The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-01
$ Theodore Roosevelt.

this true with achievements of diplo-
macy, which properly proceed with
quietness and in deliberation. Only the
larger affairs are of such character.
as to summon popular attention. Hence
it is that the country, highly as it may
state, has not yet come to think of
him as will the historian Of the future
who writes the doings of these times.
Mr.. Hay had negotiated not fewer
than fifty treaties during his. term Of
office. He had settled practically all
Great Britain, closing, for the present
chapter in our diplomacy. More i'm
portant STILL he had assumed posi-
ton of leadership among the ministers
Of foreign affairs Of the world IN the
velopment of policy of most far
reaching consequences. No candid critic
can fail to see that most Of the epoch
making accomplishments Of the Mckin-
ley Roosevelt administrations are COM
pretended in John Hays diplomacy.
Such achievements deserve more than
passing notice from current observers.
His Early Work.
Mr.. Hay came to the state depart-
ment in September, 1898. at the close
of the Spanish war. He had served as
ain DdSSadOf dC "lIouuoH !oI !ItGle HuoIo
than year, besides having had former
diplomatic experiences in Paris, Ma
drid and Vienna. Mr.. Hay had little
Spain So in %" On ret returning ming to Washington,
he applied himself diligently, with the
corps under him, to the completion Of
many routine matters, the settlement of
the briefest telegraphic paragraph,
which was soon: forgotten. For exam
pie, he negotiated a series Of extradi-
ton treaties, many Of which have al
ready been ratified by the senate. These
made it practically impossible for
resting place in any civilized country.
- A Great Settler of Claims.
Another important class Of treaties i
country knows little, are those arising
from claims of citiz Of the United
has settled more Of these claims than
any of his predecessors, Nor, are these
matters of interest exclusively. to the
immediate claimant; they increase
American prestige. All such aml cable
settlements strengthen the influences
these treaties was one for the submis
sion Of the Plus fund dispute to the
permanent tribunal at The Hague,
where it became the first case ever pre-
sented to that organization. It was
settled in favor of the United States.
have been adjusted by arbitrators per-
sonally selected as in the Salvadorean
claims, which were arbitrated IN WASH
ington The Samoan claims were set,
tied, involving a tripartlte agreemee1nt
among Great Britain, Germany and the
United States, by arb1tratlon;
bo trOnhIPS
the United States had to meet lltal,
Germany, Great Britain and other Eu-
ropean governments, which had claims
against Venezuela, resulting in the.
bombardment and threatening serious
trouble. Mr.. Hays attitude in the at,
fair indicated to everybody concern me-
that he did not purpose to. overstep the
bounds of commonsense in @upholding
the Monroe doctrine. There was no
lack of backbone, he. took a dignified
course which has since been entirely
justified by the results. When the
claims came up for detailed settlement
this government I'M Up II prs
and also joined in an agreement to
submit the question of preferential
trea tment to The Hague Tribunal, thus
getting another case there, and so in.
creasing the momentum In favor OF
international arbitration. It. is hard
matte achievements. in an article OF
newspaper limitations. But the mere
recital by name of the more important
treaties and agreements will recall to
the well-informed readers mind the
longer story that preceded the final
and happy solution.
A Half Century Annoyance.
Secretary Hays greatest achieve
ment in diplomacy on this hemisphere
came in securing the repeal Of the,
Clayton-Bulwer treaty, which had been
| a persistent cause of trouble and mis-
understanding for the greater part of
the half century Of it's life, threaten
ing to prove, a weapon in the hands
two countries in war. The more Tag
gressively American statesmen al
ways took the view that the Clayton
Bulwer treaty was dead until they got
into positions of responsibility, when
they could not longer think so: The
United States and Great Britain 70
act together in the control Of an inter
oceanic canal. This was always galEng
to American pride:
So great an achievement as the re-
moval of this obstruction Mr.. Hay did
not make on his first attempt. The
first of his treaties failed to secure the
approval Of the senate. This was a
practical defeat, even tho the disap
l prevail Of the senate is often a compli-
ment with right thinking people. The
second HayPauncefote treaty proved
an illustration Of how slight and non
essential notifications may disarm
:iingoistic opposition. Both treaties
were negotiated on the principle Of the
absolute neutrality Of an isthmian
canal. The senate did not like the
provision of the first treaty inviting
all nations to guarantee the. canal s
neutrality, and they also amended it to
such an extent that it was promptly
rejected by Great Britain. Mr.. Hay
then went to work in his quiet way
, and using as an argument with Great
J Britain the advantage to the maritime
interests of the world that would fol-
low our efforts, persuaded England to
withdraw its privileges under the Clay
J ton-Bulwer treaty and agree to let the
United States act alone in controlling
and policing the canal.
Treaty with Colombia.
I In pursuance of the second Hay
Pauncefote instrument, which perma-
nently cleared the way for canal
uniting the oceans, a treaty was nego-
tiated with Colombia. 1t was entirely
fair and liberal to that republic! and
at the same time so drawn as to merit
the necessary two Thirds vote in the
|senate There the sentiment in favor
of another canal route was so strong as
Ito make the opposition eager for rea-
, |tsons of attack. This made the negotia-
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