The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-13
CRITICISM OF KNOX,
STYLE.

There is Il good deal of force in the
criticism which Representative Francis
Burton Harrison of New York directed
in the House on Friday against the
diplomatic service. and especially in his
criticism Of Secretary Knox. Some of
| his talk. bowcvcr. while sound enough
in way, criticiscs that which does not
admit of correction. When he said that
ambassadors are merely messenger boys
for Washington. while there is a great
deal OF truth in the assertion, il also
remains true that the ambassadors are
| representing the dignity of the Nation
and upholdjng the high prestige of the
United States II is true that the EN-
bassadoTs must receive their instruc-
tions from Washington, and that they
arc messenger boys in the sense of
conveying those instructions 10 the
chief rulers of the foreign governments
to which they are accredited. The dan
ger of allowing ambassadors to act upon
their, own notions has been displayed
so often, that on all matters of i'm
portance instructions from home are
asked and received, There can be no
change in this, and so fur as Represcp-
tative Harrison is opposed to it, he is
beating n shadow. If we are 10 have
ambassadors at all (and We do not
suppose Representative Harrison wishes |
10 do away with them), they must re-
main on the same footing that they oc-
cupy today His criticism of their cloth. |
ing as being in knee breechcs and wear
ing n sword, is frivolous. The knee
breeches form pretty good looking ap.
parel; but perhaps Mr. Harrison would
suggest doing away with the sword and
bucklinG on q revolver in place of il.
as more indicative of their business, be.
sides being more modern, tho sword
rs weapon of war being practically
In another part Of his speech, how
ever, Representative Harrison was on
solid ground. We refer TO that portion
wherein he criticises Secretary Knox
for his interference in Central Amer
can affairs. Unquostionably that was a
gross blunder, which Will compromise
ne United States for years TO come
y | 4
,uhlics. From a mere diplomatic stand.
,oint. If it is contended that Zelaya
lad the better of the argument, we do
lot see how that claim could be de
lied
Pursuing his criticism further, Rep
esontativc Harrison pointed out the .
lunder of Secretary Knox undertaking I"
o meddle with the Manchurian railway
he railway situation in Manchuria is
delicate one at best. To call upon
apan and Russia to neutralize those 2
Dads is even worse than for the Unit. 7
d States TO call upon the great rail 5
Dads Of this country TO surrender their
to the public The chief an1- D
ETY. of both Japan and Russia with re- u
pect to the Manchurian railroads is to 4
90 that those roads are left absolutely p
lear for government use with a lively p
lew. monopolistic view for their use =
! time of war. 1t was for this that "
10 war was fought 1t is for this that c
9th Japan and Russia hold so strenu- II
lsly to the railroads which they have q
that great province. II was hope d
SIS idea to think that either of those "
atoms would consent TO the neutral T;
alton of those railroads. It was a gross N
plomatic blundcr TO suggest such a
ling, especially without previous CON q
iltation with the great powers of Eu- Ii
'pe. and without the least diplomatic o.
,cking for the suggestion as made. a