The San Francisco call., 1901-11-21
AMERICAN DIPLOMACY.

~ ECRETARY HAYS address on American
Diplomacy" at the Chamber of Commerce
- banquet in New York on Tuesday evening will
doubtless rank among the most notable speeches
delivered on such an occasion. Even the brief sum-
mary telegraphed to the press sufces show that
it one of the best of Mr.. Hays addresses and that
is saying much, for there few orators of our time
whose ideas of statecraft higher than his whose
oratory is marked by such excellence of literary
finish
The speech be read by all Americans with keen
satisfaction, for with hardly reference or sug-
geston of his share in the work. the Secretary OF
State has set forth in a striking manner first the
sential difference between American diplomacy and
that which has prevailed in the Old World; and
second the benefits which Our methods of diplomacy
have conferred not upon ourselves only but upon all
American states and indirectly upon the world at
large
Reviewing the history of diplomacy generally the
Secretary said: There was time when diplomacy
science of intrigue and fasehood of traps and
mines 2na countermines" Into that kind of dipo-
macy American statesmen never entered. Our
methods of dealing with foreign nations from
the first straightforward and honest. Mr. Hay says
I'm my experience of diplomatic life, which now
covers more years than like to look back upon,
in the far greater record of American diplomacy
which have read and studied can say without hesi-
ation that have generally told squarely what we
wanted announced early in negotiations what we
were willing tC give, and allowed the other side to
accepl or reject our terms"
For many year our straightforward, frank dealing
with any nation with which might have contro-
versy was d serious disturbance to European conven-
toralties. Their statesmen used to refer to it as
Shirt sleeve diplomacy" 1t was looked upon as
something crude However, the shrewder
leaders of the Old World perceived that the American
method had its advantages It facilitated interna-
tona business and it inspired feeling of respect for
the Government whose representatives had the frank
ness to speak the truth and the courage to stand
firmly for what is right In the end they began to
follow the American method, and the old system
of intrigue is nearly obsolete Speaking of his
experience Mr. Hay able to say: During the
time in which have been prominently concerned in
our foreign relations | can say have been met
by the representatives of other powers in the same
spirit of frankness and sincerity
It is great thing for nation have accomplished
that much in the field of diplomacy and the satisfac
ton is greater because the nation has lost by it.
Nearly every important contention of this country in
international politics has been won by We have
demonstrated that in diplomacy in other fields of
human endeavor, corruption wins not more than
honesty" We now entering upon career as a
VIII soon eSIdDHSn us as the lore
nation the globe and yet there is people,
however weak that need fear any aggression on our
part We stand for international justice and for frank
honesty in all negotiations to maintain il.
The Secretary Of State doubtless for good reasons
made special reference to the attitude of American
diplomacy toward the states of Latin America. In
those states fears have been expressed that aim
establishing domination over them. Those fears
have been adroitly increased by Europeans who seek
to incte antagonism to our expanding influence and
commerce. Of the South American and Central
American people the Secretary said: 1--WE more
want their territory than covet the mountains of
the moon. Not our earnest desire for peace
among them will lead us to any action which might
offend their national dignity their just sense of
independence. We would endow them with all the
consideration we claim for ourselves"
Such is American diplomacy expressed by a
Secretary of State of whom it may be said he has not
only described it, but illustrates it.