The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-06-16

Addresses Graduated on
American Diplomacy.
IS NOT BASED ON tXPfDENCY
Secretary of State Says Our Policy Is
Founded OH Justice and TO Al
vance the General Welfare
of the World.


the commencement oXcrCi1.s ui the
University of Pennsylvania ca The
Spirit and Purpose of American Dipio-
macy" He said in part;
THE cosmopolitan character OF this
university. the increasing iniluc.to oi
the individual citizen upon tDe nature
of international relations. OWN 10 the
more intimate and frequent y isohal
Intercourse between ciuzcns OF differ
ent countries, aud the expanding sen
timental and material interest IN the
subject are considerations wnieh nave
persuaded me taat some cbservd. Ions
upon the spirit which has ANNA cd
American diplomacy ana the purposes
toward which our foreign policies have
been directed may prove of interest on
this occasion.
1T is gratifying to believe that ex'
animation will disclose that our diplo
macy has had real and dotni,e spirit
and direction. that il has not been
based on expediency nor been driven
hither and thither by the variaD'e
winds of opportunism and that II has
in its Justice. generosiir. MODERATION
and candur reelected tho becoming a.
tributes Of great people.
THAT this is true will appear when
we. thougn bdefly. consider the spir I
with which the United states has aD-
preached the adjustment OF ques ms
I'm which il has been directly interest.
ed and the purpose with which ms
governmeu; has been inspired in It's
Efforts to further the good OF paIticn'
lar nations and to advance tne general
welfare of the world.
THE WILLINGNESS Of the Unite ]
States amicably to compose its owh
differences with other goyernm aiS
and its efforts to soCrrr The l. al
acceptance of the p4 inciple Of internal
tIonal arbitration make fine ana con
sistent chapter in our diplomatic his
tory.
Since American statecraft had It's
beginning IN an effort to secure recos-
milton for young nation struggling 70
relieve itself from what it considered
10 be intolerable expressions ii is bu
natural tina, its earliest diplomatists
should have been actuated and guided
by broad principles Of international
right. Justice and equality as well as
by large and fundamental cons'dera-
tions of humanity.
Representing a small and weak
belligerent nation. beset with difficult
ties of disciplane. organization. equip
ment. men and finance. and reslizing
in the fullest measure as they I'D.
how near they were TO losing because
of these deficiencies their own strug-
gle for what in their opinion was a
lust and ri"hteous cause. II Is not
strange that these men should have
later sought for some method OF ad'
iusting their international differences
other than bv the uncertainties OF war.
From 1894 until the present time
the government of the United States
has uniformly and constantly exhaust
ed every resource in order amicably
and peacefully To adjust its interna-
tiOnal difficulties. and during this time
II has. including those now pending.
taken part in some seventy arbitra-
lions. excluding various agreements to
arbitrate not carried out because OF
settlement otherwise. as well as all
conventional or diplomatic arrange
ments. delimitation commissions and
domestic commissions for the settle
ment of international claims. The sub
jects submitted by this government 10
the various arbitral tribunals have In
yolved some OF the most important
and difficult questions which give rise
TO differences between states. They In
clude boundary disputes. rights OF fsh-
ing. the rights and duties Of neutrals.
INTERPRETATION of treaties and the per
sonal and property rights of American
citizens res lent In foreign countries.
Indeed. the United States has taken
even more advanced ground and has
said that. lnasmuch as arbitration Is
thus. as stated. judicial rather than
a diplomatic procedure, the Judgment
of an arbitration court must conform
to the principles OF law and equity in
volved and controlling and that where
in its opinion II Is wholly clear and
evident that a decision essentially
so TO conform such decision should be
open to an international judicial reyi-
sion. II Is in accordance with this
principle that the United States and
Venezuela have recently negotiated a
protocol of arbitration providing for
the submission to The Hague OF the
question of the revision Of an interna
tional award.
I'VE have indeed, as Is right. firmly
maintained our nationtl sovereignty
and dignity and the rights Of our cit-
zens. and we have not avoided war
when honor and duty have invoked
that stern arbItrament Nevertheless
we have Loyalty submitted ourselves
to the control of the ideals of peace
and to the principles of international
comfy and good WILL and we have
exerted our influence and good offices
TO guide and aid others along that
path. We have not. indeed, stood alone
in this attitude. but have acted in con-
cert with other powers who recognize
the same high call and seek the same
great ends"