The Washington herald., 1911-12-08

| In the second OF his messages to the
present Congress, President Taft yester-
day again urged that the arbitration
treaties be ratified by the Senate. that the
loan treaties with Nicaragua and Hondu-
ras be approved, and that the foreign
trade of the United States be encouraged
by supporting the policy of dollar di-
plomacy." so called.
The President makes public for the
first time a confidential letter written to
Mai. Gen. Leonard Wood upon the sub
iect OF the mobilization of troops on the
Mexican border.
All the recent diplomatic triumphs of
the present administration are reviewed.
The fur seal controversy and its settle
ment Is outlined; the. new commercial
treaty with Japan commended. and Chi
nese loans discussed; the settlement of
American claims against Great Britain,
| taken; the Alsop claims against Chile
also and the Chimazal arbitration de-
plored.
Ready for Congress.
In the long letter to Gen. Wood the
President says that 1t was his duty
as COmmander-in-chicf TO place troops
in sufficient numbers where, if Congress
shall direct tina they shall enter Mexico
to save America lives and property, an
effective movement may be promptly
made
The growth Of the foreign trade Of
the United States is the subject Of much
satisfaction to the President. He thinks
the figures themselves are all the vindiCa-
! tion that dollar diplomacy' needs.
About this he says:
The fiscal year ended June ~. 1911.
shows great progress in the development
of American trade. 1t was noteworthy
as marking the highest record of eX-
ports OF American products to foreign
countries. the valuation being in excess
of $2,OOOOOO.OOO. These exports show a
gain over the preceding year of more
than $500 100000
In this connection the President finds
crying need for the rehabilitation Of
the American merchant marine. He says
that a merchant marine would have the
economic advantage of keeping at home
part of the vast sum now paid TO for
eign shipping for carrying American
goods.
For Foreign Commerce.
In concluding his discussion of the for
egn trade relations the President sug-
gests the organization of chambers OF
foreign commerce throughout the country
Such organizations in his opinion could
materially promote the development of
American trade in foreign markets.
OF arbitration. the President says:
The year just passed marks an impOr-
tsnt general movement on the part of the
powers for broader arbitration. In the
recognition OF the manifold benefits to
mankind in the eTIension of the policy of
the settlement of international disputes
by arbitration rather than by war, and in
response to a widespread demand for an
advance in that direction on the part of
the people of the United States and of
Great Britain and of France, new arbi-
tration treaties were negotiated last
spring with Great Britain and France the
terms of which were designed as ex-
pressed in the preamble of thes treaties,
to extend the scope and obligations of the
policy of arbitration adopted in our pres
ent treaties with those governments To
pave the way for this treaty with the
United States, Great Britain negotiated
an important modification in its alliance
with Japan, and the French government
also expedited the negotiations with sig
nal good will. The new treaties have
been submitted to the Senate and are
awaiting its advice and consent to their
ratification. All the essentials of these
important treaties have long been known
and it is my earnest hope that they will
receive prompt and favorable action"
Letter to Wood.
The letter to Gen. Wood on the mobili-
zation of troops on the Mexican border.
reads, in part, as follows:
1T seems my duty as commander-in-
chief to place troops in sufficient number
where, if Congress shall direct that they
enter Mexico to save American lives and
property, an effective movement may be
promptly made. Meantime, the movement
of the troops to Texas and elsewhere
near the boundary, accompanied with sim
cere assurances of the utmost good will
toward the present Mexican government
and with larger and more FREQUENT ma
trols along the border to prevent insIIr
rectionary expeditions from American
soil, will hold up the hands of the exist
ing government and will have a healthy
moral effect to prevent attacks upon
Americans and their property in any sub
Sequent general interneclne strife. Again
the sudden mobilization of a division of
troops has been a great test of our army
and full Of useful instruction. while the
maneuvers that are thus made possible
can occupy the troops and their officer.
TO great advantage.
The assumption by the press that
contemplate Intervention on Mexican soil
10 protect American lives or property is
OF course gratuitous, because I seriously
oouDt whether have such authority IN
DER any circumstances, and II I had
Mould not exercise il without express
congressional approval. Indeed. as Won
know 1 have already declined, without
mexican consent, to order a troop of cav