The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-08
coNTUMELoUs TOWARD KNOX.

Probably the most serious mistake
made by President Taft when he as
sumed his high office, was in not re-
tanning former Secretary of State Elihu
Root in the same position as head of
the Cabinet. New York could spare
Mr.. Root better from the Senate than
the country can spare him from the Of
6ce of Secretary Of State.
Mr.. Knox, the present Secretary of
State, was barred by the Constitution,
and a special enactment Of Congress
was supposed TO tide over the objection
and qualify him for the Office, A great
many hold. however, that the Congress
sional act was not sufficient, aud that
Mr. Knox had not been constitutionally
qualified for the appointment. Tt is
evident that he is disqualified also by
nature and attainments for doing prop
erly the work of that high station.
One of the most distinguished serv.
ices rendered to the United States. and
to the Republics of South and Central
America by ex-Secretary of State Root.
was his visit of friendship to all those
countries, He made it evident to all
of them that the United States had no
big stick to belabor them with, had no
intention of interfering with their local
affairs, and was interested in them
simply In community Of sentiment
by way of the preservation of America
from European intrusion. All that was
wiped away in a moment by Secretary
Knox in his rude and undiplomatic bul.
lying of the Government Of Nicaragua
In the far Oriental situation, thu
acute point of International diplomacy
Secretary Root interfered effectuaIly
for the preservation. substantially in
tact, of the Chinese Empire. He never
for one moment, conceded that Man
churia had been detached from China,
or that the so-called "spheres of infu
ence" of Russia or Japan, interfered
with the right of China to govern that
great province. Now, however, by the
inconsiderate interference Of Secretary
Knox, the Manchurian question has
been made raw, and China IS right of
governance is directly challenged. Rus
Tt is blundering diplomacy all along the
line. II is good deal more. It is
diplomacy that invites checks and snubs,
and which puts the United States in a
contemplate attitude before the world
The idea of Secretary Knox putting
forth an impractical note which calls
for the naturalization Of the Manchur-
ian railroads, held respectively by jap
an and Russia, mainly for war purposes,
this without consultation with any of
the great powers of the world, was 30
singular n spectacle that the great ma
tions stood aghast, Russia and Japan
were bound to answer, and were at first
very cautious in what they said. No
doubt, they supposed that Secretary
Knox had made preliminary inquiries
Of the great powers, as to how they
would receive such a note, what their
attitude would be with respect to it:
and that he must have received encour.
agement from the great powers of
Europe or he would not have put it |
forth. On ascertainiug. however, that
the note had no backing whatever, but
was simply lone suggestion from the
United States, without consultation, ad-
vice or agreement from OF with any of
the great powers. then the rejection of
the note was accompanied with warm
words Of indignation, and the official
organs of the powers chiefly interested,