Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-03

promoted from tie lower grades Of the
foreign service or from the department
of state. OF the nineteen missions in
Latin-America, where our relations are
close and our interest is great fifteen
chiefs Of mission are service men,
three having entered the service during
this administration.
The thirty-seven secretaries Of en-
bassy or legation who have received
their initial appointments after passing
successfully the required examination
without regard to political Affiliations
A dearth of candidates from southern
and western states has alone made 1t
impossible thus far completely to equal
ise all the states representations In
the foreign service. In the effort to
eQualize the representation OF the va
r0us states in the consular service /
have made sixteen of the twenty
new appointments as consul which
have occurred during my administra-
ton from the southern states. This is
80 per cent. Every other consular ap-
pointment made, including the promo
ton OF eleven young men from the con-
sular assistant and student interpreter
corps, has been by promotion or trans
fer, based solely upon efficiency shown
in the service.
Larger Provision For Embassies and
Legations Recommended.
In connection with legislation for the
amelioration OF the foreign service,
wish to invite attention to the advisa-
bility OF placing the salary approprfa-
tons upon a better basis. / believe
that the best results would be obtained
by a moderate scale Of salaries, with
adequate funds for the expenses Of
proper representation, based in each
case upon the scale and cost of living
at each post, controlled by a system OF
accounting and under the general di-
rection OF the department Of state
In line with the object which l have
sought OF placing our foreign service
on a basis Of permanency, / have at
various times advocated provision by
congress for the acquisition of govern
ment owned buildings for the residence
and offices OF our diplomatic officers. so
as to place them more nearly on an
equality with similar officers OF other
nations and TO do away with the dis
elimination which otherwise must nee
essarily be made in some cases in favor
OF men having large private fortunes.
Diplomacy a Handmade of Commercial
Intercourse and Peace.
The diplomacy Of the present ad-
ministratiOn has sought to respond to
modern ideas OF commercial inter
course. This policy has been charac-
terized as substituting dollars for bull
lets. 1t is. one that appeals alike to
Idealistic humanitarian sentiments. to
the dictates of sound policy and STRAIT
egy and to legitimate commercial
aims. II is an effort frankly directed
TO the increase OF American trade upon
the automatic principle that the gov
eminent Of the United States shall ex-
tend all proper support to every legiti-
mate and beneficial American enter
prise abroad How great have been
the results OF this diplomacy, coupled
with the maximum and minimum pro-
vision Of the tariff law, will be seen
| by some consideration of the wonder
! full increase in the export trade Of the
/ United States Because modern di;
/ plomacy is commercial there has been
a disposition in some quarters to at
/ tribute to it none but materialistiC
aims. How strikingly erroneous is
such an impression may be seen from
a study of the results by which the
diplomacy of the United States can bt
judged.
Peace.
In the field Of work toward the ideal!
OF peace this government negotiated
but to my regret was unable to con
summate, two arbitration treatie:
which set the highest mark Of tn,
aspiration OF nations toward the sub
stitution OF arbitration and reason 70
war in the settlement of internations
disputes. Through the efforts o
American diplomacy several war
have been prevented or ended. re
fer to the successful tripartite media
ton OF the Argentine Republic, Bra
I'll. and the United States between
Peru and Ecuador. the bringing Of tn
boundary dispute between Panam!
and Costa Rica to peaceful srbitra
ton; the staying Of warlike prepare
tons when Haiti and the Dominican
Republic were on the verge Of hosti
tiles; the stopping OF a war In Nicars
qua; the halting Of internecine strif
in Honduras.
The government OF the Unite
States was thanked for its innuenc
toward the restoration of amicable r,
lations between the Argentine Republi
and Bolivia. The diplomacy of th
United States is active in seeking {
assuage the remaining i'll feeling b.
tween this country and the republic c
Colombia. In the recent civil war 1
!. China the United States successful
Joined with the other interested power
IN urging an early cessation OF hostil
ties. An agreement has been reache
between the governments of Chile an
Peru whereby the celebrated Tscni
} africa dispute. which has so long en-
, FILTERED international relations on tn
west coast of South America. has
last been adjusted. Simultaneous
came the news that the boundary di
pute between Peru and Ecuador ha