Show I service erVIce The diplomatic service had begun in 1775 with a committee of secret correspondence appointed by congress congress congress con con- gress to ascertain the attitude of ot foreign powers toward the warring Colonies The committee included John Dickinson Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Harrison John Jay and Thomas Johnson Thomas Paine was secretary of the committee at ata a salary of 70 a month Two years later the name was changed to committee of foreign affairs and conducted foreign correspondence until 1781 when the department of foreign affairs was established |