The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-05-15
Pan-American Diplomacy.

Pan-American Diplomacy.
In the current Atlantic Monthly Hon.
John w. Foster reviews in very inter-
esting way the policy, which our. gov
eminent has pursued in relation to our
LatinAmerican neighbors for the last
three-quarters of century. Mr.. Fos-
ter is of the opinion that one difficulty
we labor under in our relations with
the Central and South American gov
ernments is the little attention given to
the fitness Of the diplomatic and con-.
sular officials that we have sent to
these countries as our representatives
This is not on account of the insult
cheney of remuneration given, because,
everything considered, we pay to those
holding diplomatic and consular posi-
tons on this continent quite as good
salaries as are given to those who are
sent to represent US in Europe, but the
standard of mental qualification does
not seem to be as high.
- Mr.. Foster referred to the fact that
of the ten delegates selected to repre-
sent the United States at the pan
American conference at Washington,
when the late James G. Blaine was
secretary Of state, not one of them
could speak the Spanish language, and,
as Mr.. Foster intimates, it is rare in
stance when minister or consul ap-
pointed to Spanish-American country
has any knowledge of the language of
the people with whom he is to carry
on his negotiations, and usually he has
had no previous diplomatic experience.
Obviously this government could ex-
ert much greater influence in the af-
fairs of the western hemisphere if the
men sent to occupy diplomatic and
consular positions in the Latin-Amer-
lean republics were peculiarly fitted
from experience and training to carry
IN the work they are appointed to un-
dertake.
Referring to the work of the late pan
American congress in the City of Mex
leo, Mr.. Foster expresses the belief that
it will have the effect of bringing the
nations of this hemisphere into closer
political and commercial relations and
that henceforth the United States will
have larger influence than heretofore
In pan-American diplomacy.
The Philadelphia Medical Journal
raises this question apparently in all
seriousness: Was Cecil Rhodes para
noiac? 1t admits that, as written by
Mr.. W. T. Stead. the greatest Of the
Afrikanders did supply at least an ex-
cuse for suspicion as to his sanity and
sayssthat the scheme to establish Sc
cret society of millionaires. organized
like LoyOla's. which should buy up
and control the whole earth, did more
than hint at delusion with something
Of madness in it. The suggestion is
| advanced that Rhodes had been so
much cut off from civilization by his
sojourn in South Africa and had be-
come SO convinced of the brutal power
of mere money as he used it in the
| dark continent that he had come to
look upon the rest of the world as no
better than South African corral.
Rhodes disposition of his fortune is
interpreted by this authority as evil
dencing visionary and impractical
| nature and a desire to draw to Eng
| land the best blood Of other countries
in order that England should have the
| benefit of it. But" concludes The
Medical Journal, I'VE are not prepared
to say that Rhodes was a paranoiac.
He may have been Of the stuff of
which paranoiacs are made, but as he
did not actually leave his vast fortune
to found his society Of Jesuitical mil
lionaires he cannot be accused of hav-
ing really crossed the border line of
| insanity"