4]

At the time of Straus' service as Counsel General in Okinawa, he represented the 50,000 United States military personnel and dependents stationed at the various United States military bases located there.[2] His primary duty was to foster cooperation between the United States military presence on the island, the Okinawan Authorities and the Japanese Authorities.[2] No major incidents occurred while Straus was station chief. After his successful posting to Okinawa, Straus was moved in 1982 to the Philippines as the Country director.[4]

The year 1982 was a time of instability in the Philippines. The New People's Army, a terrorist group,[5] was perceived to be increasing in strength while the Marcos regime was resorting to more authoritarian measures in governance all while the economy was in decline.[2] It was in these circumstances that Straus assumed his position as Country Director for the Philippines in the State Department. During Straus' time as Country Director the assassination of Beningo Aquino occurred,[6] leading to unrest and the eventual end of the Marcos regime. Straus participated in the renegotiation of United States military base rights in the Philippines. After the assassination the situation within the Philippines deteriorated further. Straus was moved out in 1984.

From 1984 to 1987, Ulrich Straus taught as a State Department instructor at the United States Army War College.[3] While at the War College, Straus taught International Relations classes in addition to teaching specialized electives in East Asian Studies.[2] In 1987 Straus retired from the State Department.[4]