New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-24
London, August 16.

LONDON fAASNSN Ava
49,, oo,s5ence-the deserved conf
president Roosevelt had in Mr..
NJ, led him to give his Secretary OF
c. free hand in most matters which
,,o~.r+rent Of state had TO deal
,,.b He knew well enough that Mr.
49,. had relinouished the Embassy in
30, and become Foreign Minister
ao.,rs+ his own wish upon the summons
president Mckinley. He knew that
- ts,. would have preferred, for per-
...,,l reasons to leave the Department
-, tho death of Mr.. Mckinley. He
,.-.v. that in this matter as in others a
nc NJ public duty prevailed with Mr.
~. .,d a man with an Overruling
- ~ nubIic duty was the kind Of
-rbii. servant Mr. Roosevelt was al
- looking for. He knew also that
A. HAYS experience as Ambassador
.b~oa5 and rs Assistant Secretary OF
e,s+o AZ home had given him the train
d. and experience which neither natu-
al abilities nor missions from on high
...,I5 rorrace. In this case. therefore,
che President acted. so far as it was in
hin, 20 act. on the maxim to choose the
best man. hold him responsible and
,,,5re him by results. As the results
we're among others. 10 give the United
states a place in world politics, and an
,rnortuuitv Of exercising the kind Of
MISSIONARY influence dear 10 the Presi-
dent. he may be supposed TO have been
content and more than content, with
these results.
when. therefore, the President and
the Secretary were agreed on a point Of
fore.zn affairs vital TO the national well
far and to peace, as in the Alaska
Boundary and Sir Wnfrid Laurier
rroroeaI. there was in the minds Of
most men a presumption that they were
right. But not in the minds Of the Sen
ate. I do not wish To go over again a
matter on which I have written much.
I'm what I said Of Sir Wilfrid Laurier in
these Memories I told as much Of the
story as 7 well could I refer 10 IT once
more only 10 say that after the mid
light talk with the President, briefly
referred 20 in a previous letter, I came
away convinced that President Roose-
Welt saw eve 10 eye with Mr. Hay and
both with Sir Wufrid Lauricr. The
Senate and the Senate only, then stood
in the way of a favorable settlement
Of that nlenacing question. 1t is Well to
keep that in mind. For once more to-
dav the Senate and the Senate only,
stands in the way of those arbitration
treaties with England and France which
President Taft framed and signed.
Nothing. not even Mr. Hays diploma
cv. ever did so much 10 give the United
States a foremost place in the world 3
dip,omacy. No President ever origi-
mated scheme Of peace so far reach
ing and benehcent. But TO peace and
10 American leadership in a great
world policy the Senate prefers its own
usurped privilege, its own jealousy Of
constitutional executive authority and
the present luminosity Of some Of its
members 10 one Of the greatest Presi-
dents.
do not know whether Mr.. Roosevelt
has thought Of writing history Of his
own administration. or Of those policies
and acts which made it memorable. II
I were a publisher I would never leave
him alone tiIl he had promised 10 do it,;
lot in detail. but broadly, and there
fore briefly II would be interesting TO
see if be could be brief. 1t would be
still more interesting if he would con-
dense into a chapter his relations with
the Senate and his Judgment on that
policy Of obstruction and treaty wreck
Ing which has filed the American nina
with distrus- Of its patriotism
Il was understood at the time that one
reason for the appointment OF sr
Michael Herbert as British Ambassador
In succession to Lord Pauncefote was
the relation Of friendship existing be-
tween Sir Michael and the President.
That is but one example Of the weight
which the personal wishes Of President
may have abroad as we'll as at home l
DON'T enlarge on it, for I hope 70 write
more fully al another time concerning sir
Aichae and his services 10 both coun-
tries as Ambassador. II is true that a
European Government always considers
whether a candidate for high dlplo-
matte post Is likely 10 be agreeable 10
tie Government 20 which he is sent. But
it Is also true that the question seldom
turns on the other question Of personal
intimacy between the Head Of a Govern
ment and the proposed Ambassador or
Minister. Mr. Roosevelt's personality
had won him a kind Of prestige abroad
which made the lntimatiOn Of his liking
Tor particular man a powerful factor IN
his appointment. I doubt whether any
Similar case can be cited from the past.
But am quite sure that were any Of the
great Embassies now 10 fall vacant
President Taft would be informally con-
suited about filing it, for President Taft
mas succeeded 70 that European heritage
q fame and confidence which President
roosevelt was al one time supposed to
4 nave carried into retirement with him
There was, I suppose. no European
r4er with whom President Roosevelt
S'Ooa On terms o. such close intimacy as
WIN The German Emperor. Down 70 the
4Hle OF Mr.. ROOsevelt's progress through
Europe and visit TO Potsdam the two had
never met. But events had brought
uem together. They corresponded by
0oie and By letter They exchanged
q s-'S' The German Emperor seems 70
nave misunderstood the President on
4 -"e points than one. It was partly be-
'-Se Of the supposed German sym