The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-21
The ClalrvOyant Eye OF the First
Assistant Secretary OF state.

The ClalrvOyant Eye of the First
Assistant Secretary OF state.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer, a candid
newspaper, imputes directly to Assistant
Secretary FRANCIS B. LOOMS the re-
sponsibility for those troubles arising
out Of premature enterprise and mys-
FERROUS diplomacy in Santo Domingo
which must have borne so heavily on
Secretary HAYS overtaxed endurance.
This is what our contemporary says;
1t IS known. though not ofncally. that the
amazing protocol Of Jan. 20. which was resented
by the country and later repudlated by the State
Department Itself. was the work Of Mr. LOOMS, In
whose hands owing 10 the illness OF Nj HAT and
the pressure upon him OF other business the Santo
Domingo matter had been left Later Mr.. Looms,
sun while acting Secretary OF State, came out 10 .
public statement In which be practically admitted
that Il was the Administrators purpose 70 proceed
under this agreement 70 administer the finances Of
che black republic without waiting for the approval
Of the United Stairs Senate the Dominican Con
Fress Thus bad matter was made vors and
Secretary HAT only recently was obliged TO declare
that this Government had no such intention, thus
natly contradlcttnE bis subordinate
We do not care just now to express any
opinion as TO the accuracy OF the fore
going statement that the now celebrated
'high official of the State Department
is none other than the Hon. FRANCIS B.
LOOMS. We may, however, be per-
mitted to indulge in speculation about
the origin Of the theory upon which the
Santo Domingo policy was based, namely,
that prompt, II irregular, action was re-
quired in Santo Domingo TO avert war
with some European Power for the main
tenance of the Monroe Doctrine.
Mr.. LOOMS seems to Have a vision that
pierces the gloom Of the future as easily
IS a Mauser bullet makes it's way through
fog. He detects at long range and far
In advance Of general information the
dire possibilities Of international strife.
It may be remembered that il was Mr.
LOOMS who, about fifteen months ago,
startled the country with this thrilling
description Of the perils we escaped be-
cause the Administration lost no time in
its proper and expedient recognition Of
the Panama Republic:
The moment that the cables dashed from BoTotA
TO Paris the astounding news that the extension Of
she French concession was cancelled, q French
squadron from Martinique would have borne
down upon the Isthnus, and perhaps landed ma.
rnss at Colon and sent them across the Isthmus TO
PAnGs and along the line Of the canal 10 protect the
Interests and property OF French eitIsnA There
would. in all probability, have been an armed con.
kas,w IA 4
least would have felt herself compelled TO hold the
Isthmus for long period. This would have wrought
Immediately and polgnAnuy upon the ssnsibuiuss
Of the American people IN respect 70 the Monroe
Doctrine and we should no doubt have found our
selves viewing France with annoying apprehension.
The French warships might easily have been fol-
lowed By those OF England and Holland; and Pan
ana, IKE the Balkan States. might well have been
expected to furnish the spark 70 set half the world
In names."
The picture, 70 say the least, was Of the
kind commonly spoken of as lurid. Mr.
IooSns's chapter OF aborted history was
delivered by him on Dec. IS, 1908, in the
form Of an after dinner speech TO the
peaceable Quill Club Of this town. Among
the guests who listened to the revelation
was Mr.. BUNAU-VARILIA, to whose efforts
more than to any other one cause this
country owes its acquisition OF the Pan
anna franchise and property. How that
sophisticated but friendly Frenchman
must have trembled at the thought that
the country which he so highly esteems
had so narrowly escaped a situation i'm
perilling it's relations with that other
republic which he so fondly loves
Are there many other points on the
Monroe Doctrine map besides Panama and
Santo Domingo where Assistant Seore-
tary LooAns's clairvoyant eye discerns
the slumbering spark that may set half
the world in flames?
The more we contemplate Assistant
Secretary LOOMS as a diplomat in the
subjunctive mood, the more we dwell
upon his abilities as a seer and a rhetori-
clan, the better satisfied we are with the
sensible arrangement by which impor-
tant matters Of international policy will
be supervised, during Mr.. HAYS absence
this spring, by the mature and tranquil
mind Of the present Secretary OF War.