Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-11-22
HONEST DEALING.
It Forms the Basic Principle of
American Diplomacy.
Secretary of State Hay in an Address
to Members OF the New " orlt Cham-
ber OF Commerce Defines Our
Policy Toward the Other
Nations of the World.

dred and thirty-third annual banquet
of the chamber of commerce was held
at Delmonico's last evening. Covers
for $50 were laid in the main banquet
room.
In introducing Secretary Hay,
President Jesup proposed toast to
"Our Diplomacy" The secretary was
warmly welcomed by the guests and
his speech at various points met with
great enthusiasm, especially when he
mentioned the name of President Nc
Kinley. The applause was deafening
when, in his peroration, he said:
"No wantonness of strength viii
ever induce us to drive hard bargain
with another nation because it is
weak, nor will any fear of ignoble
criticism tempt us to insult or defy
great power because it is strong, or
even because it is friendly"
After an eloquent tribute to the
memory of President Mckinley, Mr..
Hay said 81 come to you because
you have invited me, and he would
have wished it, for he held that our
personal feelings should never be con-
sidered when they conflicted with
public duty. And if fall below the
standard to which he has accustomed
you, the very comparisons you draw
will be tribute to his memory.
81 am asked TO say something about
our diplomacy. You want from me
nothing but the truth; and yet, if I
confine myself to the truth, / cannot
help fearing i shall do my profession
wrong in the minds of those who
have been in the habit of considering
4 ;,.1A
terious as alchemy, and as dangerous
to the morals as municipal politics.
1t must be admitted that this concep-
ton of the diplomatic function is not
without a certain historical founda-
ton.
"There was a time when diplomacy
was a science of intrigue and false
hood, of traps and mines and counter
mines. 1t may be another instance
of that credulity with which l have
often been charged by European
critics when / say that 1 really be-
lieve the world has moved onward in
diplomatic life, which now covers
more years than / like to look back
upon, and in the far greater record of
American diplomacy, which / have
studied. / can say that we have
generally told squarely what we
wanted, announced early in negotia-
tions what we were willing to give,
and allowed the other side to accept
or reject our terms. During the time
in which / have been prominently
concerned in our foreign relations, I
can also say that we have been met
by the representatives of other pow
ers in the same spirit of sincerity.
"I think / may say that our sister
| republics to the south of us are per-
fectly convinced of the sincerity of
our attitude. They know we desire
| the prosperity of each of them, and
peace and harmony among them. We
no more want their territory than
we covet the mountains of the moon.
We are distressed when there are
differences among them, but even
| then we should never think of trying
TO compose any of those differences
unless by the request of both parties
| to it. Not even our earnest desire
| for peace among them will lead us to
| any action which might offend their
national dignity or their just sense of
| independence. We owe them all the
consideration which we claim for our
selves.
"As to what we have tried to do
what we are still trying to do-in the
general field of diplomacy, there is no
reason for doubt on the one hand or
reticence on the other. President
| Mckinley in his messages during the
last four years has made the subject
perfectly clear. We have striven, on
the lines laid down by Washington, to
cultivate friendly relations with all
powers, but not to take part in the
formation of groups or combinations
among them"
| Gov Odell spoke to the toast "The
State of New York." and Mayor-elect
Low replied to the toast the "City of
| New York"
Joseph II. Choate, ambassador to
England, was the next speaker. He
enlarged upon the sympathy shown
by the British people at the time of
President McKinley's death.
Mr.. Choate was followed by Senator
McLaurin, of South Carolina, who
spoke to the toast of "The Monroe
Doctrine of the Twentieth Century,"