New-York tribune., 1911-12-08
FOPEIGN RELATIONS.

The Presidents message of Yesterday
was devoted to the topics which usually
| formed the opening part of the old style
omnibus message. covering the actiyi
ties Of that important Cabinet depart
mqnt which alone does not make It's
own annual report There is much in II
Co cause sincere qualification and n0th
ing whatever 10 induce the least diminu
ton Of the respect for and confidence IN
the State Department which the nation
has long cultivated No part of our
governmental system is more distinctive
ly American than that which has charge
Of our foreign relH tiOns, the indlyldua
tone having been given TO il at the very
beginning under the wise direction of
the earliest administra tions, and there
is none I'm which Americans arc on the
whole better entitled 10 feel an honest
pride The freedom from secret treaties
and other devious entanglementS ana
the Stra ightforwaTd seeking of peace
and honest friendship with all the
world. while jealousy maintaining the
dignity Of fhiS nation and the rights
of its citizens. approximate the ideal OF
republican foreign policy.
The narrative Of facts Of record in
the case of Mexico finely vindicates the
course of the administration in sending
an army TO the Texan frontier. II is
clearly shown that the government,
through its authoritative agents was
promptly made aware of the real con
dition of affairs in Mexico and realized
the extreme gravity Of the situation and
the likelihood of the fall of the DiaZ
administration far i'm advance Of the
general public. In view of that special
information. which was fully confirmed
by subsequent events. the government
was not only abundantly justified in
sending the army. but was under the
strongest moral and patriotic cOmpul-
sion TO do SO. That act was performed
under Il complete and mutually salts
factory understanding with the Mexican
government, and if all the reasons for
il were not proclaimed the desirability
and the advantage of the reserve which
was maintained are now obvious and
approved. The President managed Il
peculiarly delicate and dangerous Situa-
tion with prudence, tact and resolution,
and achieved gratifying success.
The President makes little more than
iperfunCtory mention Of the arbitration
treaties and of the treaties for the re-
habilitation Of Central American states
which are now before the Senate These
have already been eXhaustlvcly dis
Of them should he sufficient for present
purposes The facts of record i'm the
message, however. and i'm current news
concerning the advantages and the sue
Cessful operation Of arbitTal proceedings
and Of those helpful advances which
it is proposed to make toward the neigh
boring republics supply y commenda
! tiou Of those measures which iS strong
and which should he convincing The
reference to the controversy with Rus
| sia over the rights Of American citizens
under the treaty of 1880 is brief but
| highly significant. IT contains ample
| assurance that the administration is
earnestly and energetiCally at work
upon the matter, expresses q belief
which the President would not express
without substantial ground that the
Russian government is addressing itself
seriously to the case and makes known
his expectation Of being able TO present
| further information i'm n few weeks.
! That statement Of the case ought 10
bar any preCipitate attempt at action
which would only embarrass the admin
istration and might defeat the promised
attainment of its ends.
The recommendations of the President
for legislation arc important and are
chiefly intensely practical, dealing with
the promotion of our commercial inter
ests and the Improvement Of the foreign
service The fact that American eX-
ports in the last fiscal year were the
largest on record is a welcome confirma-
| tion of the forecast in last years mes
sage and affords substantial basis
on which to make the recommendations
Of this year for some amendments of
the administrative clauses Of the tariff
law, especially FOR the protection OF
American commerce against unjust dis
elimination. The need of legislative
aid for the extension Of the mercantile
marine and of American banking sys-
TENS in foreign countries is so apparent
that the Presidents mention of il should
be sufficient 10 incite action. The fur
ther development Of the merit system in
the diplomatic and consular services is
another proposal which accomplished
facts support