The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-06
The DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
Foreign Trade Is Improving-Mer-
chant Marine DEVELOPMENT.

All these tariff negotiations, so vital
to our commerce and industry, and the
duty Of jealousy guarding the equi-
ucts, capital and industry abroad de-
volve upon the department of state.
The Argentine battleship 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 offices of the depart
ment of state.
The efforts of that department to Sc
cure for citizens of the United States
equal opportunities in the markets of
the world and to expand American
commerce have been most successful
The volume of business 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 manu-
i, facturers and merchants, who, If they
do not already in all cases need a for
eign market, are certain soon to be-
come dependent on it. Therefore, now
is the time to secure strong position
| in this field
| I cannot leave this subject without
emphasizing the necessity of such leg
islation as will make possible and con-
venient the establishment of American
banks and branches of American banks
in foreign countries. Only by such
means can our foreign trade be favor
ably financed, necessary credits be ar
ranged and proper avail be made of
commercial opportunities in foreign
countries, and most especially in Latin
| America.
Another instrumentality indispensa-
| BILE to the unhampered and natural de-
| veIopment of American commerce is
merchant marine. All maritime and
commercial nations recognize the i'm
portance of this factor. The greatest
commercial nations, our competitors,
| jealousy foster their merchant ma
rine. Perhaps nowhere is the need for
rapid and direct mall passenger and
| freight communication quite so urgent
| as between the United States and
| Latin America. We can secure in no
other quarter Of the world such imme-
date benefits in friendship and COM
merce as would flow from the estab-
lishment of direct lines of cemmunica-
ton with the countries of Latin Amer
lea adequate to meet the requirements
Of rapidly increasing appreciation of
the reciprocal dependence of the coun-
tries of the western hemisphere upon
each others products, sympathies and
assistance.
1 alluded to this most important sub
ject in my last annual message. 1t has
often been before you, and l need not
| recapitulate the reasons for its recon-
mendation. Unless prompt action be
taken the completion of the Panama
canal will find this the only great
commercial nation unable to avail in
International maritime business of this
great contribution to the means Of the
worlds commercial intercourse.
Quite aside from the commercial as
pect, unless we create a merchant ma
rine where can we find the seafaring
| population necessary as a natural ma
val reserve and where could we find
In case Of war, the transports and sub
sidiary vessels without which a naval
feet is arms without a body? For
many reasons / cannot too strongly
urge upon the congress the passage OF
, a measure by mali subsidy or other
|, subvention adequate to guarantee the
establishment and rapid development
of an American merchant marine, the
restoration of the American flag to its
ancient place upon the seas.
With our increasing international In