New-York tribune., 1910-12-07
DEPART MENT
OF STATE.
The Foreign Service, etc.


All these tariff negotiations, so vital to
our commerce and industry, and the duty
of jealousy guarding the equitable and
Just treatment of our products capital and
industry abroad, devolve upon the Depart
ment of State.
The Argentine battIeship contracts, like
the subsequent important one for Argentine
railway equipment, and those for Cuban
government vessels, were secured for our
manufacturers largely through the good Of
fees of the Department of State
The efforts of that department TO secure
for citizens Of the United States equal op-
portunities in the markets Of the world
and TO expand American commerce have
been most successful The volume of busi-
ness obtained in new fields of competition
and upon new lines is already very great,
and Congress is urged to continue to sup
port the Department of State in its en-
deavors for further trade expansion
Our foreign trade merits the best support
Of the government and the most earnest
endeavor of our manufacturers and mer-
chants, who if they do not already in all
cases need q foreign market. are certain
soon to become dependent on it. Therefore,
now is the time to secure q strong position
in this field
l cannot leave this subject without en-
phasiZing the necessity OF such legislation
as will make possible and convenient the
establishment of American banks and
branches of American banks in foreign
countries. Only by such means can our
foreign trade be favorably financed, ueces-
sary credits be arranged, and proper avail
be made of commercial opportunities in for
eign countries, and most especially in Latin
America
The Merchant Marine
Another instrumentaIity Indispensable to
the unhampered and natural development
Of American commerce is merchant marine
All maritime and commercial nations rec
ognize the Importance of this factor The
greatest commercial nations, our competi-
tors. tealOusly foster their merchant ma
rine. Perhaps nowhere is the need for rapid
and direct mail. passenger and freight COM
munication quite so urgent as between the
United States and Latin America. We can
secure in no other quarter OF the world
such immediate benefits in friendship and
commerce as would flow from the estab-
1shment Of direct lines Of communication
with the countries of Latin America ade-
quate to meet the requirements Of a rapid
ly increasing appreciation Of the reciprocal
Hemisphere upon one another's products,
SYM patfies and assistance
I alluded to this most important subject
in my last annual message; it has often
been before you. and need not recapitulate
the reasons for its recommendation. Unless
prompt action be taken the completion OF
the Panama Canal will find this the only
great commercial nation unable to avail In
49, bJ1sf of this
great contribution TO the means Of the
worlds commercial intercourse
Quite aside from the commercial aspect.
unless we create d merchant marine where
can We find the seafaring population neces-
sarv as a natural naval reserve, and where
could we find, in case of war, the trans
ports and subsidiary vessels without which
4 naval fleet is arms without a body? For
MANY reasons I cannot too strongly urge
upon the Congress the passage Of measure
by mail subsidy or other subvention ade-
uuate TO guarantee the establishment and
rapid development of American mer-
chant marine the restoration of the Amert-
can flag to its ancient place upon the seas
Of course such aid ought only TO be given
under conditions OF publicity of each
benefciary's business and accounts which !
would show that the AID receiver was
needed TO maintain the trade and was
properly used for that purpose.
Rights of Aliens.
With our increasing International inter !
course II becomes incumbent upon me to |
repeat more enphatically than ever the rec
which L made in my inaugu- !
raj address that Congress shall at once I
give to the courts of the United States /
Jurisdiction to punish crime the VIOLA /