The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-10-04

foreign governments keep well inform
ed about the Department of State.
They know when an efficient Secretary
of State comes in. They are reeogniz-
ing that Secretary Knox is .sthe
goods. - The force of his personality
and his great ability is not lost upon
them. The secretary's name stands for
something out of the ordinary in for
eign ehancelleries.
Our foreign affairs in the wears gone
by have had to do chiefly with Europe.
An ambassador or minister from a
European country always ranked high
in Washington. Comparatively small
recognition has been extended to
diplomats from Asia or S6uth America.
The esteem in which European diplo.
mats have been held has not been
lowered but the regard for the diplo-
matte representatives of China. Japan
ard the countries of Asia and South
America has increased. Greater at
tention is paid to them. The raising
of legations in Japan. Mexico and
Brazil to the rank of embassies is. in
itself, an illustration of the change.
But it has been much more marked
than the elevation of diplomatic rank
alcne would signify.
Thus the State Department has been
broadening the scope of its interest in
foreign affairs and Secretary Knox has
been quick to grasp the Importance of
the larger field. The idea has by no
means been confined to the United
States. for some of the European eoun-
tries have been "beating'' our gov
ernment to it and making action i'm
perative unless we would be left far
behind. Japan sends ambassadors to
the more important European courts.
Certain of the South American repub-
les have been very willing to be rep
resented in Europe by ambassadors.
The pressure for representation of high
er rank has by no means ceased. Ar
gintine Republic wants to be repre-
scented at Washington by an ambassa-
dor because the people of the Argen-
tines think they have as big and pros
porous and influential a republic as
Brazil.
1t is not improbable that in the
course of few years there will be
four or five ambassadors from South
American republics and as many from
the United States to those countries.
Even with the decline of American
shipping, the communication with
South America is constantly on the
increase and the countries to the South
are getting better acquainted with US.
Secretary Roots voyage around
South America few years ago was
SO prolific of good results that it has
been suggested Secretary Knox make
a similar journey. 1t is not improbable
he will do so. The South Americans
regard themselves as highly honored
when secretary of state of the Unit
ed States visits them. 1t encourages
friendly comment, starts the newspa-
pers to printing favorable articles and
makes the people talk. All this counts
in the long run. Then business and
financial houses in New York are quick
to take advantage of such visits. They
sent their representatives right in be-
hind the visitor and almost invariably
bag good orders for goods or establish
arrangements for facilitating business
which are important. Certain New
York banks sent men along after Sec
rotary Root and achieved much to-
ward the establishment of the South
American bank, which is now about to
become a reality.