The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-12
KNOX SPEAKS UPON
DOLLAR DIPLOMACY
Secretary of State Tells of
Benefits to Be Derived
From 1t.
National News Association

National News Association)
NEW YORK, Dec. 12.-"Dollar d.
plomacy" received the stamp of appro-
val OF Secretary of State Knox in his
address before the National Civic Fed
Grafton in New York. He declared that
the greatest good that can be done
by the diplomatic service In time Of
peace Is the furthering OF American
business enterprises abroad and he
announced his plans to bring his de-
partment to high state of organiza-
ton directed towards that purpose.
Many expressions OF astOnishment
were heard when the Secretary grasp
ed upon the term dollar diplomacy"
He accepted the words, which he ad-
mitted had heretofore been used in
disparaging sense, as creditable and
happy phrase. using the expression
several times during his address.
What 10 Required.
The Secretary said that the Ameri
can diplomatic service would have to
be organized into trained, perma-
nent and non-partisan corps If the
American people were to have with the
people OF other nations an equal
chance in the field OF foreign CONNER
cial opportunity.
Mr. Knox declared that the princi-
PIE Of civil service was already ap-
piled to the diplomatic service as we'll
40 to the consular service; that the
appointments to the diplomatic ser.
vice, up to the grade of Minister, and
tho promotion therein, were now bas-
ed upon a rigid merit system. The ba-
sis for such an organization, he said.
had been laid under the authority Of
President Taft's Executive Order OF
1909. What he now wants, he told the
Federation, was to have Congress
make permanent the principle of this
new organization scheme of both con-
eular and diplomatic services, by the
passage Of the Lowden Bill, now pen
ding before Congress.
The secretary pointed out that 1t
was quite as essential to the advance
ment of American enterprise abroad
to have a trained diplomatic corps as
It was to have a trained corps OF con-
,suls. He traced the change in the dip
lomatic service, showing its growth
WW0y AIOul LILO pOolIIoH VI IoOAnIAOA III
q purely political field to an important
factor in the extension Of American
commerce abroad.
A. to The Open Door.
'Trom being an organization apart"
ne said. chosen by the favor OF pat
1ty. It has rapidly grown to be the CO.
worker and ally of the people in their
efforts to extend their enterprise. in
fluence and material profits in fields
OF Knew endeavor. The open door is
= good thing in theory: in practice
two conditions are essential-it must
be opened. and It must be kept open
TO do these is the function of diplo-
macy. In order to act its part we'll
the diplomatic service must be of the
people and act for the people. first,
last. and all the time"
-Four changes were advocated by
Mr. Knox for the establishment of
such diplomatic service.
First. the merit system, in accord
ance with the civil service principles
in use in other branches of the Gov
eminent service, should, he said. be
extended by law throughout the diplo-
matte service to cover all appoint.
ments up to the grade of Minister
This practice is now followed so that
there Is being supplied to all locali-
ties a corps Of secretaries both Sc
lected and trained, and men who are
now being sent to foreign posts have
"grasped the first rung of the ladder
equopped for success in their honora-
bic career"
Secondly. Mr.. Knox wants either
better salaries paid to foreign repre-
sentatives or ample funds for repre-
sentation. He said that they should re-
ceive compensation which should ena-
bic them to live and to carry on their
duties without supplying money from
their own pockets. This was necessary
he declared. If the State Department
were to be allowed to choose the best
men for the posts without being fore
ed to consider their private fortunes
rs a qualification for fitness for for
eign post.
A Novel Suggestion.
The present appropriation available
4or the purchase Of embassies and le-
cations abroad Mr. Knox declared to
be entirely inadequate. He put forward
the novel idea Of the erection of bull
dings in foreign capitals by the Amer
1can Government. from American de-
signs. built OF American material, and.
even where possible. built by Ameri-
can workmen; so that there would be
lndeubly stamped upon every foreign
capital typically American structure.
as permanent expression of Ameri-
ran nationalism.
Lastly, Mr.. Knox discussed his reor.
ganization Of the Department in Wash
1ngton. During his administration. he
said. he had added a Counselor, Res
adent Diplomatic Officer. and some
half dozen expert Divisions to handle
the vast and increasing bulk of for.
eign business on more highly spe.
ciahxed basis than has been possible
heretofore. These additional politico.