The Department of State is the primary source of foreign affairs information for the U.S.Government and is responsible for implementing the President's foreign policies. The United States has diplomatic relations with more than 170 countries and maintains about 270 embassies, consulates, and missions around the world.

The Department provides much of the national security and economic data used by the Government as well as most data on internal politics of foreign countries. Information received from U.S. embassies abroad -- providing in-depth analyses of the politics, economic trends, and social forces at work in foreign countries -- goes to some 60 Federal Agencies dealing with national security, intelligence, economic and commercial matters, and science and technology. The Secretary of State is the President's principal adviser on foreign policy and uses this information in making policy recommendations.


This server is part of a government-wide effort to make timely information more easily accessible to the public. Please note that the State Department cannot guarantee the authenticity of documents on the Internet. State Department information is not copyrighted, unless indicated, and can be reproduced without permission. Citation of source is appreciated. Permission to reproduce any copyrighted materials (including photos or graphics) must be obtained from the original source.

Department of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN)

The State Department's Bureau of Public Affairs and the University of Illinois at Chicago make available on the Internet a broad range of foreign policy information. The State Department provides all information for the Department of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN), determines the content, and provides updates to material. The Bureau of Public Affairs approves materials from the Department for publishing on the Internet through DOSFAN and coordinates use of the network with other bureaus and offices within the Department which may upload information directly to UIC. The federal depository library at the University of Illinois at Chicago provides access to and support for DOSFAN as an "electronic reading room."

For assistance and comments, the UIC federal depository library will help obtain information and will direct users to sources of information at the State Department, as well as throughout the federal government, and will answer technical questions relating to DOSFAN. The State Department and UIC also welcome comments from Internet users on this network. Please contact John Shuler, Project Director at UIC, on the Internet at john.a.shuler@uic.edu or by phone at 312-996-2738.


This page was last modified on January 23, 1995