The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-12-05
TAFT SENDS IN
final MESSAGE
President Starts with Discussion
Of Foreign Relations
WORK DONE BY DIPLOMATS.

Rseeonition Of Merit System Has Been
Beneficial - Suggestions Regarding
CHANCES In the Tariff Laws Designed
"a Aid Conmerce-Turkish War and
Troubles In China.
To the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives:
The foreign relations Of the United
States actually and potentially affect
the state Of the Union to degree not
widely realized and hardly surpassed
BY any other factor in the welfare OF
the whole nation. The position of the
United States in the moral. intellec-
tual and material relations of the fam
liz of nations should be a matter of
vital interest to every patriotic citi-
IAN. The national prosperity and
power impose upon us duties which
W. can not shrk il we are to be true
to our ideals.
The tremendous growth of the ex-
port trade Of the United States has
already made that trade very real
factor in the industrial and CONNER
cial prosperity Of the country. With
the development Of our industries the
foreign commerce of the United
States must rapidly become a still
more essential factor In its economic
welfare. Whether we have FAR
seeing and wise diplomacy and are
not recklessly plunged into unneces-
sary wars, and whether our foreign
policies are based upon an intelligent
grasp of present day world conditions
and a clear view Of the potentialities
Of the future, or are governed by
temporary and timid expediency or
by narrow views BETTING an infant
nation, are questions In the alterna-
i've consideration of which must con-
vince any thoughtful citizen that no
department Of national policy offers
greater opportunity for promoting the
interests Of the whole people on the
one hand, or greater chance OH the
other of permanent national injury.
than that which deals with the for
eign relations Of the United States.
The fundamental foreign policies OF
the United States should be raised high
above the conflict of partisanship aud
wholly ASSOCIATED from differences as
to domestic policy. In its foreign at
fairs the United States should present
to the world united front. The intel
lectual, financial and industrial inter
ests of the country and the publicist,
the wage Garner. the farmer and citi-
zen Of whatever occupation must CO
operate in a spirit Of high patriotism
to promote that national solidarity
which Is indispensable to national eff
cheney and to the attainment OF ma
ti0nal ideals.
The relations Of the United States
With all foreign powers remain upon
Z sound basis Of peace, harmony and
friendship. A greater insistence upon
Justice to American citizens or inter
ests wherever it may have been denied
and a stronger emphasis Of the need OF
mutually In commercial and other re.
lations have only served to strengthen
our friendship with foreign countries
By placing those friendships upon a
nrm foundation of realities as we'll as
aspirations.
Before briefly reviewing the more
important events OF the last year In
our foreign relations, which 1t is my
duty to do as charged with their con
duct and because diplomatic affairs
are not Of nature to make it appro-
pirate that the secretary Of state make
formal annual report. | desire to
touch upon some of the essentials tC
the safe management Of the foreign
relations Of the United States and to
endeavor also to define clearly certain
concrete policies which are the logical
modern cOrOllaries Of the undisputed
and traditional fundamentals of the
foreign policy Of the United States.
Reorganization Of the state Depart
mont.
At the beginning of the present ad-
mlnistration the United States. having
fully entered upon its position as a
world power, with the responsibilities
thrust upon 1t by the results of the
Spanish-American war and already ell
gagged in laying the groundwork of q
vast foreign trade upon which it
should one day become more and more
dependent, found itself without the
machinery for giving thorough atten-
ton to, and taking effective action
upon. q mass Of intricate business vi.
tai to American interests in every
country in the world.
The department of state was al
archaic and inadequate machine, lack
Ing most Of the attributes OF the for.
eign office Of any great modern power
With an appropriation made upon my
recommendation by the congress on
Aug. 8. 1909. the department of state
was completely reorganized. There
were created divisions Of Latin-Amer
lean affairs and Of far eastern, neal
eastern and western European affairs
To these divisions were called from
the foreign service diplomatic and con
sular officers possessing experience
and knowledge gained by actual serv
Ice In different parts Of the world and
thus familiar with political and com
mercial conditions In the regions con
cerned. The work was highly special
lied. The result is that where p,e
viously this government from time II
time would emphasize In its foreign