The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-12-15

traffic in opium and other menactng
s sags I quoted from Zoo my annual mes
nounced that the results Of the Interna-
tlonal Opium commission held at Shang..
hal IN February. 1909, at the invitation OF
the United States. had been laid before
this government; that the report OF that
commission showed that China was MAX
ing remarkable progress and admirable
opium evil; that the interested govern
ments had not permitted their CONNER
clal interests to prevent their co-opera-
oon IN this reform; and, as a result OF
callateral investigations OF the opium
question In this country. I recommended
that the manufacture, sale and use OF
opium in the United States should he
more vigorously controlled by legislation.
OF the policy OF this government to Sc
cure the cooperation OF the Interested
nations. the United states proposed an
international opium conference with fun
powers for the purpose of clothing with
the force OF international law the reso-
lutions adopted by the aforementioned
tial corollortes. The other powers CON
cerned cordially responded to the pro-
posal OF this government, and, I am glad
70 be able to announce, representatives
Of all the powers assembled in conference
et The Hague on the hrst Of ttis month.
Foreign Trade Relations of the United
States.
In my last annual message I referred
to the tariff negotiations OF the depart
rent of state with foreign countries In
connection with the application, by a Sc
rtes Of proclamations, OF the minimum
tariff Of the United States TO importa-
lions from the several countries. and I
stated that. in its general operation. sec
ton 2 Of the new tariff law had proved
a guaranty OF continued commercial
peace. although there were, unfortunate
", instances where foreign governments
dealt arbitrarily with American interests
within their jurisdiction In a manner In
furious and tnequitable. During the past
year some instances of discriminatory
treatment have been removed, but I re-
gret to say that there remain a few
cases Of difTerential treatment adverse 70
the Of the United States. While
none of these Instances now appears 10
amount to undue discrimination In the
sense OF section 2 OF the tariff law OF
August 5. 1909, they are all exceptions TO
that complete degree Of equality of tar
t% treatment that the department Of
state has consistently sought to obtain
for American abroad.
While the double tariff feature Of the
tariff law Of 1909 has been amply JUST
fed by the results achieved in removing
former and preventing new. undue dis
ordinations against American commerce.
thu amendment of this feature OF the law
~ sttrh way as to provide a graduated
r~aans Of meeting varying degrees OF
discriminatory treatment OF American
to protect the financial interests abroad
OF American citizens against arbitrary.
and injurious treatment on the part Of
foreign governments through either leg
~islative or administrative measures.
It would seem desirable that the maxi
mum tariff OF the United States should
which is not the case at the present time.
in order that II might have reasonable
significance to the governments OF those
countries from which the importations
- ~ -tA vie
tually to articles on the free list.
The fiscal year ended June 80. 1911.
shows great progress In the development
Of American trade; It was notewortny
Of American products to foreign coun-
tries. the valuation being in excess OF
81. 900, coo, oc. These exports showed a
t taan $50. 500 600 100. 900. preceding year moro
Crying Need for American Merchant
Marine.
need hardly reiterate the conviction
that there should speedily be built up an
American merchant marine. This Is nee
essary to assure favorable t~ransporta-
ton facilities to our great ocean-borne
commerce as Well as to supplement the
and men. It would have the economic ad-
vantage Of keeping at home part of tho
wash sums now paid foreign shipping for
carrying American goods. All the great
VIM ch"A P~y 1900
to their merchant marine, so that 1t 10
obvious that without some wise aid from
the congress the United States must lag
behind in the matter Of merchant marine
In It's present anomalous position.
Legislation to facilitate the extension
OF American banks to foreign countries Is
another matter IN which our foreign
trade needs assistance.
With these factors and the continuance
of the foreign-service established depart
mental, diplomatic and consular) upon
the high plane where It has been placed
by the recent reorganization this gov
in fostering the interests OF Its foreign
trade. and the rest must be left to tho
energy and enterprise OF our business
men.
Improvement Of the Foreign Service.
The entire foreign-service organization
is being improved and developed with
especial regard to the requirements OF
the commercial interests OF the country.
The rapid growth of our foreign trade
makes 1t OF the utmost Importance that
that trade is to be aided and protected
should possess a high degree Of eff
cheney. Not only should the foreign rep
resentatives be maintained upon a gen
are concerned. but the Sc
lection and Advancement OF officers
should be definitely and permanently reg
ulated by law, so that the service shall
not fail to attract men Of high character
and ability. The experience OF the past
few years with a partial application OF
civil service rules to the diplomatic and
consular service leaves no doubt in my
mind Of the wisdom of a wider and more
nan extension OF those principles
to both branches Of the foreign service.
therefore again commend to the ia
vorable action Of the ongress the enact
ment of a law applying to the diplomatic
and consular service the principles en-
bodied in section 1883 OF the Revised Stat
utes of the United States. in the civil
service act OF January Is, 1853, and the
executive orders of Jun n, 1906, and OF
November 26. 1903. In its consideration OF
this important subject / desire to recall
to the attention Of the congress the very
favorable report made on the Lowden
bill for the improvement of the
foreign service by the foreign
AFFAIRS committee of the house Of repre-
Available statistics show tina
the strictness with which the merit sys-
tenn has ben applied to the foreign serv-
ice during recent years and the absolute
nou-partisan selection of consuls and
diplomatic service secretaries who indeed
far from being selected with any view
to political consideration have actually
been chosen to a disproportionate extent
from states which would have been UNI
represented in the foreign service under
the system which 1t Is to be hoped Is now
permanently obsolete. Some legislation
FOR the pe~rpetuation of the present sys-
tenn OF examinations and promotions upon
merit and efficiency would be OF greatest